RE: [Paddlewise] VHF questions

Standard supplies their radios with a tray that takes both nicads and
alkalines. The nicads produce 5 watts at their nominal voltage. I am not
familiar with Icom's marine radios but I own a number of Icom amateur
handheld VHF/UHF transceivers and have been pleased with their quality and
performance.


> 
> 1.      Alkalines produce MORE voltage then nicads although the curve is
> different. A radio that produces 5 watts with nicads may produce 7 or 8
with
*	fresh alkalines. 



>I've never heard the term "Energy Density"?

I have seen this referred to in varous references on battteries. One
place where have I seen this term is the Cadex Battery Book:

http://www.cadex.com/cfm/index.cfm?Pg=52&Lp=144&Db=&Mo=

Check out the section on "choice of batteries". It has a table with
"energy density" (measured in Wh/kg).  I did not make the term up. 


> 
> 2.      I don't know what type of telescoping antenna Dan is referring to,
> but the length of the antenna is not necessarily a key factor in
determining
> the performance of the antenna. The small duckies tend to be inefficient
but
> they are factory tuned for the frequency and radio they are designed for.
A
> telescoping whip would have to be accurately tuned for the operational
> frequency by extending it to the exact length, assuming it was long enough
> to function as a 1/4 wave. Other factors including the connector can
affect
> the tuning. This would ideally be done using a field strength meter.

Suppliers of such antennas (including the marine electronics shop from
which I purchased mine) claim that a properly matched telescoping
antenna, mounted on the radio, can extend the range of a handheld
significantly.  You seem to claim otherwise.  I do not have the
expertise to tell who is correct as a matter of theory, so I must rely
on my own experiences, which suggest that the suppliers are correct.  Of
course this relies on a properly matched antenna.      

> 
> 3.      Today's nicads are almost memory free and don't require much
> coddling.

What you say disagrees with a major study by the Navy and GTE Government
Systems.  


What type nicads in the study?  

As for the antenna, is yours a telescoping antenna specifically designed for
a marine hand held? If so then it will most certainly produce superior
results to the standard ducky. There are also longer duckies made that are
the length of a telescoping antenna, but are flexible and sealed.

cya
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