mrsmelly Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Hi Peeps Right so in the spring myself and bro in law are bumbling together on our respective boats we are intending doing the north south circuit again and I was just wondering re keeping in chatter contact with each other on the rivers and indeed other places when needed. I have vhf but he is a pretend boater that doesn't so being as he is so straight he would never use vhf I wondered what the panel suggests is best? I have in the past used those little handheld jobbies but they are not much cop and need charging etc etc so was thinking about static mounted kit to the boat lectrics. What is available these days? Years ago there was CB that seemed good but when it became legal didn't seem as good? Is CB of any kind any use or what would any of the panel suggest. Yes we have mobile fones but I was more meaning constantly open and available for waffle. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 You can get PMR base stations like this https://www.onedirect.co.uk/midland/midland-gb1?fee=7&fep=107085&gclid=CjwKCAiAmb7RBRATEiwA7kS8VNRZNuBC0K-WyLki_wWSm7Qy-rWx30BkrehIHecpjwi7ixxz3M53gxoCcsQQAvD_BwE a bit pricey though compared to the PMR handhelds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 (edited) A pair of these. Trancievers too as they double as ear trumpets. Can also be used as a road cone. Edited December 12, 2017 by bizzard 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Semaphore or flashing light would seem most appropriate for an old salt like you. Otherwise, a PMR with a battery that will last all day and recharge overnight would seem favourite. A pair will really ease your battery worries as there can always be one on charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 You could try Zello, if you both have smartphones https://zello.com/app Dunno how it works though. @mross probably does, cos he's smart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Or these, but I suggest elastic instead of string is used unless you can keep perfect station with each other, although the performance will be slightly marred with elastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickhlx Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 WhatsApp is free when you have Wi-Fi, although will use data if you are in 3G / 4G coverage (although not much) - perhaps each turn on "on the hour" for a few mins ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceinSanity Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 We use Motorola TLKR handhelds. The batteries last several days on one charge with about three hours use per day. Plenty of choice on Amazon, go for the ones with decent range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 39 minutes ago, rusty69 said: You could try Zello, if you both have smartphones https://zello.com/app Dunno how it works though. @mross probably does, cos he's smart. Zello is wonderful! It works over 3G, 4G, or wifi and it's 'push to talk' so you can have a lot of fun. When I know that my wife is in the supermarket I can press the button and say, " are those two old women still blocking the aisle with their trolleys and gibb-gabbering?" They turn around, looking for a rude man and see my wife. That really messes with their minds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 PMR radios transmit at 500mW which is pathetic. We have commercial-class UHF radios on a business license and they are effective over a mile (line of sight) but you must tuck them inside your jacket and use a remote mic/speaker as the radio with straps is a real hazard when working locks. We bought ours second-hand. IIRC the license is £75 for five years. Commercial class radios are 5 Watts. That's 1,000 times more powerful than the PMR radios. We never hear the morons on what used to be called CB radio (an American term) saying 'breaker-breaker 1-9' or 'copy' or 'over and out' - all incorrect in radio terminology. I have a restricted VHF license, so I am able to use the correct terminology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 8 minutes ago, mross said: PMR radios transmit at 500mW which is pathetic. We have commercial-class UHF radios on a business license and they are effective over a mile (line of sight) but you must tuck them inside your jacket and use a remote mic/speaker as the radio with straps is a real hazard when working locks. We bought ours second-hand. IIRC the license is £75 for five years. Commercial class radios are 5 Watts. That's 1,000 times more powerful than the PMR radios. We never hear the morons on what used to be called CB radio (an American term) saying 'breaker-breaker 1-9' or 'copy' or 'over and out' - all incorrect in radio terminology. I have a restricted VHF license, so I am able to use the correct terminology. Yes I have just been reading up stuff after some of the posts the guys on here have replied. The licence is indeed only 75 sovs for five years and as my stoopid bro in law hasn't got a vhf permit then I think its probably the way to go. He could just get a vhf radio for what we need but he is too law abiding All the pmr 446 or whatever it is jobbies are the same pathetic output so why the huge difference in prices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Sea Dog said: Semaphore or flashing light would seem most appropriate for an old salt like you. Otherwise, a PMR with a battery that will last all day and recharge overnight would seem favourite. A pair will really ease your battery worries as there can always be one on charge. a proper sea dog would run up the flags ............ 