Re: [Paddlewise] Boosting handheld VHF range

Ken, I've thought about this problem as well.  I think the best solution
is to use your VHF for a glorified weather radio, and to just use your
cellular telephone in emergencies.  Assuming you are just using it for
emergency communication (as opposed to group conversation on the water,
or trying to raise a barge that is about to hit you), the telephone will
do the same trick with a much greater range.  I think the Coast Guard
can even be patched in.

  Last I heard, the cellular will cover the entire Chesapeake Bay area.

  Anyone else's thoughts?

  - Scott Ives


Kenneth Cooperstein wrote:
> 
> I have an Apelco 510 5w. handheld VHF radio that I use on my sailboat.
> No one can hear me even 3 miles away unless I climb onto my cabintop.
> 
> I can boost the range by using a 4' base-loaded s.s. whip antenna (3 db)
> at the masthead, which is the standard solution.  However, the folks at
> Raytheon told me that I would do almost as well by just mounting the
> whip on the rail, because that would get me almost to the limit of what
> 5w will do with a 3db antenna.  Although Raytheon wouldn't quantify the
> range, they felt that it would at least triple -- going from the rubber
> ducky in the cockpit to the whip on the rail.
> 
> I am considering bringing the whip antenna along on a paddle, in the
> belief that if I need greater range, switching to the whip (handheld or
> on a stick) will greatly increase my range.  Anyone know if this will
> work?
> 
> Ken Cooperstein
> 
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-- 
Scott Ives
ssives_at_erols.com
- avid father, husband, photographer, kayaker, jet skier and
  Mustang Cobra convertible owner
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