Vhf radio ??

Hello all

I am in the market for a chef radio and had a quick question. I am wanting to get a radio for my wife back at the beach and am wondering if there is a cheaper radio that can be used from land to talk to vhf radios?

Thanks for your help!

I don't have any particular recommendations for you, but this is a totally standard arrangement.

I recommend letting her battery run dead and apologizing before heading out. It's just easier that way.

I believe that it is not legal to use a marine radio on land. From this  FCC website

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations&id=ship_stations#Using%20Hand-Held%20Marine%20VHF%20Radios%20on%20Land

There is the following: "You must have a special license, called a marine utility station license, to operate a hand-held marine radio from land..."

I could be wrong but my understanding is that it is illegal to broadcast over Marine channels while on land.

For shore communication you could use a pair of waterproof FRS radios, which you are allowed to use on land. You would have to juggle the FRS and VHF, which would be a pain.

Otherwise I guess you could try using a smartphone in a waterproof case.

When I'm fishing I want to be immersed in the wonder of the ocean rather than talking to shore, so the system my wife and I have works as follows:
* I tell her where I'm going and when I expect to be back
* "Find friends" is enabled on my iPhone (stowed in the hull) so she can see where I am if she wants
* I carry a VHF with DSC+GPS, so all I have to do is push the red button and the Coast Guard knows exactly where I am and that I'm in trouble
* I have the VHF set up to scan both Ch. 16 (emergency and hailing) and 69 (kayaker chatter)
* She knows that she can call the Coast Guard if I'm long overdue and they could try hailing me
* I send a text as soon as I'm off the water

I better enjoy fishing while im still not married!  Standard Horizon radios are solid

I have this model's last generation equivalent and it works wonderful. It floats, light on the bottom if it drops in water so you can see it, waterproof (obv) and built very solid. I am very pleased with this one. Not to mention the interface on the front is very used friendly. I would highly recommend this one.
Horizons is no slouch either, they are really nicely made. So no matter what you decide you are going to get something that you are going to be happy with.
http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/marine/handhelds/m36/default.aspx

Don't the tournament coordinators use the marine radios during the events? (LRC will be my first event, and I'm shopping radios as well.)

Don't the tournament coordinators use the marine radios during the events? (LRC will be my first event, and I'm shopping radios as well.)

Maybe but I'm sure they have received the proper authority/license to do so 

I wonder who you would have to piss off, and how pissed off they would have to become, in order to get a citation for transmitting from shore on a marine VHF boat to boat frequency.

I wonder who you would have to piss off, and how pissed off they would have to become, in order to get a citation for transmitting from shore on a marine VHF boat to boat frequency.

True

I wonder who you would have to piss off, and how pissed off they would have to become, in order to get a citation for transmitting from shore on a marine VHF boat to boat frequency.

My guess is saying that the sheriff is coming to tow your vehicle would be one way to do it, but figuring out who is making the shore call on the other hand..

I wonder who you would have to piss off, and how pissed off they would have to become, in order to get a citation for transmitting from shore on a marine VHF boat to boat frequency.

My guess is saying that the sheriff is coming to tow your vehicle would be one way to do it, but figuring out who is making the shore call on the other hand..

And yet no citation was issued.  But someone's wife at the campground calling out on 69 to talk to her fisherman husband should be worried about a $5,000 fine?

People use radios from shore all the time.  Especially in shelter cove with limited to no cell service, but in other places too.  I have never heard of anyone getting a citation for it. 

Although if anyone ever deserved a serious asskicking citation, it was that guy.

"I am in the market for a chef radio "

You mean it only broadcasts the cooking channel?

seriously-
No one is ever going to hassle you for talking to your spouse vhf while she is on land. As long as you keep it short on a little-used channel.

Bushy

Consider getting a unit with a solid reputation, but also consider how important it is to have redundancy.  I've heard several of the most experienced kayak fishermen in this club say "my VHF battery died", and they were offshore that day...  Why not have backup?

I use these little Cobras and they work great.

You can't beat this price.

Best of luck.

PS - I have 4 VHF's.