RadioBanter - View Single Post

Jerry Stuckle · September 2nd 13, 03:49 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.equipment

On 9/2/2013 12:01 AM, wrote:
Jerry Stuckle wrote:
On 9/1/2013 9:22 PM, wrote:
Jerry Stuckle wrote:
On 9/1/2013 6:38 PM, rickman wrote:
I am going to be providing shore monitoring for a kayak trip and will be
using a VHF radio from my pickup. I am thinking of installing a unit
rather than using a handheld. I took a look at what there is available
and it seems like the prices start at just over $100 for the unit itself
running up to $500 for a fancy unit that is mounted somewhere hidden and
all the controls in a hand held mic.

Other than the obvious features like the remote mic unit, what should I
look for in getting a quality unit that will work the best without
breaking the bank. I don't want to pay $500, but I will pay $200 or
more if there is a useful difference with the ~$100 units.

I doubt I'll be mounting this in a boat although that is a possibility
someday, I do have a ski boat. But more likely is that I'll mount it at
my house on a lake to provide some amount of emergency monitoring. So I
expect to mount it in the pickup so it can be easily removed and brought
into the house. I guess that means a second antenna too.

Words of advice?

The first question would be - what country are you in?

From the wording of the post, most likely the US. The use of $100 and
$500 is a big clue, though he could be in Canada, Autralia, New
New Zealand, or Trinidad. I would highly doubt it is any of the Asian
countries that have the dollar as the national currency.

Yes, but those make a difference. And BTW, last time I was in Hong
Kong, they also used $. It has been close to 20 years, though.

$100 Hong Kong is $12.89 US; I doubt you will find many VHF marine
radios $12.89 US.

There are amateur radios available for $500 HK. That is not out of
the question.

And I don't know what other countries use the dollar, but I'm sure there
are.

And I wouldn't want to get the op in trouble by providing information
incorrect to the country he is in.

The next question woulds be - what licenses do you hold? (Very little
is available without a license). I am assuming since you are asking
these questions you don't hold an amateur radio license.

If it is the US, no licence is required for VHF marine radio for any
vessel that is NOT required to carry radio equipment and traveling in
US waters.

Are you sure about that? I do remember Dad had to get a radio license
for his boat, even though he was operating in U.S. waters off the Gulf
coast of Florida. That was a few years ago, though. And the license
was free.

And at one time CB and private aircraft had to have a license; none do
anymore. Air and marine radars also used to require a license; not
anymore.

That could be for boats. I don't know, because I haven't checked.

However, he also was talking about SHORE monitoring - which definitely
requires a license, even for marine band.

Nope, there is a VHF marine channel specifically for chit chat from ship
to shore.

Which does not mean short stations do not have to be licensed. They
still do.

If it is Canada, essentially the same applies.

The third question would be - what radios/bands are legal for that license?

VHF marine radios are legal for the VHF marine radio band without regard
for country.

Not entirely true. Depending on the country. Some still require
licenses, for various reasons.

That wasn't the issue.

It is exactly the issue. You can't say whether a license is required or
not until you know what country the OP is in.

The VHF marine band seems to be essentially the same with some differences
in channel assignment world wide.

That does not mean the licensing requirements are the same.

Without even knowing what country you are in, the rest of the questions
are meaningless.

Anyway...

Like everything else these days, the Internet is full of reviews of VHF
marine radios.

Google is your friend.

And many of those are illegal to operate in some countries, even though
they aren't marked as such. Since he is asking here, I would expect he
wants to ensure he is legal.

I don't think reviews are illegal to operate in any country, though maybe
North Korea...

But you don't know. As I said before, in the U.S., marine stations
still need to be licensed when on land (the same is true of aircraft
radios, BTW).

Oh, perhaps you meant buying a radio from the Internet; no I wouldn't
reccomend that unless the dealer was in my country if for no other reason
than to make sure the channels were set up for the idiosyncrasies of my
country.

It doesn't matter where you buy the radio. There are shady brick and
mortar dealers also who try to make a buck by buying cheap overseas crap
and reselling it at a higher markup.

And just because the radio is legal in your country for some uses does
NOT mean it is legal in your country for ALL uses.

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Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.

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