BrianSmith
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 487
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Smartini
- Vessel Make
- 2002 Kristen 52' Flybridge Trawler
Just completed our second trip to the Bahamas on the Turtle E. Awesome (Hope Town area - wonderful!). This time, we had a friend go with us in his boat. Throughout the trip, we tried to keep in touch with our radios, but were very disappointed in their performance - both the handheld and the mounted.
Near the end of the trip, we parted ways out on the ocean. His radar can track a target and display info about it, including distance. So we know that, at only about 2.5nm apart, we lost the ability to effectively communicate over the VHF's. Both of our radios were in high power mode (25w for the mounted, and 5w for the handheld, I think).
Shouldn't we be able to communicate via VHF over far greater distance than 2nm? Seems like a good mounted radio should work at least to the distance at which you lose sight of another boat on the horizon - is that unrealistic?
We have a tall Shakespeare antenna on the mounted radio - it's 16' taller than the top of the bimini, putting the tip of it 32' off the water.
What could be wrong? Should I take the mounted radio to a shop for testing, or is there a way for me to self-test? All help greatly appreciated, as always!
Near the end of the trip, we parted ways out on the ocean. His radar can track a target and display info about it, including distance. So we know that, at only about 2.5nm apart, we lost the ability to effectively communicate over the VHF's. Both of our radios were in high power mode (25w for the mounted, and 5w for the handheld, I think).
Shouldn't we be able to communicate via VHF over far greater distance than 2nm? Seems like a good mounted radio should work at least to the distance at which you lose sight of another boat on the horizon - is that unrealistic?
We have a tall Shakespeare antenna on the mounted radio - it's 16' taller than the top of the bimini, putting the tip of it 32' off the water.
What could be wrong? Should I take the mounted radio to a shop for testing, or is there a way for me to self-test? All help greatly appreciated, as always!
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