Hand held VHF, DSC, GPS Radio

[chris moody]

A handheld VHF will in open water will have a range of 3 to 7 miles depending on the height of the other vessels antenna (I'm assuming the handheld antenna is around 1.5m above sea level). The coastguard has very high antennas and repeaters so they should hear you from significantly further away.

So for use in populated marine areas and inshore I would always opt for a DSC VHF. In very remote areas or if going more than about 8 miles offshore I would be wanting a PLB on my lifejacket in addition to the VHF.




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Chris Moody

[Redlinebuzz]

My advice would be to go ahead with the purchase of a decent hand-held and register it online to obtain the MMSI number and activate the DSC functionality, then maybe listen in for a while and certainly carry it when afloat ready for emergency use even if you can't immediately do the SRC course.

There is a short video and link to download a taster practice programme here:

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/c ... aster.aspx

There are also a couple of books you can buy although the first of these was supplied to me beforehand by the organisation with whom I registered for the course, included in the cost:

http://www.rya.org.uk/wheresmynearest/P ... ?code=SRCC

As alluded to by Martin, I have posted my thoughts on this subject at length on previous threads but in short I would just say I enjoyed doing the course, found it worthwhile and as I generally go out on my own, having a radio and knowing how to use it properly was a good confidence booster.

[Redlinebuzz]

Thanks for all your advice guys, appreciate it. Trying to sort everything at once is never a good idea ! Picking up outboard tonight then a week to wait on boat, should be enough time to sort out a radio, thanks again.

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[Redlinebuzz]

Bought the Icon M91D, I know it's an old model, but £100.00 cheaper than the new model which looks very like a Fisher Price phone my little girl has ! I went for Icom simply because I've used alot of their stuff in the past at work and never had any issues with them.

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[chris moody]

I have both the iCom M91D and a Standard Horizon HX870. Both are decent radios.

With the M91D either throw the belt clip away or fix it in place with glue. It's a bad design and keeps on falling off. I found the M91D battery life improved with use, initially it was disappointing but got better after around 10 - 12 charges from flat.

[The Hobbit]

Thanks for all the helpful info in this thread. It saves me a ton of researching.
I used it and purchased the Horizon HX870e.

I just did the same!!

[pritch]

Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread but do I need a licence to operate one of these radios?
Thanks

[The Hobbit]

Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread but do I need a licence to operate one of these radios?
Thanks

Yes you do Pritch. Go to page 3 of this thread and Roger explains it all with a link to OFCOM

[pritch]

Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind me hijacking this thread but do I need a licence to operate one of these radios?
Thanks

Yes you do Pritch. Go to page 3 of this thread and Roger explains it all with a link to OFCOM

Thanks.

[Captain cod]

I thought you only needed a licence if speaking to other people on it but you don't need a licence if you need to call the coast guard

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