In article , Chuck wrote:
GregS wrote:


I used the reference at...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_VHF_radio


The 60 nm maximum range quoted is not
likely to be realized if one of the
antennas is virtually at sea level. An
antenna on a 1000 foot hill could do it.

The 5 nm range given for small boats is

Do you have a table for distances?

The range is ~ 1.4 times the square root
of the sum of the antenna heights. Now
you can verify some of your assertions.


These calculations seem to be line of sight measurments, and I can agree with that.
Talking power or antenna types then would not matter. I see no calculation for
power in the formula.

greg




I always get about 60 miles from the cell phone up on Lake Erie.

Sure you do.

A
problem getting into Canada's system. I'm more familiar about talking
hundreds of miles through the dessert 2 meter amateur rigs.


Sure thing.

The problem I used to have, when I talked on the cell through Canada, I never got billed.
That was back in the analog days. The cell tower was over 50 miles away from the US shore.
I got very poor reception from that shore, but out 5-10 miles from shore, cell reception was steller.