Netsock wrote:
On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:40:34 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:


On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:31:02 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:


*JimH* wrote:

I was told by my friend, an electrical engineer with NASA, that the CG could
pick up the transmission on my 5w handheld most everywhere on Lake Erie.

================================================ ==

Total BS. If you get 10 miles with a handheld you are doing well.


Well...it really depends on antenna height and gain. You certainly are
NOT going to get a 10 mile range on a rubber-duck antenna, but 5 VHF
watts on a high mounted, high gain antenna could do very well over
flat seas.

I also heard a few years ago, that the CG has solar powered, buoy
mounted, VHF repeaters throughout the US Great Lakes. I haven't seen
any documentation to prove this, but if that's the case, your NASA
buddy may be right.
__

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."

http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

I know for a fact that you can 'receive' transmissions from a distance
with a handheld.
A couple of years ago I was sailing around the outer reaches of our
harbour when I started receiving transmissions from a Canadian Naval
ship directed to another ship. Nothing was within sight, but I could
clearly hear the navy insist that the boat stand down so they could
board for inspection and the other captain insisting that he couldn't
because the owner was somewhere in the states and the ship was a private
vessel...etc etc.
We lost the signal as we sailed back into the harbour for our home run.

The statement of "If you get 10 miles with a handheld you are doing well"
Is probably correct for receiving. Transmitting is below that range.
Where I sail we have repeater stations. When transmitting on channel 27
(used by the Coast Guard to transmit up river using repeater stations) we
are able to exceed the normal range. One interesting thing is, at times, we
(from Rothesay, New Brunswick) hear the US Coast Guard broadcasting from
South West Harbor, Maine. We can hear the May Day, PAM PAM and security
messages clear as a bell. The distance is about 150 miles. The only
explanation I can think of is that it could be caused by bouncing radio
waves. Or the fact that we can only received the May Day, Pam Pam and
security messages may be that the US Coast Guards are broadcasting on High
Power? What the you think.


"Don White" wrote in message
...
Netsock wrote:
On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:40:34 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:


On Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:31:02 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:


*JimH* wrote:

I was told by my friend, an electrical engineer with NASA, that the CG
could
pick up the transmission on my 5w handheld most everywhere on Lake
Erie.

================================================ ==

Total BS. If you get 10 miles with a handheld you are doing well.


Well...it really depends on antenna height and gain. You certainly are
NOT going to get a 10 mile range on a rubber-duck antenna, but 5 VHF
watts on a high mounted, high gain antenna could do very well over
flat seas.

I also heard a few years ago, that the CG has solar powered, buoy
mounted, VHF repeaters throughout the US Great Lakes. I haven't seen
any documentation to prove this, but if that's the case, your NASA
buddy may be right.
__

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."

http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

I know for a fact that you can 'receive' transmissions from a distance
with a handheld.
A couple of years ago I was sailing around the outer reaches of our
harbour when I started receiving transmissions from a Canadian Naval
ship directed to another ship. Nothing was within sight, but I could
clearly hear the navy insist that the boat stand down so they could
board for inspection and the other captain insisting that he couldn't
because the owner was somewhere in the states and the ship was a private
vessel...etc etc.
We lost the signal as we sailed back into the harbour for our home run.

No, but bigger, better antennas help. How much power does a satellite
downlink use?

"Lord Reginald Smithers" Ask me about my driveway leading up to my manor.
wrote in message ...
Bill,
The signal strength still needs to be strong enough for the CG to receive
the signal. Is it your theory that the CG can receive the 1 watt
transmission just as strong as the 25 watt transmission because they have
larger antennas and better receivers?




"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Lord Reginald Smithers" Ask me about my driveway leading up to my
manor. wrote in message
...
Kevin,

Most handhelds will transmit power is between the ranges of 1 to 5
watts,
the 1 wattage for short distances and 5 watts longer distances. Most
Fixed mount VHF will transmit using at 25 watts of power, with a setting
for low wattage 1 - 5 watts for short distance broadcasting.

My understand is the Coast Guard will actually broadcast at a much
stronger wattage than 25 watts and will have a tall antenna placed on
the
tallest land mass or building available. I have always heard that the
low wattage handhelds will be able to receive the Coast Guard broadcast
without any problems, but the Coast Guard will not be able to receive
the
low wattage units for anywhere near the distance of the higher wattage
units.

