How is it that you can have a conversation from Execution Rocks to Morris
Cove using your rig with "amazing range", when the other radio is,
presumably, a standard output?

The fellow at Morris cove had a hell of a radio...a very expensive Icom with a
whip at the his masthead. I heard him with some static. somewhat faint. He
apparently heard me better, loud, but said my signal got chopped a few times.
Making a 40-50 mile shout on a VHF is possible. I reach beyond Huntington with
ease where a friend keeps his Cape Dory. His cheap Uniden barely reaches me
however.

RB

Bobsprit wrote:
How is it that you can have a conversation from Execution Rocks to
Morris Cove using your rig with "amazing range", when the other radio
is, presumably, a standard output?

The fellow at Morris cove had a hell of a radio...a very expensive
Icom with a whip at the his masthead.

What is the height of the antenna mounting? What length is the whip?


I heard him with some static.
somewhat faint. He apparently heard me better, loud, but said my
signal got chopped a few times. Making a 40-50 mile shout on a VHF is
possible. I reach beyond Huntington with ease where a friend keeps
his Cape Dory. His cheap Uniden barely reaches me however.

What is the height of your antenna mounting? What length is your antenna?


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.

Icom with a whip at the his masthead.

What is the height of the antenna mounting? What length is the whip?

Don't know the height of the Columbia 36 masthead...I'll guess at 45 feet.

RB

What is the height of your antenna mounting? What length is your antenna?

45 or so. Whip is under two feet, I believe.

RB

Bobsprit wrote:
What is the height of your antenna mounting? What length is your
antenna?

45 or so. Whip is under two feet, I believe.

Okay, let's give the benefit of the doubt and assume a nominal height of 50
feet for each antenna...

What is the line of sight distance between the two antennae?


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.

Wally wrote:
Bobsprit wrote:
What is the height of your antenna mounting? What length is your
antenna?

45 or so. Whip is under two feet, I believe.

Okay, let's give the benefit of the doubt and assume a nominal height
of 50 feet for each antenna...

What is the line of sight distance between the two antennae?

Sorry, *maximum* line of sight distance.


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.

What is the line of sight distance between the two antennae?

I assume you're aware that VHF signals, while mainly line of sight, are capable
of greater range on occasion.

RB

Bobsprit wrote:
What is the line of sight distance between the two antennae?

I assume you're aware that VHF signals, while mainly line of sight,
are capable of greater range on occasion.

How much greater range, generally speaking?

Should I switch on my handheld and wait for you to hail me? Channel 9, Bob!
I'll be waiting!

No, really, how much greater range?


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.

No, really, how much greater range?

To be honest, I was quite shocked to make the shout over 40 miles so clearly.
It's the best I've managed.

RB

Up to 800 miles. However, this is very extreme. The phenomena used is atmospheric
ducting, which is common when hot air overrides colder air - very common on the ocean in
the summer.

Also, "line of sight" is a bit misleading, since radio waves (and radar) refract a bit in
the atmosphere, to the horizon is a bit further.

The distance calculation is often given as "1.22 times the sum of the square roots of the
antenna heights." Assuming masts of 49 feet, this lead to a distance of 17 miles.
However, in open water its very common to hear chatter from 25 miles or further. Last
Friday while I was still south of Plymouth, I heard chatter from Salem Bay - maybe 50
miles away.

BTW, there is a theory that very long distance VHF propagation is correlated with
earthquake activity, so if you hear a pickup request from 500 miles away, prepare for a
tsunami!

-jeff


Wally wrote:
Bobsprit wrote:
What is the line of sight distance between the two antennae?

I assume you're aware that VHF signals, while mainly line of sight,
are capable of greater range on occasion.

How much greater range, generally speaking?

Should I switch on my handheld and wait for you to hail me? Channel
9, Bob! I'll be waiting!

No, really, how much greater range?