In article ,
rhys wrote:

The only problem would be range: digital phones die about 1.5 NM
offshore, and analog (when you can FIND one) not only likely don't
have the GPS feature (too antique) but have a typical range similar to
a hand-held VHF...line of sight or 5-6 NM.

Maybe the laws of Physics are different in your universe, but up here in
alaska, and on the west coast of the USA, we routinely have Digital Cell
coverage out to 20 miles, and there really isn't much difference in
coverage between analog, and digital in the 800 Mhz Cellphone band.
It could be that the poster is confusing Cellular and PCS, in which case
he/she should specify the definition of the system they are discussing.
PCS has significantly smaller cell coverage areas, due to the fact that
it use frequencies more than triple the Cellular frequencysin the 800
Mhz band.
If you have a Handheld Marine VHF that can only communicate out to 6
miles over water, you need to have it checked out by a compitant Tech,
because it is certainly not operating correctly. I can sit in my cabin
and communicate with vessels transiting the 16 mile wide Straight,
anywhere within that area, with my simple Motorola Marine Triton
Handheld Vhf Radio, as it was produced at the factory.


Me