Wight Dawn

[ash]

I believe you should keep watch on CH16 and the local appropriate channel as much as possible not just for yourselves...

+1
Listening in on 16 to some of the recent incidents, it would seem that many of the initial reports are made by people on the shore - they certainly wouldn't be firing off flares. They phone the coastie, and he puts out a call on 16.

The response by the dive boat to the recent accident off Ocean Terminal, Greenock was after a Relay Mayday call by Clyde Coastguard.

The "passing your portside" announcement on 16 by the oil tanker coming up behind us was a great comfort to my crew.

I struggle to hear the detail from my cockpit but I will add a extension speaker, or more likely buy a hand held with 'still to be spent' Christmas money.

Ash - Posting from an IP address in Budapest, Hungary - just to confuse Silkie - can't for the life of me remember his old title - "? assistant ?, second class" - "TASSC" ?

Edit - TAASC - Technical Administrative Assistant Second Class

[ubergeekian]

I believe you should keep watch on CH16 and the local appropriate channel as much as possible not just for yourselves...

I agree. In my case, "as much as possible" is "not at all" when I am in the cockpit. Sorry, guys. But I will respond most assiduously to flares, burning tar barrels and inverted ensigns.

[Booby Trapper]

It's a bit of a thread drift but I had the occasion last month to assist in a mayday when crossing Kilbrannan sound towards Campbeltown. CG came on 16 asking for anyone in the vacinity of Kilbrannan sound as there was a Rib with 4 persons on board, sinking and in need of immediate assistance between Carradale and Pirnmill. I was about 10 miles south and they asked my ETA to the casualty I said it would be just over 90 mins, this was too long at that point a fast motor cruiser in Cambeltown loch came on ch16. CG couldn't receive anything from them so I had to relay the messages. I established he was capable of 25knts so he would get there quicker than me. I informed CG that he was on his way. As it turned out Rescue 177 and the lifeboat from tighnabruaich all arrived at the same time. At least I know that by having the radio on could have helped save a few lives.

[DaveS]

I struggle to hear the detail from my cockpit but I will add a extension speaker, or more likely buy a hand held with 'still to be spent' Christmas money.

I now have a "pukka" extension speaker fitted into one of the cockpit cave lockers, but I previously used a wee myler cone allegedly waterproof speaker. Cost 50p from Greenweld IIRC and lasted about 10 years before it finally rusted up.

[Booby Trapper]

I struggle to hear the detail from my cockpit but I will add a extension speaker, or more likely buy a hand held with 'still to be spent' Christmas money.

I now have a "pukka" extension speaker fitted into one of the cockpit cave lockers, but I previously used a wee myler cone allegedly waterproof speaker. Cost 50p from Greenweld IIRC and lasted about 10 years before it finally rusted up.

Nothing lasts these days.

[ash]

I struggle to hear the detail from my cockpit but I will add a extension speaker, or more likely buy a hand held with 'still to be spent' Christmas money.

Spurred on by the article in this month's Sailing Today comparing 11 H/H VHF at less than £150, I've splashed the cash.

I've bought the Standard Horizon HX751E, which I got for £129.95 and free delivery from Marine Scene - http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/47 ... ndheld-vhf

Some of its features seem a bit gimmicky but I like the scan - you can programme which channels you want to scan, and it seems to lock on to the channel which is broadcasting very cleanly. The preset feature allows you to scroll through up to 10 of your 'favourite' channels.

I haven't had it on the water yet - we visited the boat for a couple of hours this afternoon - and I could talk to the mother ship from the end of the pontoon but I couldn't raise Clyde Coastguard from the marina.

It seems to receive well, but I didn't hear Belfast Coastguard, which I can on the main set.

As is so often the case, it's difficult to find all the features that you would like in one unit - whether that is in a boat, a car, a TV, or a H/H.

This H/H uses a cradle for charging, and doesn't come with a 12V supply as standard. The mains unit has a 12V DC output so I'm sure that I can use the Maplin power supply that I have for the netbook to provide a regulated 12V if I need to recharge it whilst away from the mains.

Ash

[ash]

This H/H uses a cradle for charging, and doesn't come with a 12V supply as standard. The mains unit has a 12V DC output so I'm sure that I can use the Maplin power supply that I have for the netbook to provide a regulated 12V if I need to recharge it whilst away from the mains.

Ash

Looking at the bottom of the charging cradle it says Input 12 - 16 V DC 200 mA, Output 8.4 V DC 170 mA so a 'raw' 12 V supply should be OK - just need to get the right size plug - think that it's 4 x 1.7 x 9.5 mm.

Ash

[pagoda]

I struggle to hear the detail from my cockpit but I will add a extension speaker, or more likely buy a hand held with 'still to be spent' Christmas money.

Spurred on by the article in this month's Sailing Today comparing 11 H/H VHF at less than £150, I've splashed the cash.