'England expects....', and all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 3 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Yes I have just been reading up stuff after some of the posts the guys on here have replied. The licence is indeed only 75 sovs for five years and as my stoopid bro in law hasn't got a vhf permit then I think its probably the way to go. He could just get a vhf radio for what we need but he is too law abiding All the pmr 446 or whatever it is jobbies are the same pathetic output so why the huge difference in prices? All PMR radios are limited to the same power, but that should be plenty to communicate between 2 boats travelling together I would have thought. If you were using VHF to communicate between the 2 boats you would want to use 1 watt mode anyway, transmitting at 20 watts to a boat close by would not make sense. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 (edited) 13 minutes ago, john6767 said: All PMR radios are limited to the same power, but that should be plenty to communicate between 2 boats travelling together I would have thought. If you were using VHF to communicate between the 2 boats you would want to use 1 watt mode anyway, transmitting at 20 watts to a boat close by would not make sense. In this cold weather, the chance of Mr Plod getting out of his warm transit van / Vauxhall saloon to nick you is zero. Outside of the cities, the risk of getting nicked for speeding, tailgating or dangerous driving is close to zero. When my Defender was nicked the police never contacted me. They are too stressed by other classes of offence. But I don't know what these may be. Crime statistics show falling rates. But these are falling numbers of convictions, not falling numbers of reported crime. Edited December 12, 2017 by mross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 1 minute ago, mross said: In this cold weather, the chance of Mr Plod getting out of his warm transit van / Vauxhall saloon to nick you is zero. Outside of the cities, the risk of getting nicked for speeding, tailgating or dangerous driving is close to zero. When my Defender was nicked the police never contacted me. They are too stressed by other classes of offence. But I don't know what these may be. I have no idea what that comment means, did you post on the correct forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 1 minute ago, john6767 said: I have no idea what that comment means, did you post on the correct forum! I was referring to the chance of getting prosecuted for not having a radio license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 13 minutes ago, mross said: I was referring to the chance of getting prosecuted for not having a radio license. Where did I say anything about that, I still don’t understand you comment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess-- Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 10 minutes ago, mross said: I was referring to the chance of getting prosecuted for not having a radio license. it wouldn't be the police it would be the DTI, RA, OFCOM in practice unless several people identified and reported you nothing would happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Exactly my point. Most UK laws are not enforced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 38 minutes ago, Murflynn said: a proper sea dog would run up the flags ............ 'England expects....', and all that. England (well, UK) not only expected, she definitely got from this Sea Dog! 35 bloomin' years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 27 minutes ago, john6767 said: I have no idea what that comment means, did you post on the correct forum! I quoted you, didn't I? That hardly suggests I was in the wrong forum. I'm sorry if I appeared to be obtuse or irrelevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 48 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: All the pmr 446 or whatever it is jobbies are the same pathetic output so why the huge difference in prices? Don't write the PMR446 off on statistics. At the frequency concerned, we're really only looking at 'line of sight' practical range however powerful they are, so they don't really need more power. Because they are such low power and short range, they're unlikely to cause interference problems, hence why they can be licence free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 11 minutes ago, mross said: I quoted you, didn't I? That hardly suggests I was in the wrong forum. I'm sorry if I appeared to be obtuse or irrelevant. So can you explain why you quoted me with that comment? Where did I say anything about licences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Oh, do calm down! I did not attack you or your position. I meant no disparagement, no offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Why doesn’t he just do a vhf course? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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