Thanks for the information and comments, Michael I agree that connecting the GPS and handheld vhf via cable is bulky and awkward, but I will probably experiment with it until something better for kayakers comes along. I saw an article somewhere on an optimized J-pole for both 2m and 156 MHz, but can't find it at the moment. Maybe someday we'll see a single handheld, certified for both amateur 144 MHz and maritime 156 MHz use, with DSC, internal GPS, and all the bells and whistles. By the way, I made my DSC registration sufficiently generic that it could describe either of the two folding kayaks I own. (The "default" classifications for a kayak on the DSC registration form are rather amusing) It gets trickier taking a VHF radio into American waters. The post-911 requirement is that, " when travelling in USA waters, a radio station licence and an operator's certificate to operate the radio are required to fully comply with international law". And the licence is associated with the vessel, not the radio. So what do I do if I want to use my handheld in one of a number of different kayaks? I could pay the hefty annual licence fee and register the radio to the good ship "Teal Kayak" (since both my Kahuna and K-Light are the same color) - but this is a rather expensive bureaucratic option for the occasional paddle across the boundary. I have heard from several sources that USCG will not respond to distress calls from "unlicenced" foreign craft. And if they do, you'll technically be subject to prosecution. It does get confusing trying to go "by the book" when you're only trying to look out for your personal safety. John C in LondonOn Michael Daly wrote: > > When I bought a VHF last year, I considered the same and decided that > there are no practical solutions yet for the kayaker. If DSC becomes > mandatory in the Great Lakes region in the future, I'll have to buy > something then and, hopefully, a suitable handheld will be available > then. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Nov 17 2006 - 04:11:15 PST
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