Keeping In Touch From My Boat

Post by **Wadey** » October 18th, 2007, 3:48 pm

OK guys I guess you must get fed up with the question " Which Radio Is Best".I have read through lots of previous posts and can't get an answer I'm confident with.
My situation is:- I will be doing all my fishing in and around AGP within sight of the shore and up the river, now from what I have read about VHF radios, is that they are fine out at sea but if up river where the bankside trees etc, are in the way that they won't work, so if I have this correct, what is the best form of communication I should use.....cellnet? 2 way radio ? or what?..........if way up river then perhaps no network works?..... is that correct?

Post by **wevans** » October 18th, 2007, 3:55 pm

While they are line of sight, I have talked to aligator point marina from my boat, sitting in the yard here in Sopchoppy

A 25 watt VHF with a good antenna will do you just fine

Post by **RodBow** » October 18th, 2007, 3:57 pm

If you're at sea - AOK.
If you're up the river... you can drift back down - no problem.

Post by **Mook!** » October 18th, 2007, 5:44 pm

I agree with wevans - this shouldn't be a concern at the distances from cvilization I think you're planning on navigating. Even if you were stuck a little further than you could communicate with a specific marina or tow company, there's almost always a good samaritan who will relay for you. Again though, I don't think you're going to get far enough away from things for that to be an issue. I have a decent radio but my antenna is the cheapie Shakespeare one that in my opinion is absolute junk, and I frequently hear boats that I know to be 5-10 miles up the river when I'm out in the flats. Also most people you would call for help should that become necessary have very good antennae and powerful radios.

Only thing I would recommend, especially since there will be little price difference, is again what wevans said, get a radio that does at least 25w max...I know you were talking about a tiller boat, so maybe you're considering handheld...Quite a few hand held units on the market aren't that powerful, and I would also maybe get one that can connect to external antenna and bring one along if you go the handheld route and are worried about distance.

Hopefully you won't need one for anything other than calling the clowns from NFGFC and BBF to brag about your catch anyway

Post by **Dubble Trubble** » October 18th, 2007, 6:08 pm

I have a place at AP, and the cellular service there has improved in the last year. I would say if you have Verizon or Alltell, you should have cell service most anywhere around the point.

Also, a good handheld would probably raise someone anywhere in the area also. I know when I am staying there, I always monitor VHF 16, and so do a few others on the point.

I will be there next weekend 26th-28th, but I don't think you will get there by then, maybe sometime in December I can meet ya down there and have a cocktail or three.....

Dubble

Post by **jsuber** » October 19th, 2007, 12:59 pm

I use a 5 Watt Uniden 550 Handheld that I can talk from Oyster Bay to Saint Markjs River and all the way over to Alligator Point while sitting low in my kayak. I also have a Uniden Fixed mount 550 for a milk Crate with a 3' Antennae. Its a full 25 watts. i really like it.

http://www.uniden.com/products/productd ... ed%20Mount#

Post by **Mook!** » October 20th, 2007, 4:29 am

suber - you got a 600 watt sonar on your kayak yet?

mojokoko · Post by **mojokoko** » October 20th, 2007, 1:04 pm

Please.. I bet Jeff Suber has one of those button that's turns a Kayak into a powerboat with a 4 stroke yamaha 115 when nobody is looking.