What's the Best VHF radio for Lake Powell?

[ElimJimsOtherHalf]

...not too expensive...and not really set up for mounting anything.
Want for emergency and weather...don't need GPS.
Any advice on what other features are useful? Brands, etc.?

[Outnumbered]

Handhelds are really worthless on Powell except for boat-to-boat or close to the marinas. You really need a 25W under dash and at least a 4' ant to get any kind of range. I used a ratchet mount on my last few boats that bolted to the grab rails and folded for storage. Mounted the unit under the dash.
Digital Ant is best IMHO. I had this one....http://www.marine-electronics-unlimi...%2DVW+VHF.html
Used this mount...http://www.marine-electronics-unlimi...ail+Mount.html
Pick your radio, any decent 25W under mount should work fine.
I have had great luck with this set up and it does not require cutting up the boat.

[Red Horse]

RIght about the handhelds. They are for back up and close range. VHF is line of sight. The higher the antena, the greater the range at 25 W. there is also gain. Check out the west advisor on www.westmarine.com for more info.

[Cheap Thrills]

Anything but Uniden I'm a big fan of Yaesu ( The amateur radio division of Vertex) Standard Horizon is the marine division, they have several nice models of marine hand helds and fixed mount radios to choose from. They even have a Dual Band model which also works with the FRS (Family Radio Service) frequencies. All of their handheld models are submersible if you drop it into water shallow enough to dive after. Try that with a Uniden
Standard Horizon Marine Hand Helds (http://www.standardhorizon.com/index...3&isArchived=0)
http://www.***boat.com/forums/showpo...6&postcount=15
Alot of people are misunderstanding the meaning of "Line of Sight" It generally means line of sight to the horizon in relation to altitude of radiated energy( your antenna). also VHF freq. doesnt normally bounce off of the ionosphere like HF freqs. do However tropospheric ducting, can occur during the advancement of a cold weather front. sometimes carrying the VHF signal over 150 Mi. or in another propagaition phenomina called sporatic E when the E layer of the Ionosphere is flooded with charged particals during high sunspot activity. but back to line of sight it's generally the line of sight to the horizon in relation to antenna height. if you need more range swim to shore and climb a tree
distance in miles = √1.5XAf whereAf=height of antenna in feet.
C.T. :wink:

[PHX ATC]

What'd he say?

[Never Too Old]

I bought one of these...
http://planetgps.net/stdps1000bk.html
The radio part is a black box that can be mounted anywhere - even out of sight- all of the controls (and speaker) are on the mike.
I was afraid that the price $99 was one of those too good to be true things, since they are $229 at West Marine. But it came next day and was new and recently manufactured. Great deal.

[Red Horse]

What'd he say?
Yeah, I think I am just going to believe him. Lord knows I cant argue with that techno speak.

[Cheap Thrills]

Basic Radio 101. Sorry if I went overboard with it.
I was just trying to explain 'Line of Sight". :idea:
Learn More Here (http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl)
C.T. :wink:

[AirtimeLavey]

Just got back from Powell, and went w/a handheld, Uniden Mystic. http://www.marine-electronics-unlimi...en+Mystic.html
The GPS was worth it's weight in gold, for us first-timers to Powell. Used the VHF radio to make a call for one of the Antelope employees who was stuck in Padre w/o a radio, after I saw him waving two flags in distress. We had no problem contacting other boats, and the Park Service.
I figured if I got stuck back in one of those canyons, a 4' whip and 25w mounted unit wasn't going to help. I would need something I could hike to a hilltop with. Also, the weather radio recept. was great everywhere. If I were to become a regular at Powell, I might consider a bigger deal, but for us this unit worked awesome. We were able to get signal in an area that a houseboat could not. I'm no expert, but this is our experience.
Good luck.

[BajaMike]

All the houseboats have VHF radios. Cell phones work someplaces. Handhelds are good for communicating between your houseboat and your "scout" boat and will work around Padre Bay and close to the other marinas.
:idea: