Re: [Paddlewise] VHF

 A year ago I had to retire my faithful (for 10 years!) Standard 350S--the
battery would no longer hold a charge and I couldn't detach the battery to
attach the (never used) alkaline battery pack.  I always carried it in my PFD
pocket, never in a waterproof bag, and was never disappointed in its
performance, even in sub-zero temperatures (yes, I paddle in sub-zero temps).
(I still have it and if anyone can tell me how to remove the seemingly welded
on battery pack please, I'm listening!)

I now have an ICOM M-72.  Love it!!!  for reasons previously mentioned.  But
tops on my like list are the over all size (fits very nicely in my hand, and
pfd pocket, and the single knob on top for on-off and volume control.  I was
always confusing the two knobs on the 350S, especially with gloved hands.  I
do wish there was an alkaline battery pack available for the M-72, but since I
never used the other one in 10 years, would I use it?  Don't know, but I'd
like one for the time that I did need it.

Most of my paddling is on the Great Lakes (Michigan and Superior), and there's
plenty of traffic to communicate with.  A cell phone on the water--as someone
else mentioned, to have pizza waiting at the takeout.  Coverage is often
spotty in remote locations any way, so I don't consider it reliable.  On the
smaller inland lakes, sure I put the cell in a waterproof case and toss it in
my day hatch, as well as I do on longer trips.  But, I turn it off first so it
doesn't go into "roam" mode and drain the battery, making it useless when
needed.

John Browning
Milwaukee, Wisconsin









-----Original Message-----
From: skimmer <skimmer_at_enter.net>
To: PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net; 'Craig Jungers' <crjungers_at_gmail.com>;
douglloyd_at_shaw.ca; 'Greg Welker' <gdwelker_at_verizon.net>; 'Greg Welker'
<gdwelker_at_verizon.net>; 'Scott Hilliard' <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net>
Cc: 'Jackie Myers' <jackie_at_muddypuppies.com>; 'Nick Schade'
<nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>; 'Martin, Jack' <martin.jack_at_solute.us>
Sent: Wed, May 19, 2010 1:01 pm
Subject: [Paddlewise] VHF


What waterproof VHF radio do you like best for carrying on your PFD? If you
carry it other than on your PFD, what is your system and choice of radios?



What general discussion do you have regarding VHF radios?



It is pretty easy these days to get boaters to carry cell phones, even
though their use is discouraged by authorities. Who has experience with
waterproof cell phones?



At least some parts of the Pacific Coast have a specific system for cell
phone calls by marine traffic. What is that?



On inland waters, lakes, rivers etc, are cell phones or VHF radios equally
effective?



Thanks,

Chuck Sutherland
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