Vhf radios
Submitted by snappermiles on Thu, 2025-08-21 18:47
hey fishos, i need to upgrade27 meg to vhf radio, what sort of range are people getting out of them? any brands recommended ?
i do some 40/50 miles trips off the coast and not always near rottnest for the repeater stations
____________________________________________________________________________
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Saulty2
Posts: 667
Date Joined: 28/05/10
vhf radios
i just have the GME with 2.4m. aerial and works fine but theres plenty out there to choose from and some crazy prices to go with that ....simrad.. Icom , none of those states { better or longer reception }.... my view is e pirb most important
snappermiles
Posts: 2097
Date Joined: 05/11/10
gme
my gme works fine to 40km out then breaks up, i would like alot more range so if i get into motor trouble im just getting a tow not becoming a news article after setting an epirb off
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
dmck
Posts: 474
Date Joined: 07/03/19
Make sure....
you get one with DSC.. AIS would also be nice but its an expensive add-on
https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/022023-vhf-marine-radios-digital-selective-calling-capability
built in GPS is very handy too...
https://www.whitworths.com.au/standard-horizon-gx1400gps-dsc-vhf-with-built-in-gps-white
To my knowledge all VHF marine radios on the Aust market meet international specifications, its the 'extra facilities' that set the value.
snappermiles
Posts: 2097
Date Joined: 05/11/10
ais
why would you want people tracking you
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Rob H
Posts: 5872
Date Joined: 18/01/12
turn it off anytime you want
turn it off anytime you want but ships can see you and you can see them.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
sunshine
Posts: 2659
Date Joined: 03/03/09
And avoid at all costs GME antennas
Whilst they advertise a 2.4 metre antenna the actual internal ( the bit that carries the signal) is EXACTLY the same as their shorter version. Scalar is way better. Actual mounting point on the boat has the greatest influence on radiation pattern ......dead centre of hard top by far the best location. I get coverage though a little spotty out at the fads off Rockingham. Radio wise ICOM by far and away the best and as an ex ham radio operator I should know
sea-kem
Posts: 15146
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I literally just upgraded my
I literally just upgraded my VHF aerial Gordon to a Pacific longreach Pro, even the mount looks good quality. How do you rate them? I have tested it yet as boat's still undergoing re fit.
Love the West!
sunshine
Posts: 2659
Date Joined: 03/03/09
ANDY - Very little tech info available on them
Supposedly a half wave antenna that comes in two configurations a short 316 grade bottom loaded whip or an AIS compatible 2.5 m ......the latter should give good performance
sea-kem
Posts: 15146
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Thanks Gordon, anything has
Thanks Gordon, anything has to be better than the previous GME setup.
Love the West!
snappermiles
Posts: 2097
Date Joined: 05/11/10
gme
yeh seakem i have a gme aerial now and im lucky to pick up from 40k out! might be time for an upgrade thanks
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Rob H
Posts: 5872
Date Joined: 18/01/12
The repeaters are usually
The repeaters are usually mounted on a high hill or building so get much better coverage.
One of the bigger issues experienced with VHF is the cheaper LED lighting and even phone chargers.
I didnt believe this myself until about 10yrs ago trying to log off at the islands with radio issues.
Only later by chance discovered it was a particular iphone charger and also an LED causing similar RF interference.
Up here Midwest, channel 82 on Moresby ranges gets easy 50 miles on my ICOM
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Swompa
Posts: 3996
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Out at the Rocko fads, with
Out at the Rocko fads, with the aerial upright on the roof of my hard cab, via repeaters (i assume) i could hear Jurien Bay and Bunbury.
sunshine
Posts: 2659
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Swompa only with tropospheric ducting
Occurs often when a trough runs up and down the coast.