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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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CARRYING VHF RADIOS FOR SAFETY
I have a good suggestion for baja travellers and lots of our visitors followed my advice and are very glad they did! I suggest buying a VHF radio,
either base or even easier is a handheld radio. Everyone on the coast moniters channel 16 and it is an excellent saftey idea for when you break down,
get sick or are in trouble. Here in baja the group Proteccion Civil (like a volunteer help squad) also monitor the radio and are quick to respond.
When friends are coming our way, they call me on the radio if they have trouble on the road. Also it's a great thing to take fishing, or kayaking as
well just to be safe. think about it and make it part of your baja safety kit. (West Marine often has cheap and good radios on special)
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Shari: Excellent Advice and a beautifull web Site;
Bill and Betty Riffe of Loreto have mantained on channell 16 for many years out of Loreto, checking in each morning with the Sailing Vessels at Port
Escondido and all vessels under way.
Many emergencies, help has been given over the years.
Keep up the Good Work.
Skeet/Loreto
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Frank
Senior Nomad
Posts: 861
Registered: 6-5-2005
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Is it time to leave yet?
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I always have a handheld VHF with us when we drive down. You can get a inexpensive one for about $100.00
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bancoduo
Banned
Posts: 1003
Registered: 10-3-2005
Location: el carcel publico mazatlan sin.
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Frank
I always have a handheld VHF with us when we drive down. You can get a inexpensive one for about $100.00 |
What is the range?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Midland Radio has one cheaper than-----
-------$100, and it is a 5 watt, which is pretty powerful for a handheld. Type in "The Sportsman's Guide" .
I have had excellent performance from Midland, over the years.
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Cardon
Nomad
Posts: 241
Registered: 4-23-2004
Location: Salt Lake City
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When I"m near Puerto Escondido I like to listen in to the sailor's VHF net every morning at 8:00am. Just listen to channel 16 at that time and
someone will direct you to the right channel which I think is channel 21 or 22. They have lots of good info. La Paz also has their own net but I
don't know the details. They discuss things like tides,weather, who needs help,who needs crew, jokes or just anything to do with sailing in Baja-its
fun.
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4969
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: INTP-A
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http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=9046
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=10028
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=12183
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=13601
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com |
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I have 2 of the Midland VHF radios. They are $59 each in the Sportsmans Guide and the Overtons boat catalog. Run off of 4 AA batteries.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
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overtons has em.
nada at sportmans. only GMRS
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Capt. Mike (and all others)---
------keep watching "The Sportsman's Guide"----they DO get the Midland Nautico Radios in from time to time, and they are under $100. That is where I
bought mine.
Better yet, get on their mailing list.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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West Marine has Uniden M72 handheld "From $39 US" Also some at $99.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Careful of the cheaper ones that have less power output.
Go with the 5 watt handhelds for use as anything but a convenience.
When you need to be heard, you want to carry as far as you can.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9006
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Uniden/West Marine
West Marine sells a couple of Uniden-made VHF radios that will interface with the Uniden WAM mic. This is essentially a wireless remote for a full
sized VHF radio. I put one inside my Lance and I can range about 100 feet from the rig and still transmit and receive at a full 25 watts. Came with a
charging stand that works with 12v or 110v. NiMH cells. Also has a belt clip and wrist lanyard.
If I had decided to mount the transceiver that "talks" to the remote control on the outside of the Lance, it might get even more range. But I wanted
it inside and use it for listening and transmitting while sitting outside.
I also use it while driving, if necessary, with the antenna at about a 30 degree angle on the roof.
You can find the compatible radios on sale for as low as 130.00 and the remote mic is another 90.00 or so.
I would not count on a handheld for any emergency unless you are certain that other listeners are within 5-10 miles. That's rarely certain in Baja.
[Edited on 5-16-2006 by Hook]
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dravnx
Nomad
Posts: 106
Registered: 10-27-2005
Location: N. Cal.
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25 watts vs 8 watts
VHF is line of site. Doesn't matter how much wattage the radio puts out. If your down in a canyon, you can't talk to anyone. We use handheld radios in
aircraft that can do 50 miles at less then 2 watts. Why? Because we are line of site. I have used my marine VHF with an antenna on the roof and have
talked with the Coasties 25 miles away.
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Marinero
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 11-4-2003
Location: Los Barriles, BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dravnx
VHF is line of site. Doesn't matter how much wattage the radio puts out. If your down in a canyon, you can't talk to anyone. We use handheld radios in
aircraft that can do 50 miles at less then 2 watts. Why? Because we are line of site. I have used my marine VHF with an antenna on the roof and have
talked with the Coasties 25 miles away. |
Good call on the line of sight feature of VHF radio. With your roof antenna you can extend the horizon a considerable distance. In theory, the
higher the better. Be careful though of over-long antennae leads which can be a problem. If all else fails, climb a hill.
Si estás buscando la person que cambiará su vida, échale una mirada en el espejo.
Fish logo from www.usafishing.com, used w/permission.
But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man
That he didn't, didn't already have..... |
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
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VHF
I thought VHF was illegal except on a vessel - not sure how/if this is enforced in Mexico (SCT used to do sporadic inspections of homes in the late
90s looking for illegal VHF antennas, so I am told - this in the days when getting a phone took years).
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Yes as to line of site and climbing a hill but when you are miles offshore in tall waves and spray or within an area with trees and buildings
partially blocking the line of site, more wattage does help. Even the coast guard doesn't consider the 2 watt handhelds as sufficient safety gear.
Given the same line of site situation at long range, more wattage will also put out a stronger, more readable signal.
Don't cheap out if you will use it for your safety.
I doubt any pilot would be comfortable with nothing but a 2 watt VHF to depend on !
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Marinero
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 11-4-2003
Location: Los Barriles, BCS
Member Is Offline
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I forgot how hard it is to climb a hill when you are in the midst of tall waves and spray. Good point.
Si estás buscando la person que cambiará su vida, échale una mirada en el espejo.
Fish logo from www.usafishing.com, used w/permission.
But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man
That he didn't, didn't already have..... |
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
Member Is Offline
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I've talked to a friend on the beach in Puerto Penaso from my home - base set transmitting on 5w, he was on a hand held - 1 or 5w - over 85 miles
across Sea of Cortez. I'm at about 450ft elevation with a 6ft antena
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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2 more examples, La Paz 2000' 25W base to San Carlos Marina boat.
Conception Bay 25W base on boat to San Carlos Marina on boat.
Don't know what these distances are but are considerable.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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