On 9/11/2013 7:41 PM, Klystron wrote:
In ,
wrote:

I am going to be providing shore monitoring for a kayak trip and will be
using a VHF radio from my pickup. I am thinking of installing a unit
rather than using a handheld. I took a look at what there is available
and it seems like the prices start at just over $100 for the unit itself
running up to $500 for a fancy unit that is mounted somewhere hidden and
all the controls in a hand held mic.

Other than the obvious features like the remote mic unit, what should I
look for in getting a quality unit that will work the best without
breaking the bank. I don't want to pay $500, but I will pay $200 or
more if there is a useful difference with the ~$100 units.

I doubt I'll be mounting this in a boat although that is a possibility
someday, I do have a ski boat. But more likely is that I'll mount it at
my house on a lake to provide some amount of emergency monitoring. So I
expect to mount it in the pickup so it can be easily removed and brought
into the house. I guess that means a second antenna too.

Words of advice?


Have you ever heard the saying that the Usenet has given new life to
the uninformed opinion? Stop arguing with people who don't know what
they are talking about. If you needed a shore-side license for a new
marina or yacht club, your question could be answered easily. It sounds
like you propose to be the equivalent of what a mountain-climbing
expedition would call a "ground man." What you propose is sufficiently
unusual that I will guess that not 50 people in the world could advise
you on it. One category would be the high-priced communications lawyers
that advise the large corporations that own the commercial radio
industry. Another category would be the radio experts at the Coast
Guard's headquarters offices. The last category would be in the depths
of the FCC headquarters offices. You will need to get past a few layers
of call screeners before you reach an expert who can give an informed
answer to a question about an esoteric point of technical regulations,
but you will get a definitive answer at a price you can afford to pay
(zero).
By the way, I hold an Amateur Extra license and a general
radiotelephone operator's license with a radar endorsement and I have no
idea what the answer is.

Thanks for your reply. I fully plan to contact the FCC about this.

--

Rick