Effectiveness of handheld VHF when in dinghy or kayak

thataway · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:29 pm Post subject:

Excellent remarks. One clarification, is that the DSC portable radio, as well as fixed, is a digital signal, and not subject to ambient noise conditions. The digital signal is repeated and the system, generally fills in any gaps during the transmission.

The combination of Garmin GPS/plotting along with the satellite communication is a fantastic feature. But if my life were on the line, I would choose the PLB...

Baxter · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:54 pm Post subject: VHF in Kayak.

Height more important than power. I have used 2 mts gear in canoes with a 6’ antenna over the years successfully, since 1960s. Marine VH F has similar
Properties. As a side comment boats that put there antennas tilted back to look cool are reducing effectiveness. Vertical is best.

I also carry a SPOt for rescue as is satellite based. And with deluxe model
Can text.

Also always monitor 16 underway. Someone may hear a distress call
Better than CoastGuard. We have two fill power radio on Baxter with two antennas. One radio always on CH 16.

Be safe and enjoy trip.

Craig

robhwa · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 9:15 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 9:28 pm Post subject:

Life or death, survival: PLB, EPRIB

Non life threating, then one of the private services. I would put Sat phone at the bottom of the heap for rescue...

HOWEVER: a sprained ankle, and no help, and unprepared camper can equal death from hypothermia...a MOB, in cold water soon also because a hypothermia. Issue.

Most of SatSar activations are false calls. For 700 for 2018.

tomherrick · Guest

Looking at PLB options, I've also run across Spot, which appears to be a cross between a PLB and a sat phone. Budget-wise it seems to be in the neighborhood of most well-reviewed PLBs. Plus, one can communicate directly with responders, albeit with slow-ish send and receive functions according to a number of reviewers. The breadcrumb function is apparently user-definable based on time and can be sent to one's contacts.

At the moment, I'm leaning toward a Spot X but am continuing to research online. But, I thought I'd see what more seasoned recreational mariners have to say in this forum.

Your thoughts???

Baxter · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:21 pm Post subject: Spot locator

Though I have spot. I have high regard for Garmin equipment
They are newer in market.

tomherrick · Guest

Garmin... Having been born in Kansas, I want to like them. While I can't fault the quality of their equipment, I found their documentation, user interface on their devices, website, and customer/technical service to be woefully lacking and, frankly, irritating. If one isn't already an accomplished user, they don't seem to be willing to be helpful.

I'll stop my rant there, but I can't see myself dealing with that company again. Many others here, and elsewhere, are very satisfied customers, but I'll go elsewhere.

thataway · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:38 pm Post subject:

I cannot comment on the Garmin products currently. In the past I have not had any issues. Inreach prior to the Garmin acquisition, was better regarded than Spot with reliability and connectivity.

I might just go with the Inreach designed product.

If you really want life saving function then the PLB is far better since there is a very well established chain of command, and SAR connection protocol. Where Spot and Inreach have fallen down in the past, was in calling the appropriate SAR agency. Hopefully that is resolved. The SAR will occur with the ERPIB or PLB. The hand held radio, I would still spring the extra $100 and get a HX 890 over cheaper radios without DSC.

kennharriet · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:25 pm Post subject:

Prairie boy, The VHF, PLB and In-Reach are all good but different tools. You might consider all three at some point. Bob nailed it. The PLB is the best tool in a real life/death emergency. Other attributes of the PLB no other device offers is 5-7 year battery life and duel transmit on 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz so the rescue aircraft can hon in on your location. We use the In-reach a lot and change plans seasonally. I like that you can text device to device at no cost, if you at least have the basic safety plan.

Sorry I know your original post was about VHF radios. Ken

tomherrick · Guest

Hey, Ken,

Yeah, it started with VHF but thanks to the folks here and on other forums the thread grew and I certainly am learning a lot - enough to cause more questions... Hopefully, others will as well.

In general I get that the tools you mentioned are different, but there seems - to this novice - to be some overlap in functionality with some of them. Are a VHF DSC and a PLB redundant in functionality? Are they both calling the same SAR units? Are they both calling different SAR units simultaneously for the same event if I push the "SOS" buttons on each device, causing more units to be deployed for a single event? Or, should one have both VHF DSC and a PLB to enhance the likelihood of the full cavalry in response?

Thanks,

Novice...

thataway · Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:19 pm Post subject:

kennharriet · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:52 am Post subject:

Thanks for that great explanation and graphic Bob. I believe another reason the PLB or EPIRB is the most reliable and robust system for real emergencies is because Rescue Coordination Centers are government funded and operated. I spent a few years providing aircraft crash survival training for Dept of Interior employees in AK and HI. If you activate a PLB, depending where you are, particularly in AK, you will get either a USCG vessel, helicopter/fixed wing, USAF C-130 with PJs or a National Guard UH-60 headed your way in short order. Rescue aircraft will have both your latitude/longitude and guidance from the 121.5 transmission. Many private aircraft and commercial airliners also monitor 121.5 and will report your distress to the FAA as a redundancy. As rescue gets close the PLB also has a strobe.

We use our In-Reach more for communication with friends and family. Before a boat trip or backcountry trip we share our tentative plans with trusted family or friends who know what to do if we are in need, then close out with them when back at the trailhead or marina. Even though the In-Reach will also transmit a 406 MHZ distress signal with my personal information, it is going to a privately operated for profit system that I have less confidence in. It will allow you the ability to two way text with their coordination center to provide them specific details of your need which the PLB will not do. I look at the In-Reach more as a tool to get help for some need less than a life or death emergency. For example, a mechanical problem where we are stuck but not in imminent danger. I can text a trusted friend who could contact someone to provide the help needed. Sheesh getting long winded. Ken

hardee · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:34 am Post subject:

Ken, That is a good combo, (PLB and In-Reach). I used SPOT with the tacking crumbs for several years.
It worked well, but for serious life threatening issue, the PLB and the Handheld VHF.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

tomherrick · Guest

I resized the image Bob included in his earlier response so I could grok the whole thing.

Here's a link to NOAA's Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking web page:
https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/