VHF range

[ncnat]

Anyone know the approximate range for a 25 watt radio mounted on the t-top of a 20' Angler W/A. Thanks.

[Prodigal Son]

Using the formula we were given in some engineering class I come up with line of sight being 3.5 miles if your antenna is 6' above the sea.

I always thought it was more like 5-8 miles.

What really got me was that we've had to get in touch with SeaTow/USCG from 40ish miles out and had no trouble talking to either of them. I reckon they have better/taller equipment.

[welder]

Boat to boat about 12 miles by the charts. Try this web site for the math , it's really cool.

VHF/UHF Line of Sight Calculator

[fishbard]

And it varies, according to what boat you are communicating with. Somebody's CC with a 4' antenna is not going to work as well as a big sportfisherman with the top of the attenna over 25' off the water, it is all pretty much line of sight. Also it is better some days than others. I haven't talked to them, but I can sometimes hear boats fishing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from New Point Comfort which is more than 20 NM. The top of my antenna is maybe 14' off the water, and I believe the boats I hear are big ones.

[ncnat]

My antenea tip is about 14' above sea level. I am new to going offshore and was wanting a general idea since some of the wrecks that I was wanting to fish are about 30 miles out. Prodigal, I'm glad to know that you reached Seatow at 40 miles, that adds a little comfort to going that far out.

[Prodigal Son]

Yeah, we were on a 23' boat with an 8' antenna on a standard T-Top and the GPS said we were 39.9 miles from Oregon Inlet talking to them for the first time. Now, we were steadily (slowly, but steadily) headed toward the inlet throughout the conversation and I'm not sure that someone wasn't relaying our message to them, but they were certainly coming straight to our radio...

[welder]

Remember, just because you can't hear them ..........KEEP TALKING..........
Stay calm and repeat your condition and position every few minutes and listen very good in between transmissions for others trying to help you.

#1 thing to do if help is needed is make YOU and YOUR CREW SAFE , Life jackets, Raft, ditch bag, ON AND READY TO GO.

[TunaTeaser1]

It definitely varies but 15-20 miles I think is around average. I was out 2 weeks ago in a 21' boat and was talking clearly to another 20' at 21 miles. However some days its weird how far you can hear people talking. That same day I could hear a couple boats from the OI fleet. Granted, they were probably fishing way south but still that is a stretch from The Rise out of Beaufort.

Also, I've been fishing on my dad's boat (antennas mounted much higher) out of OI and have heard boats talking out of Ocean City, Md!!

[blueh20pc]

Most days that I've been out it's no trouble hitting USCG Oregon Inlet 30 miles out with my cheapo 8' shakespeare at 14' high. They've got a BIG tower...

[ncnat]

As long as they (Seatow, USCG) can hear me sceaming like a girl, all will be OK.