Re: [Paddlewise] Cel or VHF?

I have tried both during a weeklong trip in which I had a support team
following me on land.  The following are a summary of advantages and
disadvantages that I have found on both.

VHF:
- Good for communication with nautical clubs to get the weather
  report were wx channels are not available.  You have to be close
  to them, though.  If they have a phone#, you can also call them
  directly, I guess.

- In busy areas, ch. 9 and 16 are quite busy.  Your signal gets
  easily overriden by stronger 25W transmissions from bigger boats.

- Line of sight communication.  If no one is around, it is useless.

- If you want to be aware of Coast Guard and weather advisories, you
  have to keep it on.  That means that you have to put up with
  all other junk that goes on ch. 16 and 9.

- Weather wx channels with updated weather info are a rarity in
  the world.  The alternative HF radios and radio fax, used
  intensively by offshore sailors, are unknown to the kayaking
  community (You can get a radiofax receiver from defender for $300,
  but then you have to learn about weather and how to interpret
  the information given).

- Your signal can be traced by Search And Rescue personnel.

- If no one is close, and listening to ch. 16, it is useless.


Cell phone:
- It does not work when you are very close a cliff. The signal
  goes through walls, but for some reason, not cliffs.

- Limited to 1 mile offshore, were available (SF Bay area).

- Service not available outside of highly populated areas.

- You definitely get a faster response by calling the Coast Guard
  or 911 directly, some areas have a 3 digit number for the Coast Guard.

- It is very difficult to dial the numbers with cold hands. 
  You need both hands to dial, and you get sea sick in the process.

- You can get weather reports were wx channels are not available

- Your signal can not be traced.  Your location is always the location
  of the cellular network antenna.

In summary, for safety purposes in the SF Bay, a cell phone is superior
to a VHF radio.
In remote areas, a satellite phone, or HF radio are a better choice.

Make sure you program the appropriate one-touch dial out numbers
to get around the problem described above (numb fingers, sea sickness)

- Julio

in response to:
> How safe is my cel-phone in this little REI clear dry bag... other ideas?
> If you could only  have one or the other would you go with a cell or go VHF...
> SF bay, lakes and rare ocean going...  Thanks!
> CU Out There...
> Tom_at_digitaleditor.com

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