Yup Rodney, we sailors, for the most part, have masthead antennas, which
definitely trump most other designs with both transmit and RECEIVE
performance. I guess it might be part of my "problem." Altitude is
everything in VHF performance.

The VHF band has been "open" most early mornings here in the East.....I have
made a couple of contacts from the Northern Chesapeake to my buddy
fishing.....50-90 miles SE of Cape May. It's "ducting" or some type e-layer
propagation.

Tell you what...the "weather alert" feature sure works great on my Icom. I
can't remember if it's enabled all of the time.....or just when scanning or
in dual or tri-watch mode. It was "going off" left and right
Saturday....some nasty storms went through here.

Fair winds....Joe

"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 10:58:28 -0400, "JAD"
wrote:

I hear boats MILES away talking to other stations within sight of them.
I
hear boats MILES away talking to the guy on the dock with a portable
(within
view) to ask if there is a slip available for dining. I hear calls to
the
marina for service....and the marina is 10-15 MILES AWAY....and SO is the
maritime station!

I am able to complete 95% of my communications on VHF with the LOW POWER
SETTING.....I wish other boaters would be aware of how they interfere
unnecessarily by not using low power whenever possible. ALL CALLS should
be
tried on low power FIRST!

FIND THAT SWITCH and USE IT!!!!!!

Whew! ....that feels better. I'm probably preaching to the choir here
on
the NG though......


Since I do a lot of sailing in NY Harbor, I monitor VHF13 all the
time. If I turn on scan I also get 16, 22, and 3 WX alarms.

13 is automatic low power on all radios AFIK. I still hear
conversations 15 to 20 miles away, somewhat depending on weather.

Most of the people that bother you are probably using high power
unnecessarily, but some may not.

I leave my radio on low power all the time. I only switch if I fail to
make contact.



Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a


MOM CASTS TOT IN CEMENT

Most experts voice cautious optimism

JAD wrote:

Yup Rodney, we sailors, for the most part, have masthead antennas, which
definitely trump most other designs with both transmit and RECEIVE
performance. I guess it might be part of my "problem." Altitude is
everything in VHF performance.

Right! So the solution could be two antennae, a gain antenna on the mast
for emergencies and a 1/4 wave on the deck for local chats. I might look
at that since I'm going to install a ham rig anyway and have some
switches in my junk box.
73, K3DWW

Vito....not TOO MUCH gain on the mast.....won't work while heeled over or
waving about in high seas due to narrow angle radiation.. Use the sailboat
type antenna (which is a 1/2 wave design) meant for masthead mounting.
IMPRESSIVE performance on VHF. My ham VHF / UHF dual-bander (a Larsen
knock-off) is an NMO mount clamped to a spreader, and works very well from
there, despite the mast and shrouds nearby. I did not want to crowd the
masthead with too many things.....STILL have to add a light!

I use my marine H-T at the helm for exactly the reason you want a second
antenna....and STILL receives "too well." Works fine for local comms, and,
to me, more economical than adding a "command mike" (remote speaker / mike)
at the helm. Now I have a second radio aboard.

Joe
"Vito" wrote in message
...
JAD wrote:

Yup Rodney, we sailors, for the most part, have masthead antennas, which
definitely trump most other designs with both transmit and RECEIVE
performance. I guess it might be part of my "problem." Altitude is
everything in VHF performance.

Right! So the solution could be two antennae, a gain antenna on the mast
for emergencies and a 1/4 wave on the deck for local chats. I might look
at that since I'm going to install a ham rig anyway and have some
switches in my junk box.
73, K3DWW