Cheap Backup Handheld VHF

[BlueChip]

This is interesting, I bought one of these last time this came up in 2013 but never got around to playing with it.
It's been sitting in its box on my desk until now. I just got it out and the cd that came with it includes many files.
Anyone know which file I need to program the unit using Windows 10, or is there a later driver disk?

 

[GHA]

2. I may be wrong but if you have a HAM Licence I think you may not be breaking the law to use equipment other than a marine radio. That said, at least with some HAM licences you need to have a CE marked bit of kit to be legal.

Wrong on both counts, I'm afraid. A ham license only allows you to transmit on the ham frequencies within power levels specific to the license you have , and do so on any old home made contraption as long as it doesn't make a mess of the frequencies and be a nuisance to others.

 

[Sinnot]

Storyline. You'll probably want to use pmr frequencies in the uk. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446 I'm sure there will be a few on here who will tell you you'll be tranmitting with more power than you're meant to. But from what I've seen most people are tranmitting with more power than they should on pmr and Grs frequencies.

 

[Sinnot]

Bluechip. You'll want the usb programming cable (it's a pain without it) about 3 euros. Then install the Usb driver for the cable. Then download a program called chirp.

Lots of YouTube vids explaining how to do it.

Pm me if you need some help.

 

[BlueChip]

Bluechip. You'll want the usb programming cable (it's a pain without it) about 3 euros. Then install the Usb driver for the cable. Then download a program called chirp.

Lots of YouTube vids explaining how to do it.

Pm me if you need some help.

Thanks. I've got the cable and I'll explore you tube for chirp tonight

 

[ShinyShoe]

I have bought two so if I wanted to chat to SWMBO on a channel that was not in the marine band what frequency/s can I use (if any) ?

Legally - none! But I assume you mean without attracting attention and p1$$ing people off.

Assuming you have a combined VHF / UHF unit then probably the UHF PMR446 channels are the best place to start. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446. They are simplex channels, you can layer a CCTS code on if you wanted to. You could legally use the PMR frequencies with legal kit (PMR is limited to lower power for a start). Its been a while but I think only the first 8 may be used in UK?

You could in **theory** use a marine channel that people don't really use. I suspect if you are up the West of Scotland picking a rarely used duplex channel and setting one radio with the channels in reverse would be VERY unlikely to attract any attention.

Or you could do your ham certificates and use their channels (144-146) and . They are quite hot on callsigns etc so someone "invading" would probably need to have a callsign (or at least a string of letters and numbers that sounded right!) The potential attraction for them is most likely access to repeaters...

 

[Storyline]

Thanks for the replies. I don't really want to mess around with the Ham channels so those PMR446 ones sound the best bet. I have a pair of radios on those frequencies which despite being made by Motorola have never seemed to work very well. I don't think they have enough power to go through any rocky bits in the anchorage. We used to use them occasionally for anchoring or maneuvering at the crack of dawn but these days have a system of hand signals. It will be nice to be able to chat when I am out and about fishing or exploring in the dinghy without being on 77. I have always been surprised that more of the marine channels are not used. All the discussions about where to meet up for lunch or endless unintelligible chats between fishing boats always seem to be on 77. It is strange that out of the 30 or 40 available so few get used.

 

[Monique]

Hand held VHF? In a marine environment?

We chose a waterproof, floating, GPS and DSC Standard Horizon HX851.

Cheap and cheerful are mutually exclusive if you are afloat... (opinion)... possibly wise?

 

[Alpha22]

Another set of channels that you would be unlikely to attract any attention are the Business Radio Lite channels.... they are not unlike PMR446, but you should technically have a cheap business licence... but there are only a few channels and they are all shared with other users.... the attraction is there are some VHF as well as UHF frequencies.

 

[DannyB]

Hand held VHF? In a marine environment?

We chose a waterproof, floating, GPS and DSC Standard Horizon HX851.

Cheap and cheerful are mutually exclusive if you are afloat... (opinion)... possibly wise?

I keep my Icom handheld in a waterproof bag, so keeping a spare set in a bag would not be a problem. My Icom dates from before handhelds were buoyant and I've never dropped it in the drink, perhaps there would be enough air in the bag to keep it afloat.

