Comments on: Where are the Marine Antennas for UHF GMRS? http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/2008/04/02/where-are-the-marine-antennas-for-uhf-gmrs/ The personal-radio site for the family-minded communicator. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:54:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: aspicer http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/2008/04/02/where-are-the-marine-antennas-for-uhf-gmrs/comment-page-1/#comment-660 aspicer Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:04:37 +0000 http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/?p=240#comment-660 It would be interesting to see if the popularity of GMRS would increase in the marine environment. But somehow I doubt it. Boats/Yachts have enough wireless stuff to install and contend with already. Boats that are going to talk amongst themselves will probably use VHF Marine. Those that are going to talk to shore are probably going to use Cellular Phone. I've seen Bubble Pack Radios on Yachts, used as a short range tool onboard replacing VHF Marine Handhelds. Most that I approached didn't have a clue about the dual FRS - GMRS bubble radios, where the GMRS part required licensing. Many bigger yachts have Icom handhelds and some Land Mobile Channels programmed by the radio dealer. Not sure if they actually have a license for those land mobile channels or not. I don't see them wanting GMRS added to their gear because they don't have anyone to talk to on it anyway. Smaller boats - more family oriented might be interested. But then again their budget for Toys or Radio gear is even more limited. It would be interesting to see if the popularity of GMRS would increase in the marine environment. But somehow I doubt it. Boats/Yachts have enough wireless stuff to install and contend with already. Boats that are going to talk amongst themselves will probably use VHF Marine. Those that are going to talk to shore are probably going to use Cellular Phone. I’ve seen Bubble Pack Radios on Yachts, used as a short range tool onboard replacing VHF Marine Handhelds. Most that I approached didn’t have a clue about the dual FRS – GMRS bubble radios, where the GMRS part required licensing. Many bigger yachts have Icom handhelds and some Land Mobile Channels programmed by the radio dealer. Not sure if they actually have a license for those land mobile channels or not. I don’t see them wanting GMRS added to their gear because they don’t have anyone to talk to on it anyway.

Smaller boats – more family oriented might be interested. But then again their budget for Toys or Radio gear is even more limited.

]]> By: aspicer http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/2008/04/02/where-are-the-marine-antennas-for-uhf-gmrs/comment-page-1/#comment-659 aspicer Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:56:12 +0000 http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/?p=240#comment-659 What about LMR-400? Or even smaller LMR type cable could be used at UHF for more flexibility. We used LMR-400 a lot in Satellite, Cellular, and WiFi. What about LMR-400? Or even smaller LMR type cable could be used at UHF for more flexibility. We used LMR-400 a lot in Satellite, Cellular, and WiFi.

]]> By: popwireless http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/2008/04/02/where-are-the-marine-antennas-for-uhf-gmrs/comment-page-1/#comment-655 popwireless Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:12:51 +0000 http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/?p=240#comment-655 The coaxial cable you use at UHF is a bigger deal than at VHF. I suggest using a good low-loss 50 ohm coax cable and not RG-58 or RG-8. There are excellent Teflon coated cables. I heartily recommend RF Cables in Maryland. A magnetic mount antenna will probably come with a short (six foot) section of cable attached which is fine if that's all you need to use. The coaxial cable you use at UHF is a bigger deal than at VHF. I suggest using a good low-loss 50 ohm coax cable and not RG-58 or RG-8. There are excellent Teflon coated cables. I heartily recommend RF Cables in Maryland. A magnetic mount antenna will probably come with a short (six foot) section of cable attached which is fine if that’s all you need to use.

]]> By: popwireless http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/2008/04/02/where-are-the-marine-antennas-for-uhf-gmrs/comment-page-1/#comment-654 popwireless Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:09:02 +0000 http://www.popularwireless.com/blog1/?p=240#comment-654 What you can use right away, depending on available surfaces, are magnetic mount mobile antennas used on land vehicles. You have to have a flat metal surface on board that a magnet can stick to of course. UHF mobile antennas come in short six inch unity gain and the taller 3db gain varieties. Antennex, Larsen, WIlson, Hy-Gain and many others can sell these types of antennas. A boating store might even be talked into ordering these for you OR you can order from advertisers here at the magazine. What you can use right away, depending on available surfaces, are magnetic mount mobile antennas used on land vehicles. You have to have a flat metal surface on board that a magnet can stick to of course.

UHF mobile antennas come in short six inch unity gain and the taller 3db gain varieties. Antennex, Larsen, WIlson, Hy-Gain and many others can sell these types of antennas. A boating store might even be talked into ordering these for you OR you can order from advertisers here at the magazine.

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