BASIC Radio Question
 

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:35:45 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 10:13:31 -0800, JJ wrote:

My vhf antenna is 62 ft off the water (top of mast) and I can reach 25
miles to another sailboat also with top of mast antenna in open ocean.

What you're actually "using" is the CG antenna ht and their repeater
network - not much dependent on your antenna ht as theirs.

It's a combination of both.

there are no CG repeaters in the NY/NJ area accessible to the public.
they are for CG and public safety use only.

But since their's is so much higher than
mine, it's the driving factor.

that's true. it's a function of the sum of the square root of the
combined heights of the tx and rx antennas.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field

check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/

BASIC Radio Question
 

I should have said that's 25 nautical miles - or 25*1.15 = 28.75
statute miles


On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:35:45 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 10:13:31 -0800, JJ wrote:

My vhf antenna is 62 ft off the water (top of mast) and I can reach 25
miles to another sailboat also with top of mast antenna in open ocean.

What you're actually "using" is the CG antenna ht and their repeater
network - not much dependent on your antenna ht as theirs.

It's a combination of both. But since their's is so much higher than
mine, it's the driving factor. However, VHF is not actually limited by
line of sight like UHF and above it. It does "curve" a little and you
can get further than line of sight distance. I just used one of the
line of sight calculators available on the web
http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/java/horizon.htm and it says that for
my antenna hight of around 50' and the CG height of 300' the LOS
distance is only 35 miles. Even if you put a height of 500' for the
other antenna, that's only 42 miles. I *know* I can get further than
that because I do all the time.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

I should have said that's 25 nautical miles - or 25*1.15 = 28.75
statute miles


On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:35:45 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 10:13:31 -0800, JJ wrote:

My vhf antenna is 62 ft off the water (top of mast) and I can reach 25
miles to another sailboat also with top of mast antenna in open ocean.

What you're actually "using" is the CG antenna ht and their repeater
network - not much dependent on your antenna ht as theirs.

It's a combination of both. But since their's is so much higher than
mine, it's the driving factor. However, VHF is not actually limited by
line of sight like UHF and above it. It does "curve" a little and you
can get further than line of sight distance. I just used one of the
line of sight calculators available on the web
http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/java/horizon.htm and it says that for
my antenna hight of around 50' and the CG height of 300' the LOS
distance is only 35 miles. Even if you put a height of 500' for the
other antenna, that's only 42 miles. I *know* I can get further than
that because I do all the time.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

Group Boston has their primary on the Hancock tower in Boston, plus repeaters in
Plum Island north, and Marshfield south.

Baltimore has a repeater at the C&D Canal (as well as south); and Chincoteague
has one in Ocean City and one to the south. Both are within about 60 miles of
the Jersey coast.

These are all on high towers, and broadcast at much higher than 25 watts. If
there is any ducting to be had, these signals will find it. In Boston I often
hear Portland and Woods Hole, where the repeaters are 50+ miles away. Sometimes
I get Bar Harbor.

Here's a set of maps showing the repeater locations and the "nominal" coverage.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/nds.htm

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the
horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't
reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

Group Boston has their primary on the Hancock tower in Boston, plus repeaters in
Plum Island north, and Marshfield south.

Baltimore has a repeater at the C&D Canal (as well as south); and Chincoteague
has one in Ocean City and one to the south. Both are within about 60 miles of
the Jersey coast.

These are all on high towers, and broadcast at much higher than 25 watts. If
there is any ducting to be had, these signals will find it. In Boston I often
hear Portland and Woods Hole, where the repeaters are 50+ miles away. Sometimes
I get Bar Harbor.

Here's a set of maps showing the repeater locations and the "nominal" coverage.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/nds.htm

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the
horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't
reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

The proper term is "remote base station". A Coast guard station may
have several radio stations that they operate from one point. Those
remote stations are tied to the operation point by phone line. Your
signal does not get "repeated" over their system.
They may transmit on more than one of those remote stations at the
same time. They also listen to all of them at the same time.

A repeater requires two frequencies ot operate. One to receive and one
to transmit on. Channel 16 is only a single frequency.

Regards
Gary


On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 08:56:49 -0500, "Jeff Morris"
wrote:

Group Boston has their primary on the Hancock tower in Boston, plus repeaters in
Plum Island north, and Marshfield south.

Baltimore has a repeater at the C&D Canal (as well as south); and Chincoteague
has one in Ocean City and one to the south. Both are within about 60 miles of
the Jersey coast.

These are all on high towers, and broadcast at much higher than 25 watts. If
there is any ducting to be had, these signals will find it. In Boston I often
hear Portland and Woods Hole, where the repeaters are 50+ miles away. Sometimes
I get Bar Harbor.

Here's a set of maps showing the repeater locations and the "nominal" coverage.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/nds.htm

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the
horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't
reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

The proper term is "remote base station". A Coast guard station may
have several radio stations that they operate from one point. Those
remote stations are tied to the operation point by phone line. Your
signal does not get "repeated" over their system.
They may transmit on more than one of those remote stations at the
same time. They also listen to all of them at the same time.

A repeater requires two frequencies ot operate. One to receive and one
to transmit on. Channel 16 is only a single frequency.

Regards
Gary


On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 08:56:49 -0500, "Jeff Morris"
wrote:

Group Boston has their primary on the Hancock tower in Boston, plus repeaters in
Plum Island north, and Marshfield south.

Baltimore has a repeater at the C&D Canal (as well as south); and Chincoteague
has one in Ocean City and one to the south. Both are within about 60 miles of
the Jersey coast.

These are all on high towers, and broadcast at much higher than 25 watts. If
there is any ducting to be had, these signals will find it. In Boston I often
hear Portland and Woods Hole, where the repeaters are 50+ miles away. Sometimes
I get Bar Harbor.

Here's a set of maps showing the repeater locations and the "nominal" coverage.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/nds.htm

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the
horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't
reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

BASIC Radio Question
 

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 07:05:02 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:06:35 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:31:13 GMT, (Steven
Shelikoff) wrote:

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:29:19 -0500, Jean Dufour
wrote:

VHF waves work "line of sight". They may be slightly curved around the horizon but
they won't be much. So, whatever the power of the transmiter is, they won't reach
more than 25 miles before getting lost in space.

Well, not really. It all depends on antenna height. From the Jersey
shore, not only can I talk to the Cape May CG station, but also to
Baltimore and Chincoteague, Virginia. I have fairly reliable
communications with CG stations up to over 100 miles.

ducting...dangerous to rely on for reliable communications...

It must be a pretty reliable duct because I hear the Baltimore CG
station almost all the time from the Jersey Shore. It's faint of
course, but perfectly readable.

Steve

This sounds like the region of increased attenuation beyond the line
of sight between two stations. If you can pick out signal beneath
noise this extends range aways.

Brian W