UHF Radio's

[Brainless]

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has an UHF on board to compliment their VHF and 27meg,
Im considering placing one on Oberon for Boat to Boat or Boat to Shore communication as I have a number of handhelds and majority of my friends also have them in their cars

[Jeremy]

From working in Whitworths, the only time I really sold UHFs for boats was for personal communication with handhelds on really large boats ie from the cockpit to the bow where shouting couldn't be heard.

Bear in mind, the range of the UHF is pretty rubbish when compared to VHF or SSB 27 mhz though there are of course repeaters (with ranting idiots to boot).

[Dolphin]

i've always thought that was a good idea. If you sent someone ashore and you had to move or they needed some extra info. However, doesn't a mobile phone make it more convenient and there is 'less profanity on it, sometimes!

[Phillip]

Ryan,

The range of UHF/27meg radios leave a lot to be desired.

They will work to the bow or to the shore about 500m away but after that,
when you have things such as trees and buildings in the way, forget it!

They are also battery hungry, which really means to work at all they have
to be connected to the boat main batteries.

AA batteries or the solid batteries don't last long in the hand helds.
Recharging them may also be a problem.

[Troppo]

I have two UHF handhelds powered by AA batteries, but I have yet to use them on Windchaser. I have had them for about ten years and used them mainly for camping or fishing or bushwalking. Typical distance is about a km more or less though over open water you would get better than in the bush. Line of sight to one km gives good reception on mine. I have been surprised how far apart the handhelds will work, somethings a long way, sometimes in heavy undulating country not far at all. My batteries lasted quite well, recharge via 12 v no problem.

Mobile phones can be better however, most places I go there is limited or no reception so the UHF is okay.

Basically, the handheld UHF radios are easy to carry and would be useful for boating anywhere: (a) mobile phones not useable, (b) shorter distances were involved. For example, one might be fishing out of the tender but out of earshot and one on board or on shore wants to contact the other. Or if one in the party loves walking to the end of the beach to have a look or cast a line (and forgetting the time!) then the little UHF can be useful to call 'em back. If the beach is called something like Nine Mile and they are at the far end, forget it, they would be out of range : ).

So, in my opinion, the right handhelds that get reasonable range for their size could be very useful in some situations.

cheers

Troppo

[Brainless]

I think there have been some advancements in UHF of recent years, my newer handhelds are 80ch and last a long time
VHF and 27meg are the goto's for marine communication but for general banter between boats and for ship to shore I think UHF is underrated
The UHF in my truck also works for a couple of KM, it really just depends on what you are transmitting from and what to