What do you need to know before buying a marine radio
A VHF marine radio is still an essential part of any sailor's life today, even though mobile phone reception in coastal areas is improving all the time thanks to better network coverage. Find out why you need a marine radio on board and which additional functions come in handy.
What is a VHF radio?
VHF stands for Very High Frequency and is part of the marine mobile radio service. VHF radios are can be installed on your boat or are available as handheld radios. Very high frequency waves are transmitted and received via an antenna on board. Range depends on the height of the antenna, and if an antenna is mounted high enough, a VHF radio can reach a range of up to approx. 30 nautical miles (56 km). The range for DSC is about twice this. With a VHF marine radio, it is possible for two ships to communicate with each other or for a ship to communicate with coastal radio stations.
Why do I need a marine radio on board?
In most cases, a marine radio is used for everyday things on board, such as communicating with other boats, listening to weather forecasts, asking for a bridge to be opened or permission to enter a lock, as well as contacting ports and coastal radio stations. In the event of technical problems or if a marine emergency occurs, a radio can be a lifesaver and provides safety on board. A marine radio is much more reliable than a mobile phone, which has limited range on the water and with which calls often break off.
How does a VHF radio work?
Unlike single-sideband radios and shortwave radios, VHF radios receive and transmit line of sight (LOS) signals. This means that due to the way these radio waves travel, mountains and land masses that restrict visibility can also block VHF radio signals. VHF radios only 'hear' the strongest signal they receive. If several boats are transmitting on the same frequency at the same time, only the radio message with the strongest signal is sent. Installed VHF radios are powered by the boat battery and usually have low power consumption. This means, however, that if your battery is discharged, your VHF radio will no longer work. In this case a handheld radio is good to have as back up.