 

[DownWest]

Wow! I bought a Standard Horizon 270 from West marine. Cost £ 50 whenn the exchange was close to 2:1. Dunkproofed and came with a decent re-charge battery and a separate back for alkalines + charger.
OK it is not CE, but it works just as well...

Friend just bought a Marine H/H for £80 off the net. Just as easy to use as mine, but came with only an battery space for alkalines or rechargables, not a dedicated pac. And, not sure it is water 'resistant'.
He is off on a cruise in company this W/E and a requirement was a radio. We had a bit of fun going through the procederes. 'Cors, he needs to chat in French....

 

[elton]

I got engrossed in the thread to the extent that I had to have one of these Baofeng UV-5RE things. So I ordered one off Amazon (£22.99 inc postage), which arrived last week. Then I decided to become a ham Arranged to go along to the nearby radio club next week, and sign up for the exam. I found some online training material for the "Foundation" licence, and it looks easy enough as I already know about all the electronics theory and what-not, and the radio stuff from my Short Range Certificate. Then I discovered I already have the "Chirp" software for programming the radio in my stock Ubuntu repositories, along with the data files for marine Short Range, and PMR. So I'm just waiting for the USB lead, ordered elsewhere, then I'm in business!

 

[pvb]

I got engrossed in the thread to the extent that I had to have one of these Baofeng UV-5RE things. So I ordered one off Amazon (£22.99 inc postage), which arrived last week. Then I decided to become a ham Arranged to go along to the nearby radio club next week, and sign up for the exam. I found some online training material for the "Foundation" licence, and it looks easy enough as I already know about all the electronics theory and what-not, and the radio stuff from my Short Range Certificate. Then I discovered I already have the "Chirp" software for programming the radio in my stock Ubuntu repositories, along with the data files for marine Short Range, and PMR. So I'm just waiting for the USB lead, ordered elsewhere, then I'm in business!

You know this'll end in tears, don't you?

 

[prv]

Noting in passing the threads about legality, do these jobbies pick up Ch. 0?

As already noted, yes - and almost certainly transmit too!

Best avoid doing that.

They are quite hot on callsigns etc so someone "invading" would probably need to have a callsign (or at least a string of letters and numbers that sounded right!)

I've heard of people trying this and rapidly being rumbled, because a ham hearing an unfamiliar callsign for the first time may very well turn to the computer next to his radio and look it up in an online database to find out who this new playmate is.

It will be nice to be able to chat when I am out and about fishing or exploring in the dinghy without being on 77.

Well, you could always use 06, 08, or 72 instead - they're exactly equivalent to 77.

06 does seem to be conventional for merchant ships discussing collision avoidance etc, so perhaps best pick 08 or 72.

I have always been surprised that more of the marine channels are not used. All the discussions about where to meet up for lunch or endless unintelligible chats between fishing boats always seem to be on 77. It is strange that out of the 30 or 40 available so few get used.

Look at the frequency list - most of them are defined as "public correspondence" channels, for telephone links. Link calls don't exist in the UK any more (except via the Coastguard for emergency medical consultations etc), nor in many other places as far as I know, but unfortunately it would take international agreement to redefine the purpose of those channels and unfortunately this doesn't seem to be a priority.

In any case, all the "public correspondence" and quite a lot of the "port control" channels are duplex, so it would be pointless to unilaterally redefine some of them as yottie or fishing-boat chat channels. Everybody's radios would still be in duplex mode, and unable to hear each other.

Apparently there are moves afoot to modify the frequency plan, but they're very limited because of the need to stay backwards-compatible with unmodified radios. I can't remember the details, but it involves squeezing in a few more channels with four-digit numbers.

Pete

 

[Giblets]

I suppose there is no reason why I can't use one of those Baofeng UV-5RE things as a receiver only as they would seem to be a lot cheaper that a dedicated scanner radio.

 

[elton]

You know this'll end in tears, don't you?

Hey that's my Smart car!

 

[Storyline]

I have just posted a query about the Baofeng in the Lounge as it is a bit marginal to be put in here as it is not strictly boaty. Please would anyone who understands these complicated little objects have a quick look for me ? Thanks