I know VHF's have been talked about over and over on this list, but I have a very specific question. I may be able to get a good deal on a waterproof Standard HX350S, and I was wondering if it is a good radio. I have never used VHF's before, in terms of actually having my own, but after the Storm Island rescue, it became apparent to me I do need to finally break down and buy one. Any thoughts? BC'in Ya Doug LLoyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > > I know VHF's have been talked about over and over on this list, but I have > a very specific question. I may be able to get a good deal on a waterproof > Standard HX350S, and I was wondering if it is a good radio. As you know, you certainly have come to the right place in terms of getting some good discussion. The Standard HX350S is one of the top radio choices for the many reasons elaborated on in PaddleWise a little over a year ago. The other good choice would be the Raytheon 102 which replaces the Apelco 520. The Raytheon 102 does not pack the power capacity of the Standard (which is 1100 whatchamacallits compared to the Raytheon's 600) but can be remedied by the larger available battery pack from the company's Raytheon 106 that brings it up to 1200 capacity. In fact, thinking out loud and considering where you paddle in more isolated areas or away from things, the Raytheon 106 might be a better choice yet. It broadcasts at 6 watts whereas the top strength of the other marine radios is at 5 watts. Perhaps that 1 watt may make a difference between a perceptible signal and a non-signal, 15 percent or so difference is 15 percent or so difference. I personally like the Standard for my specific use. It has a huge display screen and what's more the items display on the whole screen and not a small part of it as you see in other models that have the same amount of "glass" (or pyrex or whatever the view screen cover is). It does seem like a mini-TV. I am too vain to wear bifocals and the big display suits that vanity. I like that its default is to 1 watt rather than 5 watt as is the Raytheon's default since I am in harbors and close in waters where 1 watt should be enough and saves battery life. The Standard also has several more programmable buttons so just hitting a button gets you calling on a selected channel. And, when you turn it on and off, it starts up with whatever channel you were on last as opposed to going to 16 which is what the Raytheon does. These are small things that may be important to some individuals and not others. Again, I would however suggest you give serious consideration to that one additional watt in power that you can get from the Raytheon 106, which also comes with the bigger 1200 battery. It is also a smallish radio. What with all the gear and gold bullion you carry from your deceased aunt's estate, the lower weight and size of the Raytheon may make a difference to you :-) ralph ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I know VHF's have been talked about over and over on this list, but I have > a very specific question. I may be able to get a good deal on a waterproof > Standard HX350S, and I was wondering if it is a good radio. > I got a Standard HX350S last spring and have carried it on my boat since. Use is pretty straightforward, battery retains power well, and its' various features are handy. One of the things I liked about it over some other submersibles that I looked at is that it retains its' submersible rating with the alkaline battery pack as well as the nicad. Dennis *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug, I've been using a HX 150S for three years now and I'm totally satisfied. Had it up in the Charlottes last year on a two week trip and with a fair amount of use, the battery held up well. I like the fact that you can run it with alkalines as well as the nicad. Good large display and the programmable buttons are well thought out. A quality unit! Bill Pierson Bowen Island Doug Lloyd wrote: > I know VHF's have been talked about over and over on this list, but I have > a very specific question. I may be able to get a good deal on a waterproof > Standard HX350S, and I was wondering if it is a good radio. > > I have never used VHF's before, in terms of actually having my own, but > after the Storm Island rescue, it became apparent to me I do need to > finally break down and buy one. > > Any thoughts? > > BC'in Ya > Doug LLoyd > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug: Keep in mind that VHF is "Line of Sight". Regardless of the power rating, sitting in a kayak with a hand held VHF radio with short rubber duck antenna will make for short transmit distances. You will find that even talking to another kayaker over a short distance may become a problem. Increase in transmission power is of little help in these cases. The USCG has repeater stations that cover a large area and that really improves your ability to communicate with them and the reverse. Some time ago (quite a bit actually) I was a Medivac Pilot, Training Officer, Communications Officer, etc. We flew a lot of mountain rescue in Washington state and the state provided us with VHF radio's in our helicopters and portables for our medics to talk to hospitals, Park Service, Sheriff's Department, Coast Guard, etc. We were always limited by line of sight. When in the air, the transmission power was amazing from 10,000 feet, but on the ground the portables were all but useless in uneven terrain over very short distances or just about anywhere in the mountains. I purchased a Standard HX350S over a year ago and have been very pleased with it. My decision point on buying a radio was right after two people died of hypothermia and drowning North of Point Mugu, California in a party of six paddling an out rigger. I was out that day and the weather was great, but it was a bit cool. They weren't prepared in more than a few ways and it cost two people their life. The HX350S has held up great and holds a charge well. I think you would really like the radio. Also, remember to totally discharge the batteries and then fully recharge. This will help keep the batteries from taking a set or memory. The instructions on this radio don't recommend charging for more that 12 hours. I have found that if fully discharged that it is about 14 hours to max charge. Also, don't rely on the "charge indicator" on the radio. It