"Marshall Banana" wrote in message
...
Also Sprach Rod McInnis :

"Mitchell Gossman" wrote in message
om...
I'm an airplane pilot with an aviation Icom handheld that will
broadcast on 121.5. Any other pilots using this on your boat, esp.
when out of cellphone range, for emergency use rather than spending
the $$$ on a separate marine VHF radio?

Not being a pilot I am not familiar with what significance the frequency
121.5 has. It is certainly not a marine frequency.

Actually, it sort of is. It's one of the frequencies that EPRIBS transmit
on, and is therefore monitored by the USCG. I don't know whether they
have the ability to respond on 121.5 though.

If you were on a boat, and had an emergency, what use would that
frequency
be? Would you expect other airplane pilots to respond and forward your
messages to someone who could help you?

If you are on a boat, I would think that you would want to get help from
other boats. For that you need a marine radio.

Totally agree. I have a friend who insits that his cell phone is
sufficient, because he can telephone the CG. He doesn't seem to grasp the
concept that the CG can't triangulate your position from a cell phone, and
when you use the cell phone, you have no way of contacting the many boats
who are closer to you than the CG. It's foolish not to carry one because
of the cost.. You can get a handheld for around the price of a one hour
wet rental of a Cessna.

Dan

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Handhelds are only backups because of their limited range.