I've bought the Standard Horizon HX751E, which I got for £129.95 and free delivery from Marine Scene - http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/47 ... ndheld-vhf

Some of its features seem a bit gimmicky but I like the scan - you can programme which channels you want to scan, and it seems to lock on to the channel which is broadcasting very cleanly. The preset feature allows you to scroll through up to 10 of your 'favourite' channels.

I haven't had it on the water yet - we visited the boat for a couple of hours this afternoon - and I could talk to the mother ship from the end of the pontoon but I couldn't raise Clyde Coastguard from the marina.

It seems to receive well, but I didn't hear Belfast Coastguard, which I can on the main set.

As is so often the case, it's difficult to find all the features that you would like in one unit - whether that is in a boat, a car, a TV, or a H/H.

This H/H uses a cradle for charging, and doesn't come with a 12V supply as standard. The mains unit has a 12V DC output so I'm sure that I can use the Maplin power supply that I have for the netbook to provide a regulated 12V if I need to recharge it whilst away from the mains.

Ash

+1... I always have a handheld outside in the cockpit . It's a SH HX750 - essentially the same, waterproof etc etc. I can get about 3 days sailing use from a charge- but it depends on whether you're talking - and how much squelch you use to cut noise out. It is potentially much easier to watch & talk than go below ... range of course being the defining factor as Ian points out. About 6 watts is your max power output.
An antenna up the mast with 25W will always reach further...

Graeme

[Bodach na mara]

Sorry folks, not only did I not hear Claymore but I have not ben on the internet much either. I did manage to contact Eamonn however, which is where all this started.

I usually have the radio on and it is even working now William. I cannot remember where we were when Claymore called us but I think I remember seeing a Claymore and wondering which it was. But then I remember a lot of things which Mrs WD says are all rubbish.

The boat is back at Cardwell Bay and family commitments have kept us away from the water. Apart from getting stuck in the floods in Newcastle at the end of June. Hope to get away again for a few days at the end of July. Unless something else stops us.

[claymore]

You were heading towards Kerrera, we passed somewhere off Easdale.

Anyway, that seems ages ago and just look what you started

[cpedw]

I've bought the Standard Horizon HX751E, which I got for £129.95 and free delivery from Marine Scene - http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/47 ... ndheld-vhf

This H/H uses a cradle for charging, and doesn't come with a 12V supply as standard. The mains unit has a 12V DC output so I'm sure that I can use the Maplin power supply that I have for the netbook to provide a regulated 12V if I need to recharge it whilst away from the mains.

Ash

Does it support channels M1 and M2? I'm looking for a new HH VHF. Key features are to have all the useful UK channels and 12V charging. I can't find many that boast of M1 & M2 so I presume it's not there. About the only one I've turned up is the Midland Pacific which is exceptionally cheap but apparently not very robust. Anyone got a recommendation you'd like to share?
Derek

[DaveS]

I think this is you in Puildobhraoin, but I can't remember when.

[ash]

I've bought the Standard Horizon HX751E, which I got for £129.95 and free delivery from Marine Scene - http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/47 ... ndheld-vhf

This H/H uses a cradle for charging, and doesn't come with a 12V supply as standard. The mains unit has a 12V DC output so I'm sure that I can use the Maplin power supply that I have for the netbook to provide a regulated 12V if I need to recharge it whilst away from the mains.

Ash

Does it support channels M1 and M2? I'm looking for a new HH VHF. Key features are to have all the useful UK channels and 12V charging. I can't find many that boast of M1 & M2 so I presume it's not there. About the only one I've turned up is the Midland Pacific which is exceptionally cheap but apparently not very robust. Anyone got a recommendation you'd like to share?
Derek

Both the H/H and the manual are on board, but IIRC then my unit does support M1 and M2. I'll be at the boat later today so will check and if I can get my dongle to lock on then I'll post a definitive answer.

Have a look through this PDF of the manual - look at page 36 - says M1 and M2 are on UK version.

http://www.standardhorizon.co.uk/files/ ... 32N270.pdf

The 12V cable needs to be bought - don't where from - as an accessory.

Ash

[ash]

Both the H/H and the manual are on board, but IIRC then my unit does support M1 and M2. I'll be at the boat later today so will check and if I can get my dongle to lock on then I'll post a definitive answer.

Just to confirm that my H/H does support M1 and M2. The display looks like n1 and n2 but it speaks to my main set when it's on the M1 and M2 channels.

Ash

[cpedw]

Thanks for the information. I consulted an online manual for the SH HX280E which doesn't mention M1 & M2 but I asked Allgadgets, who sell it for £99, and apparently the UK model does do M1 & M2 even though the manual doesn't mention it.

It has significantly better battery life than the than the 751 but slightly lower max transmit power. And a few missing functions, like a thermometer! Why does a VHF include a thermometer?

They also sell a 12V cable for £8.50.

I've spent most of the afternoon refurbishing the old one, which was found to be corroding from its battery, and it lives. Now I don't know whether to trust it or get a new one.

Derek

ps apologies for hijacking the thread.