cheap charlie Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi All, Bought my self a 4.5M Tinnie the other day. Looking to venture to some of the inshore reefs when the sea is not to rough. I was thinking that I need to have some form of radio comunication... I know Diddly squat about radios... What do I need? I hear about 27meg and UHF? Can I get away with some sort of hand held radio? I did not want to spend any more then I need to? Your Thoughts on what Ishould be looking at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanfly Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi All, Bought my self a 4.5M Tinnie the other day. Looking to venture to some of the inshore reefs when the sea is not to rough. I was thinking that I need to have some form of radio comunication... I know Diddly squat about radios... What do I need? I hear about 27meg and UHF? Can I get away with some sort of hand held radio? I did not want to spend any more then I need to? Your Thoughts on what Ishould be looking at? VHF are the way to go and they are only around the $250 mark new I dont think the hand helds have a strong a signal strength as the other ones I think that if you ever get yourself into trouble you will wish that you would have spent the $250 I know I would the sea is very unforgiving and can turn nasty very quickly so how much is your life worth..........up to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman36 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Just remember to use a VHF "legally" you need a license which means doing a course and sitting a test. For 27Mhz (marine) you don't. A VHF is a requirement if you go more than 2Nm offshore. If you stay within that you can get away with 27Mhz. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Green Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Either radio is suitable for open waters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman36 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 yeah, thanks Alfa-Rosa for clearing that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3amigos Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 If you do venture out more than 2 Nmiles (about 3.6 km) you will need an EPIRB though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheap charlie Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 If you do venture out more than 2 Nmiles (about 3.6 km) you will need an EPIRB though That was my next question. Thanks Any one using a hand held? 27meg have any down falls compared to uhf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman36 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 The coverage (distance) of 27mhz is less than VHF. It all depends how far you're going to venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg123 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Mate I used to use a handheld on my boat before I installed the fixed VHF and I got about 4 miles out with reception. I recently bought an ICOMM23 handheld VHF as a backup in case the boat is lost etc. Works pretty well and is waterproof and floats. If I were in your position I'd be getting a handheld (if not both) because if you do get swamped you won't have much time to send out a mayday (coming from personal experience unfortunately) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman36 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) I agree with the hand held suggestion. I don't go out more than 2Nm so I don't have an epirb on the boat, but I am 99% of the time out solo and quite often out at night. I have VHF and 27Mhz on the boat, but at night or if it gets a bit iffy, I strap my phone (in a waterproof pouch) to myself. I also have a PLB that I strap to myself as well. I've also just bought a waterproof handheld. Can never have too much crap! Haha. I figure if I go overboard, there's no point them finding the boat if I've floated away in the opposite direction. I may look like a xmas tree with all this stuff strapped to me, but they are all really small and weigh next to nothing and at least they'll find me. Hopefully! Edited October 1, 2011 by insomniac92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davegroves68 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I agree with the hand held suggestion. I don't go out more than 2Nm so I don't have an epirb on the boat, but I am 99% of the time out solo and quite often out at night. I have VHF and 27Mhz on the boat, but at night or if it gets a bit iffy, I strap my phone (in a waterproof pouch) to myself. I also have a PLB that I strap to myself as well. I've also just bought a waterproof handheld. Can never have too much crap! Haha. I figure if I go overboard, there's no point them finding the boat if I've floated away in the opposite direction. I may look like a xmas tree with all this stuff strapped to me, but they are all really small and weigh next to nothing and at least they'll find me. Hopefully! I agree. I always have my EPIRB strapped onto my arm when i am alone onboard. I want them to find ME before the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheap charlie Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 (edited) Are hand helds from the usa likely to be comparable with Aussie radio networks? Edited October 1, 2011 by Cheap Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman36 Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Sorry, not sure what you mean... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWV Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Do you really need a radio for what you going to use for tinny for????? I would be pretty sure that your mobile phone will have coverage at 99% of all inshore reefs. Just put the local water police/maritime/goast gaurd number in your phone and save yourself a few hundred and by a new rod or reel..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheap charlie Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 Do you really need a radio for what you going to use for tinny for????? I would be pretty sure that your mobile phone will have coverage at 99% of all inshore reefs. Just put the local water police/maritime/goast gaurd number in your phone and save yourself a few hundred and by a new rod or reel..... I use to think this way... I was looking at hand helds out of the states that are water prof and float for about $70 landed. That brand was cobra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWV Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 I use to think this way... I was looking at hand helds out of the states that are water prof and float for about $70 landed. That brand was cobra So the question is, will a hand held VHF give you better recption than a mobile phone? answer... not even close. I think you would need a high quailty hand held VHF like an Icom and it isnt really worth it. They are around they $500 mark i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheap charlie Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 I think you would need a high quailty hand held VHF like an Icom and it isnt really worth it. They are around they $500 mark i think. Noted, Hard wired it is. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWV Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Noted, Hard wired it is. Thanks sorry mate, about 250 for an Icom M72, I bought 4 a while back for on board comms with my crew members with extra mic's and charges and it went to about $500 per radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evets Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 Are hand helds from the usa likely to be comparable with Aussie radio networks? Yes - provided they have international calling. I purchased an ICOM 504 VHF from the US for about a quarter of the Australian price and it was exactly the same as the Australian model. Evets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWV Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) Yes - provided they have international calling. I purchased an ICOM 504 VHF from the US for about a quarter of the Australian price and it was exactly the same as the Australian model. Evets You just have to change the settings in them, they have 3 setting US, Canada, International. Australia run's on the internation one. If you dont change it will still work on some channels but not all of them as they are slightly different frequencies. Edited October 2, 2011 by Whaler 255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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