Hand held VHF, DSC, GPS Radio

[Martin]

Also worth bearing in mind that if you get ejected from your sib a handheld attached to you is much more useful than the high powered fixed unit in the sib that is now drifting away quicker than you can swim in a lifejacket.

Totally agree with that, Myself and Paul commented on our last outing about a few that had them clipped onto their boats.
I keep mine clipped on me, with an extra line attached just in case
I do still like the idea of an external aerial though on an quick fit A-Frame, a quick couple up for extra coverage if required can never be a bad thing.
Something for me to work on

[Paul]

Matt

I agree with all the advice above........... maybe you should prioritize your needs against funds available at the time
First step might be a VHF with DSC.....then a PLB in-case the radio range is insufficient in an emergency.......then a fixed unit
From your description of your current boating you're using fairly 'local' and busy waters with good emergency coverage at this present time.....so this maybe a route to follow as and when funds allow 'up-grades'.

Paul

[Andy B]

You're never alone in the Solent.
Tbh a handheld has more than enough power unless you're going round the south of the island.

[James]

You're never alone in the Solent.
Tbh a handheld has more than enough power unless you're going round the south of the island.

My VHF instructor says when your in the Solant and you press the button in on the radio, you will be heard by so many people as it's very busy.
So he said, don't push it in and go oi you dickhead - Unless you have a submarine

[rogerblack]

You're never alone in the Solent.
Tbh a handheld has more than enough power unless you're going round the south of the island.

Similarly on the Firth of Forth which is my main SIBbing location, there is always lots of small pleasure, fishing and large commercial traffic and Forth Navigation, Burntisland & Rosyth Dockyards are always on channel. Since the Fife Ness Coastguard station was closed down in 2012, it's now within Aberdeen Coastguard's patch and the chap I was last talking to up there a while back said they had rented space for their antennae on loads of the mobile phone companies' transmitter masts along both coasts. However on parts of the Fife side, they are fairly high up so you actually lose line of sight transmission more when you are under cliffs closer to the shore than when out in mid-channel. That is where DSC might come into its own, especially with GPS included. Otherwise there should be plenty of other vessels monitoring and able to relay Mayday calls.
All four RNLI stations (Kinghorn, South Queensferry, Dunbar and Anstruther) are kept very busy with frequent call-outs
(which is where marine channel 0 on my scanner comes in handy!)

[Andy B]

So he said, don't push it in and go oi you dickhead - Unless you have a submarine

Or your boat is called "Oi you dickhead"

[chris moody]

I'm considering getting one of the SH HX870E's. Please can one of you that owns one check is you can do a DSC position request and position report on the UK versions of that model. If you want an MMSI to do the position report / request with use mine 235910073

The fact this feature is disabled on the ICOM M91D is one of the reasons I'm considering upgrading. It would be great to be able to position request my friends when meeting up for a cruise in company.

Thanks.

[rogerblack]

Hi, Chris

I have just made a DSC Position Request Call to you from my HX870E and it transmitted successfully and is now awaiting an ACKnowledgement - which I assume it won't get as I'm in Berkshire so well out of your range!
However, the point is it allowed me to send it, so I hope that answers your question.
(Not sure whether I could reach Paul in Bracknell as we're only a few miles apart, if you wanted us to be 100% certain it works?)

[chris moody]

Roger

Fantastic, that's all I needed to know. As my DSC handheld was turned off even if in range it would not have auto replied.

Looks like I'll be applying for another MMSI number (this will be my third), and then ordering one of these hx870e's

[James]

I tried it too but I think your just a little too far way :-)
Hang-on, I'll climb on the roof