is only approximate and once you begin the down side discharge on nicad batteries they go real quick. The AA's will actually last longer, but aren't nearly as cost effective or convenient. You may wish to top off the charge if you haven't used the radio for a few weeks, without discharging. You might wish to pick up a floating neoprene case from West Marine to round out the ease of use and protect against loss. Water proof does not float. Regards Fred Ca Kayaker At 12:05 AM 2/2/2000 -0800, you wrote: >I know VHF's have been talked about over and over on this list, but I have >a very specific question. I may be able to get a good deal on a waterproof >Standard HX350S, and I was wondering if it is a good radio. > >I have never used VHF's before, in terms of actually having my own, but >after the Storm Island rescue, it became apparent to me I do need to >finally break down and buy one. > >Any thoughts? > >BC'in Ya >Doug LLoyd > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not >to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
CA Kayaker wrote: > > Doug: > Keep in mind that VHF is "Line of Sight". Regardless of the power rating, > sitting in a kayak with a hand held VHF radio with short rubber duck > antenna will make for short transmit distances. You will find that even > talking to another kayaker over a short distance may become a > problem. Increase in transmission power is of little help in these > cases. This seems to be what is said but I wonder how correct this is, I mean line of sight. When I first got my radio, I tuned it on and was able to get marine traffic out on the Hudson and East Rivers. I live in a Westside brownstone, i.e. a low building in a neighborhood increasingly surrounded by tall apartment buildings, the result of our booming economy and people having money to burn on luxury dwellings with views. I have no direct line of sight with the river particularly with the NY Waterways ferries I hear traffic calls from. And the East River is well across town with a two mile wide swatch of tall buildings between me and it. And I hear that river traffic too. This makes me think that there is also a bounce and reflect signal aspect too. Clearly, if you are sitting deep in a valley with mountains completely surrounding you, you will not likely hear from one in the next deep valley. But with buildings and streets you must get some bouncing around effect. I would think that the same would hold in open water along coastlines where a signal would bounce off this little hill to another little hill and reach someone well out of your line of sight. Maybe as you say, Coast Guard repeater stations help out. But given the cost of NY real estate and the configuration of buildings I doubt if I am benefiting from a repeater station while in the middle of my concrete and steel jungle of the city. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Radio waves, being electromagnetic radiation propagate in virtually a straight line. Reflection and refraction do occur but not to a significant abd reliable level. The effect I think Ralph is experiencing is penetration of the various buildings between radios. Radio waves to penetrate various types of material, buildings, etc., the things that absorb radio waves best are lead (obviously), rock and soil and any other heavy masses. Radios are discussed as being line of sight because in air there is virtually no deflection of the straight line path nor absorption of the signal. So If you can see it, you can talk to it. I've used radios to talk over 70 miles line of site, with very good two way radios without a repeater. Jed *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Shawn W. Baker wrote: Any suggestions for less expensive VHF's? I have a hard time justifying (to myself and my better half) a $200 VHF with all the bells and whistles. Shawn, Last year I bought a Uniden HH955 for about $100. This unit is NOT waterproof so I carry it in a drybag specifically for VHF radios. The radio functions perfectly through the bag. I check the bag before and after each use. The radio has gone swimming several times in rough surf that has dumped me with out getting a drop of water inside the bag. Radio checks with a local yacht club that offers them have impressed me, my traveling companions, and the yacht club giving the check. From a distance of 2 to 3 miles and using the 1 watt setting, I have consistently put out a stronger and clearer signal than many large power boats. I have never had to switch to 5 watts to make contact with anyone. I have had many questions concerning the height of my antenna. Most people are very surprised to hear that I am using the standard rubber duck that came with the radio with a height of about 2 feet above the water. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Steve Holtzman wrote: > Radio checks with a local yacht club that offers them have impressed me, my > traveling companions, and the yacht club giving the check. From a distance > of 2 to 3 miles and using the 1 watt setting, I have consistently put out a > stronger and clearer signal than many large power boats. I have never had to > switch to 5 watts to make contact with anyone. I have had many questions > concerning the height of my antenna. Most people are very surprised to hear > that I am using the standard rubber duck that came with the radio with a > height of about 2 feet above the water. Your experience is similar to mine. I believe one possible reason for a cleaner signal from us is that we have no other electrical devices or metal to louse up the signal. Out here, VHF signals from fishing vessels are typically noisy as hell from electrical interference on the boat. A battery-powered radio provides a very clean signal. However, the distances you quote are from you to/from a whip on a larger vessel, yes? (Not from yak to yak.) I suspect you might not always get good transmissions from yak to yak at 3 miles if each radio is just 2 feet off the water. For comparison, I have made beach-to-beach contacts using 3W and 5W handheld VHF's at 5.5 miles and 8 miles, but each of us was several feet above the water. When you are in your yak, sitting on the water, and so is the person receiving your signal, I wonder what the practical range is. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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