Re: [Paddlewise] Can you talk on your VHF radio if it's in a bag?

Jack Fu wrote:
> 
> I just bought a bag from West Marine. It is their own
> "Westmarine aquasafe Waterproof Pouch for Large VHF
> Handheld Radios", $19.99.
> 
> As an experiment, I put my cell phone in it and made
> some calls. The other party could hear me, but not
> very clearly. I tried again with the cell phone out
> of the bag. The other party could hear me clearly.
> 
> Now my question is: suppose I have a non-waterproof VHF
> radio in such a bag and I need to talk on the radio
> rather than just listen. Will the other party be able
> to hear me clearly? Or will I have to take the
> radio out of the bag before talking on it? 

Have used my non-waterproof handheld VHF many hours in an Aqua-Safe.  People
hear me just fine, and I hear them just fine.  I think the cell phone pickup is
much more directional and much less sensitive than the mike on the VHF.

BTW, I have several seasons of heavy use on my Aqua-Safes, and have never had a
leak.  Note:  I bag them inside a very small dry bag (custom made -- easy with
heat-sealable fabric from Seattle Fabrics), and then inside an Aqua-Pac.  This
arrangement sits on the deck of my yak, under the bungies, lanyarded to a pad
eye, and gets hit with my paddle, my water bottle, bird poop, and other
insults.  Condensation, yes, but **no leaks.**

Second BTW:  get the smaller Aqua-Safe, unless you have a humongus VHF.  You
will be able to get to the buttons much better.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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