Thread: Marine Radios

1W is primarily for harbour/dinghy use.
5W more range and more watts the better it gets.
As mentioned above, at these frequencies it is line of sight, hopefully to a repeater. If to another boat then the bobbing/wobbling will affect transmit/receive levels plus behind waves or such.
Separate mounted antenna, high as is the way to go.
One day you might wish for it.....
Cell phones are higher in frequency so more useless. However, more repeaters (cell towers) about the landscape and with txting can have a useful signal level where voice wont make it (plus use more power).
Dunno about brands, tho would be happy with GME as a universal, low cost solution. There are more expensive options for not much more usefulness I'd say.

OK, here goes. any "whip" antenna directs signal through 360 degrees so you transmit in all directions when you do. so obviously more power = more range. but in no way expect 5X more range from 5x more power.
Cell phones are just that, they transmit to a repeater, go through how many cells as possible then end up at the final destination. if either end is out of cell coverage or any cell in between fails you are stuffed.
Buy a decent marine radio ! get in properly installed including an SWR test. anything less is stupid. You might have spent 30k on your boat, 1k on life vests etc then to depend on a piece of junk radio is ridiculous.
Pretty much out at sea everything is line of sight as there are bugger all hard surfaces to bounce radio waves off.

One point I haven't seen mentioned.
I recall being told that in order for the ariel to work at optimum, it should be vertical. An awfull lot of boaties put the ariel down, either to avoid it bashing around or simply to enable the boat to fit in the shed.

Not sure how much effect this may have, but I guess anything that potentially improves radio performance can only be a good thing.

antenna should be vertical for best performance. If you fold it down for transport then tie it down too cause all the flapping about as you tow the boat will make people like me happy cause we get to sell ya a new aerial.
A antenna radiates 360 degrees in a horizontal direction not every direction. Actual radiation pattern depends on antenna design
From Nelson with a 25W VHF and just outside the cut you should be able to get Durville Maritime Radio (55 Nm away) loud and clear

What is a SWR test?

Checks the ariel I believe

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

What is a SWR test?

Its a quick way to tell if your antenna is OK and you VHF is transmitting at the correct power output.
Another quick test of the antenna on a trailer boat that travels with their antennas folded id to grab the antenna and pull or twist it GENTLY if it moves it is no longer watertight

Ariel/Antenna. What is the difference ?

Originally Posted by Pengy

Ariel/Antenna. What is the difference ?

same as diference between English or pom i guess

I was being serious. Is there a technical difference, or is just words

I bloody hate acronyms SWR= Short Wave Radio?
There is heaps of trades and industry's in our world with overlapped acronyms that could mean anything to anyone.
dont be a lazy cunt type what it actually is.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I bloody hate acronyms SWR= Short Wave Radio?
There is heaps of trades and industry's in our world with overlapped acronyms that could mean anything to anyone.
dont be a lazy cunt type what it actually is.

Just for you SWR = Standing Wave Ratio...................................does that help

Originally Posted by Pengy

I was being serious. Is there a technical difference, or is just words

just words no difference to me

Originally Posted by mikee

Just for you SWR = Standing Wave Ratio...................................does that help

Yes.

Originally Posted by mikee

Just for you SWR = Standing Wave Ratio...................................does that help

And I have a meter here for measuring it too.