Re: A chat about VHF Radios
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2025 10:57 am
This Introduction video by GME helps understand their VHF radio range and some capabilities better,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ORx0m0GLY&t=3s
it helped me decide which handheld would suit me.
Another factor, google AI helped with, was deciding if DSC/GPS capability was necessary or not. Nearly all limited coast stations (eg Volunteer marine rescues etc) DON'T HAVE DSC receiving stations. However, Nearly All big ships have it, so DSC emergency calls would go to a big ship first (on channel 70), then the coordinates of stricken mariners get relayed to coast stations etc. It's a good idea to check with your local marine rescue unit if they have a DSC capable VHF receiver?
DSC is generally for serious offshore or blue water voyaging, and also Racing yachts must have it.
I phoned my local Volunteer coast guard to check. They definitely don't have a DSC monitoring radio, just standard voice VHF. The MSQ website said they also don't do DSC either.
So this extra info helped me decide, the ordinary VHF is about half the price (saved $200) would do me.
However if tight budget isn't a concern, reckon DSC/gps would be safer. Just press a "panic button" and the big ships near you might get your exact GPS coordinates instantly, then they relay them to emergency authorities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ORx0m0GLY&t=3s
it helped me decide which handheld would suit me.
Another factor, google AI helped with, was deciding if DSC/GPS capability was necessary or not. Nearly all limited coast stations (eg Volunteer marine rescues etc) DON'T HAVE DSC receiving stations. However, Nearly All big ships have it, so DSC emergency calls would go to a big ship first (on channel 70), then the coordinates of stricken mariners get relayed to coast stations etc. It's a good idea to check with your local marine rescue unit if they have a DSC capable VHF receiver?
DSC is generally for serious offshore or blue water voyaging, and also Racing yachts must have it.
I phoned my local Volunteer coast guard to check. They definitely don't have a DSC monitoring radio, just standard voice VHF. The MSQ website said they also don't do DSC either.
So this extra info helped me decide, the ordinary VHF is about half the price (saved $200) would do me.
However if tight budget isn't a concern, reckon DSC/gps would be safer. Just press a "panic button" and the big ships near you might get your exact GPS coordinates instantly, then they relay them to emergency authorities.