Kevin, if your theory is correct, why do the fixed mounted units use 25
watts, if the 5 watts are adequate to insure an adequate broadcast than
can be received from the maximum distance of the LOS based upon the
broadcasting and receiving antennas? If the 5 watts will travel just as
far as the 25 watt broadcast? Why doesn't the 1 watt broadcast travel
just as far as the 5 watt broadcast?

I am always willing to learn, so help me understand the theory of low
wattage transmission verses higher wattage transmissions.




wrote in message
oups.com...

Lord Reginald Smithers wrote:
Kevin,
With the low wattage output of a handheld you will not be able to come
close
to 30 nm.
even with an external antenna.


See Bill's reply, he's right.




The CG has a higher antenna and better receivers?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 06:31:21 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?

===============================

Just got an EMAIL on this one. Their price is $109, $40 under MSRP.

Looks like a good value to me, just ordered one.

http://www.pyacht.net/cgi-local/Soft....htm?E+scstore

or

http://tinyurl.com/a2ewj

I bought the hx270s off ebay for $114 including shipping. I'll let you know
when I get it!

Bryan

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote wrote ...

Another interesting phenomena is wind sheer at this set of
frequencies. If the prevailing wind is from the right direction,
sometimes you can hear conversations and calls from as much as 200
miles distance - sometimes even more. It happens in the spring and
fall more than any other time.


Hey Tom,

I've never heard of wind significantly effecting EM wave propagation. Do you
have a reference handy? I'd like to understand it and google came up empty.

-rick-

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 02:13:23 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

When the
weather is right, WTTK in Boston is obliterated by WFPG in Atlantic
City, NJ - usually short duration until the front passes. Happens
with WEEI, 103.7 by WMGM also in Atlantic City, NJ. Several New York
stations and one in PA when it all is right.

It does happen. You just have to pay attention and listen for it.

============================

I always thought that was Tropo Ducting along the coast.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 17:44:44 -0800, "-rick-" wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote wrote ...

Another interesting phenomena is wind sheer at this set of
frequencies. If the prevailing wind is from the right direction,
sometimes you can hear conversations and calls from as much as 200
miles distance - sometimes even more. It happens in the spring and
fall more than any other time.

Hey Tom,

I've never heard of wind significantly effecting EM wave propagation. Do you
have a reference handy? I'd like to understand it and google came up empty.

Of course it does - how do you think Doppler radar measures wind
speed? Or radar for that matter?


Um... I thought by measuring the change in time or carrier phase/frequency
associated with a reflection, certainly not by measuring attenuation associated
with wind.


I will admit that they are at
higher frequencies, but it happens all the time at lower frequencies.
It happens mostly in the Spring and Fall along pressure/wind fronts,
mostly those moving from south to north. For example, where I live,
several radio stations that I like to listen to are marginal in terms
of signal strength - in particular at the 96.9 frequency. When the
weather is right, WTTK in Boston is obliterated by WFPG in Atlantic
City, NJ - usually short duration until the front passes. Happens
with WEEI, 103.7 by WMGM also in Atlantic City, NJ. Several New York
stations and one in PA when it all is right.

It does happen. You just have to pay attention and listen for it.

No references?

-rick-

Bill McKee wrote:

The CG has a higher antenna and better receivers?

A friend of my brother's who lives close to the PA-NY border built a
Beverage Antenna on his hill, and can receive CG transmissions from Key
West, FL!!

Kevin,
The question is can he talk to the Key West CG?


wrote in message
ups.com...

Bill McKee wrote:

The CG has a higher antenna and better receivers?

A friend of my brother's who lives close to the PA-NY border built a
Beverage Antenna on his hill, and can receive CG transmissions from Key
West, FL!!

wrote in message
ups.com...

Bill McKee wrote:

The CG has a higher antenna and better receivers?

A friend of my brother's who lives close to the PA-NY border built a
Beverage Antenna on his hill, and can receive CG transmissions from Key
West, FL!!


Is that one of those Southern things. Where they stack the beer cans into a
tower? Then hook up the antenna leads to it? Cool.