Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Oct 23, 12:17 pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"HK" wrote in message

. ..



So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less
static.

Right?

It would seem that the next logical evolution for VHF communications is
for
it to go to a totally digital format, rather than the analog system it
remains. Digital will allow more available bandwidth for each frequency,
would open up the possibility of full duplex communications and would
provide clearer communications.

Eisboch

There ya go! DSL for VHF!

DSL is a land line communication method, e.g. copper telephone lines, and
coexists with voice. Nothing to with wireless.

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Oct 23, 1:38 pm, "D.Duck" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...





On Oct 23, 12:17 pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"HK" wrote in message

m...

So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less
static.

Right?

It would seem that the next logical evolution for VHF communications is
for
it to go to a totally digital format, rather than the analog system it
remains. Digital will allow more available bandwidth for each frequency,
would open up the possibility of full duplex communications and would
provide clearer communications.

Eisboch

There ya go! DSL for VHF!

DSL is a land line communication method, e.g. copper telephone lines, and
coexists with voice. Nothing to with wireless.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Never mind, the humor was lost on you.

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

In article ,
"Eisboch" wrote:

It would seem that the next logical evolution for VHF communications is for
it to go to a totally digital format, rather than the analog system it
remains. Digital will allow more available bandwidth for each frequency,
would open up the possibility of full duplex communications and would
provide clearer communications.

Digital would not necessarily be more efficient on bandwidth. And at the
end of the range, digital detoriates faster than analog.

Plus: The really important messages are already digital - a distress
call goes out in 5 seconds, including position (connect a GPS!) and your
identity (MMSI). In 10 seconds you manage to even detail what's wrong.
The radio will try until you get an acknowledge. And you get an
acknowledge rather quickly most of the time.

US lags somewhat behind Europe, but the USCG has a project Rescue 21
getting DSC going.

Read it all up under the keywords GMDSS, DSC, distress call.

Another very useful addition in VHF is AIS.

In order to reduce false distress calls, you have to pass either SRC
(short range certificate, VHF only) or LRC (long range certificate, VHF,
MF/HF) exams.

Hope this gives enogh pointers.

Marc

--
remove bye and from mercial to get valid e-mail
http://www.heusser.com

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

Hmmmm...

Suprised that "Larry" hasn't yet jumped in on this particular
thread. When it comes to communications he is one of our main
squeezes... so to speak. (smile)

73

Bill (N6TGC) (Who is watching Southern California go up in flames)

Anacapa Isle Marina
Channel Islands Harbor
Oxnard, California

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:29:03 -0400, HK wrote:


So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less static.

Right?

Why would you want duplex?

SSB doesn't do anything for you as it's still analog and at 162 MHz,
isn't at all linear like FM. It's also more prone to static and
atmospheric effects.

Sat phones aren't much of a solution either.

You want simple, easy to use and effective learn Morse code. :)

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:17:22 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"HK" wrote in message
...

So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less
static.

Right?


It would seem that the next logical evolution for VHF communications is for
it to go to a totally digital format, rather than the analog system it
remains. Digital will allow more available bandwidth for each frequency,
would open up the possibility of full duplex communications and would
provide clearer communications.

NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

God save us from digital everything.

Give me good old analog communications any day.

With tubes. :)

~~ mutter - digital - phooey ~~

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:20:37 -0400, HK wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less
static.
Right?


It would seem that the next logical evolution for VHF communications is for
it to go to a totally digital format, rather than the analog system it
remains. Digital will allow more available bandwidth for each frequency,
would open up the possibility of full duplex communications and would
provide clearer communications.

Aha! And I mis-typed above. I am not suggesting going to SSB or satellite.

I like the idea of full duplex VHF.

It already exists, but the radios are expensive.

I'd still lke to know why you think duplex is so important.

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:44:19 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Yeah..... but nothing (that I know of) that is available in your area.
Everybody: Check this link out and send them your location. The more
interest generated, the more quickly they will add coverage...
http://www.seasmartvhf.com/about/index.html

Notice the engines on those boats?

http://www.seasmartvhf.com/subscription/index.html

WHOO HOO!!!

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:34:13 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Give me good old analog communications any day.

With tubes. :)

Toooobs?

Good grief. They *were* good on a cold winter night I guess if you
didn't have a fireplace, and the bluish flickering of a slightly gassy
high powered triode could be interesting.

Toooobs and boats never got along very well though.

Boat Radios, or Why I am not an Engineer
 

On Oct 23, 10:29 am, HK wrote:
So, I was thinking, what with all the technological advances in
communications, why are we still stuck with VHF radios on our boats?
The limitations of VHF radio are obvious to all of us, so there's no
need to repeat them here. And I'm suggesting a move up to SSB or
satellite telephones.

Surely, there is a better way to handle boat to boat or boat to shore
communciations, with features like duplex, much greater range, less static.

Right?

Well, I always thought these did a pretty good job.

http://www.usswisconsin.org/Pictures...t%2024inc..JPG