HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios.

Brad wrote:

HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

Not very good range unless there is a repeater around.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"krj" wrote in message
. ..
Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios.

Brad wrote:

HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

Depends on antennas and line of sight. A 25 watt with mast mounted
antenna (50'), and 25 watt at the house with a mast mounted antenna of
say 30' will give a line of sight distance of 14.68 nm. Should be able
to work 15-20 miles. Same as marine VHF.
krj

Doug Dotson wrote:
Not very good range unless there is a repeater around.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"krj" wrote in message
. ..

Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios.

Brad wrote:


HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

Never seen a handheld with 25W output.

"krj" wrote in message
...
Depends on antennas and line of sight. A 25 watt with mast mounted
antenna (50'), and 25 watt at the house with a mast mounted antenna of
say 30' will give a line of sight distance of 14.68 nm. Should be able
to work 15-20 miles. Same as marine VHF.
krj

Doug Dotson wrote:
Not very good range unless there is a repeater around.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"krj" wrote in message
. ..

Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios.

Brad wrote:


HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

He's talking boat to house. Why use handhelds. If he only wants the
range of FRS 3-5 miles, 2 meter handhelds will work.
krj

Doug Dotson wrote:

Never seen a handheld with 25W output.

"krj" wrote in message
...

Depends on antennas and line of sight. A 25 watt with mast mounted
antenna (50'), and 25 watt at the house with a mast mounted antenna of
say 30' will give a line of sight distance of 14.68 nm. Should be able
to work 15-20 miles. Same as marine VHF.
krj

Doug Dotson wrote:

Not very good range unless there is a repeater around.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"krj" wrote in message
et...


Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios.

Brad wrote:



HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

I've had very good luck with FRS. If yours aren't
good for more than a couple hundred yards then there
is something wrong with them. That is unless there are
major obstructions between the units. FRS is line
of sight.

Doug, k3qt
s/v CAllista

"Brad" wrote in message
m...
HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

In article ,
(Brad) wrote:

HELP
This has likely been covered before.
I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1
at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate
effectively.
It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory.

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!

Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most
helpful.

Thanks

Brad

Cheapest is a CB radio and/or walkie talkie. Most people have a couple
around.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Brad" wrote in message
m...

Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were
supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work
beyond several hundred yards!!


I have a set of Motorola GMRS (the higher power, "5 mile" version of the
FRS) and I thought that they work great! I have reliably communicated over
10 miles, "flybridge to flybridge". I am sure that dinghy to dinghy would
be a lot less, but still a mile or two should be solid.

Any radio you get will basically have the same limitations. High frequency
(HF) communications ("CB" band) is very unpredictable. VHF communications
is essentially line of sight. With enough power you can get the signals to
bounce off large buildings and mountains which can substantially increase
the range but in a difficult to predict manner.

The best way to increase the range is to increase the "line of sight"
distance, which usually means elevation. A handheld radio has its antenna
right in your hand. They have low power and no "gain" in the antenna. A
fixed mount radio will allow the use of an antenna that you can a) get
outside to eliminate attenuation of walls b) get it higher so it can "see"
farther, and c) have "gain" so that you get more signal going where you need
it.

The problem is that there are very few legal options for a fixed station
radio. A marine VHF radio is fine in the boat but not legal in your cottage
unless you have a special license. I am not aware of a base station FRS
radio. Amateur radio would be great, but you need the license.


Rod