VHF or 27 Mhz or?

[gif]

What Radio should I get?

Setting up a new 4.55

- mostly for estuary and dams but want to occasionally venture out to the bay.

I understand the technicalities of watts and wavelength.

But in practical terms what works best and is most used?

Does VMR monitor both or just VHF?

thanks!
Gary

[agnes_jack]

Gary
VMR does monitor both but 27meg is getting phased out. Much wider coveridge now days with vhf using a wide network of repeater stations. Digital selective calling is also being phased in on vhf. VHF is the way to go

Regards Tony

[bungie]

Digital selective calling is also being phased in on vhf.

Whats that ??

[Kerry]

DSC is basically a system, which automates distress alerts and other calling controls and is just one part of the much more complex (and expensive) GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System).

GMDSS is an international requirement (since 1999) of all SOLAS ships.

Basically all traditional coast stations will close and when fully implemented there will be no requirement for anybody to physically monitor a listening watch on a radio. Bit scary this one especially considering the 99.8% false alert statistics.

DSC is available on HF in Oz but VHF still appears to have a few issues.


As for which radio? Certainly VHF over 27 mHZ and the user of a VHF must have an operator's certificate.

For inland waterways/dams etc as a safety device one might even consider UHF, as just about every property owner uses UHF in everything from the bike to the tractor.

Cheers, Kerry.

[basserman]

i know for down my way 27meg is the main choise but like many boats nowday if you can fit it why not get both vhf for rescue and loger distances and 27meg for club or to chat to mates

[Big_Kev]

Gary if you are talking about Moreton bay then the 27Mhz will certainly be enough for the job at the moment, and there is still plenty of users around.(probably more so than VHF in the bay)
But if I was to buy a new radio I would be going for the VHF.
Cheers Kev.

[bungie]

How would VHF go around jacobs well and out to the pin ??

[Kerry]

How would VHF go around jacobs well and out to the pin ??

This is where VHF, and the supporting repeater network has it all over 27mHZ, especially considering the height of some of the repeaters.

CH 80 is on North Stradbroke at Lighthouse Point Lookout and CH 82 on Yellowwood Hill, Beenleigh, so jacobs well to the pin and well and truely beyond shouldn't be a problem at all.

Cheers, Kerry.

[adrian]

i had 27megs untill it blew up and then put vhf on board .some of the areas where updating the weather which saved my hide as trips were planned but cancelled due to the info given the trip where a long way out might have gone out if not for these reports as the weather reports on telly were different

anzac

[Jeremy]

Go the VHF for quality of signal and better distances. A basic VHF radio will cost about $350 and an aerial about $100. The operators course cost me $140, but you can find them cheaper.

Jeremy

[gif]

VHF must have an operator's certificate.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone - and especially Kerry.

VHF operators certificate - any idea what that involves, who administers or a web site where I could read up about this?

A related question:Monitoring on freshwater:

- obviously no VMR, but not intended as a silly question. Is there any "safety listen" in the world of freshwater?

cheers
Gary

[webby]

Hi Re the vhf licence, wont say where it came from, but not to far down the track, the word is that you will not need a licence to operate vhf. The reason is that a majority of boaties with vhf dont have licences these days, and enforcing it would be a logistical nightmare.
As for the fresh scence radio, verbal communications is your only option, and even then 99% of fishos wouldnt do this, on a guess most of the fresh scence rigs would not have a radio on board.
I suppose with vhf you could with the height of most impoundments try logging on with one of the coastal vmr,s , but you'd most likely stun them into thinking you were pulling there legsn
regards

[damons33]

i was the guy that made point of the safety argument of not licencing vhf at the boat show when ever the govenment radio guys do a talk(bit of a rent a crowd man!greenie! animal lover type,except cats!)
well, very fair comment webby as the better radio scares ppl off it, because again they get slugged with a fee! well i'm one of ya' 99%that dont have the licence(and dont wave at ya!) and i don't see a licence that ppl cram study for making them more proficient, its regular use and sencible study of the radio operators manual that makes ppl better radio users. like most thing to do with gov' you got a host of disproportionate professions lousing a living of the little bloke who's not wanting to piss up gamble or smoke their hard earned insecure little income on!(don't you hate the term-"its tax deductable!"-moneys still got come out of the income either way!) feed up- damon"bring on wages inflation!"

[peterbo3]

If you can use a mobile phone then you can use a VHF. The operators licence is issued by a Commonwealth Dept & FedPol don't do water patrols. It is outside the juristiction of State Police.
Nuff said.

[NQCairns]

Webby, Damon33 and Peterbo3 you posts had me doing a little jig then banging the table in agreement and finally doing a victory dance, be blowed if I was to pay the bureaucrats to deem me capable of mouthing into a microphone to save myself or someone elses life. How can the Federal Gov be considering getting something actually this right??? hope this sets a precedent for future decisions nq

Peterbo3 how sure are you regarding juristriction? from my old ran-tan days with 27meg citizen band the common practice was to only push the microphone in then never screw it up so that if harassed by the cops the microphone could be extracted with a flick and flung under the seat in quick time rendering the unit unoperable, this was QLD and was the state troopers? Didn't stop them from from thieving the unit until you could show proof of ownership though >. cheers.