Which handheld marine VHF radio is best?
What is the Best Handheld VHF Marine Radio?
- #1 Icom IC-M25 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Radio.
- #2 Cobra HH150 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio.
- #3 Icom IC-M94DE Floating Waterproof VHF Marine Radio with DSC & AIS Receiver.
- #4 Cobra HH350 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio.
What is the range on a handheld marine radio?
Transmission Range
The general rule of thumb, for hand-held VHF radios, is that 1 Watt is approximately 1 nautical mile of range (example: a 5 Watt VHF radio will have an approximate 5 nautical mile range when set to the 5 Watt setting). Most hand-held VHF radios are between 1 Watts and 6 Watts.
What is the range of a 25 watt marine radio?
60 nautical miles
For example, a 25-watt marine radio will roughly have a maximum range of 60 nautical miles (111 km) between antennas mounted on tall ships, but that same radio will only have a range of 5 nautical miles (9 km) between antennas mounted on small boats at sea level.
What is the range of a VHF marine radio?
about 60 nautical miles
Transmission power ranges between 1 and 25 watts, giving a maximum range of up to about 60 nautical miles (111 km) between aerials mounted on tall ships and hills, and 5 nautical miles (9 km; 6 mi) between aerials mounted on small boats at sea level.
Is ICOM a good VHF radio?
Bottom Line: The Icom IC-M502 is clearly a top-rate, commercial-quality marine VHF radio. It excelled in all of our tests.
What is the range of a 6 watt handheld marine radio?
20 miles
The maximum power for most handheld marine radios is 6 watts, which can give you up to 20 miles in the right conditions.
Do you need a Licence for a handheld VHF radio?
You must have a separate Ship Portable Radio Licence for each hand held VHF DSC radio. This is because each individual radio is given a separate identity.
What is the range on a 6 watt handheld marine radio?
Some handheld radios have 6 watts which can reach up to 20 miles in the right conditions. Having a radio with you while participating in water sports will help to keep you safe. A handheld radio can supplement your existing mounted marine radio as a backup for communications.
Is VHF or UHF better for long distance?
VHF has smaller frequencies which means interference with other radios is common. UHF, on the other hand, is an all-around better signal for long distance communication. UHF is better when using radios for indoor use like buildings or around cities.
How far will a hand held VHF transmit?
VHF marine radios are monitored 24 hours a day by the Cost Guard, and are essential in emergency situations. Boaters often mount radios with the legal limit of 25 watts and, depending on the height of the antenna, can reach communication distances as far as 60 miles or more.
What is the difference between VHF radio and marine radio?
A marine VHF radio is different from other VHF radios used for land or air communications. Marine radios are specifically designed for communications on the waterways. They are installed on all large ships and most seagoing small craft, and with slightly different regulation on rivers and lakes.
How far will a 6 watt VHF radio transmit?
Some handheld radios have 6 watts which can reach up to 20 miles in the right conditions.
Why is VHF radio the best?
VHF marine radios are increasingly popular with boaters for good reasons. They save lives and are easy to use. They are more effective for marine communications than CB radios or cell phones. VHF radios have more consistent reception than cell phones.
Which is better UHF or VHF?
How far will a 4 watt CB transmit?
Transmitter power is limited to 4 watts in the US and the EU. CB radios have a range of about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 20 miles (32 km) depending on terrain, for line of sight communication; however, various radio propagation conditions may intermittently allow communication over much greater distances.
Do police use VHF or UHF?
Police radios operate in a 700/800 MHz UHF band. This gives them a considerable amount of range which is pretty good in urban areas. The P25 radio systems give an improved range for officers. Getting a larger antenna on your walkie talkie can improve the amount of range you receive.
Can I use a marine VHF radio on land?
Marine VHF radios, whether fixed or handheld, may not be used on land, period. It’s the law. Once a VHF radio goes ashore, it cannot be used for marine band transmission (without a Coast Station License).
How Far Will 6 watt VHF transmit?
Some handheld radios have 6 watts which can reach up to 20 miles in the right conditions. Having a radio with you while participating in water sports will help to keep you safe.
What is the primary disadvantage of VHF communications?
VHF, since it tends to bend with the curvature of the earth more than UHF, is ideal for outdoor applications where distance is the primary user need. However, a big disadvantage of VHF is that it does not work well indoors as it will not penetrate walls or reinforced concrete as well as UHF.
What should I look for in a handheld VHF?
Here are three things to look for when considering a handheld VHF radio.
- Make Sure It’s Waterproof… And Floats!
- Screen Must Be Easily Viewable In Daylight… And Battery Should Last.
- Ability To Double As A Search-and-Rescue Tool. A handheld VHF should always be ready to go.
How far can a 10 watt radio transmit?
~80 kilometers
Thus the typical ranges with around 400 MHz frequency range with 1 W transmitter power are up to ~30 kilometers and up to ~80 kilometers with 10 W transmitter power.
Do you need a license for a handheld VHF?
Is CB Channel 9 still monitored?
Channel 9 is the universal CB emergency channel. In most areas, it is monitored by local law enforcement at all times, so please keep random chatter off this channel.
What is the longest range handheld CB radio?
The Uniden PRO401HH delivers the convenience of a handheld CB radio with the security of knowing you have the longest range possible so you can always stay in touch. Features a low-power setting to conserve battery life and a high-power setting so you can extend your range When needed.
Can a VHF radio talk to a CB radio?
CB or its close relatives fall into the HF frequency range (covering somewhere around 26 to 28 MHz, depending on country), so anything that accurately calls itself a VHF radio will not transmit (and most likely will not receive) CB.