On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 11:03:20 -0700, "Rod McInnis"
wrote:


"Mitchell Gossman" wrote in message
. com...


I was thinking
about going with a handheld marine radio - are they inadequate?



The handheld marine VHF can be an excellent choice, especially in the San
Francisco Bay area. The Coast Guard stations are close enough and have
their transmitter/receivers at a tall enough elevation that a handheld will
easily communicate anywhere in the bay and for a significant distance off
shore.


this is true. i was in SF recently, and am a watchstander with
activities NY. there was a 121.5 beacon going off in the area, and a
helicopter was dispatched. turned out it was coming from one of the
marinas.

it's not the optimum solution, but, in ADDITION to a marine VHF (and a
cellphone), it can be valuable backup.

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On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 12:50:31 -0700, "Rod McInnis"
wrote:


"Mitchell Gossman" wrote in message
. com...
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.

many CG stations have older equipment that will pick up a 121.5
beacon. CG helos are equipped to monitor this as well as do DF'ing on
the freq.

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On 14 Jun 2004 21:47:52 GMT, Marshall Banana wrote:

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.

generally not. 121.5 is AM. most CG stations operate on VHF FM. they
can MONITOR 121.5 though.



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.

you bet. relying on cellphones or a 121.5 epirb is risky at best. it's
a good BACKUP though.

I have a friend who insits that his cell phone is
sufficient, because he can telephone the CG.

no, no, no, no. a cellphone is NOT reliable. you are risking your life
if you rely on a cellphone. cellphones have small batteries. their
coverage is spotty. they can't be DF'd. you cant summon help from
other boaters. a cellphone is NOT sufficient for boating safety.

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
\\


excellent advice, dan.\
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