laika
Well-known member
Aside from the “M” meaning mic, isn’t the “A” a little pointless and would the term “Remote Mic” be rather more comprehensible with no loss of precision?
Do you sail with the VHF on ? POLL
- Thread starter LONG_KEELER
- Start date
Aside from the “M” meaning mic, isn’t the “A” a little pointless and would the term “Remote Mic” be rather more comprehensible with no loss of precision?
Greemble
Well-known member
- Joined
- 4 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,228
- Location
- Close to the Edge, Down by a River
Not really.
A remote mic would be something you talk into, but you'll not hear any response.
Remote access microphone allows you to use more, if not all, of the features of the radio, as well as the microphone, while not having to sit next to the main body of the radio.
creeks
Active member
Last edited:
LittleSister
Well-known member
I always used to be of the 'you should have it on all the time' mindset, but have often been defeated by practicalities:
- a couple of my early boats had only very limited charging ability from an outboard;
- another boat had no electrics, and I was dependent solely on a handheld and its dry cell batteries;
- another boat had a DSC radio, but no GPS, so in addition to all the usual alarms, it went off frequently to tell us it didn't know where it was. We also sailed in the Solent for part of that time!
All of my boats have been of some antiquity and so, by tradition, had their radios below, and with the boats being small (and hence limited places to put a radio in the cockpit) and my funds being very limited, I've not to date resolved that.
I typically can't make out what is being said on the radio below until I go below myself, and that has got more problematic as my hearing has deteriorated plus my latest boat's radio speakers seem poor at the frequencies I do retain, so I can barely make it out below either (especially with engine on) unless I put the telephone type handset (how quaint!) to my ear.
Even with such poor audio quality I have sometimes had to turn the radio off due to prolonged rackets of various sorts.
Consequently in recent years I have become much more casual about having the radio on.
Having a radio I can both hear and control in the cockpit has long been one of the features I desired for my 'ultimate boat'. A while ago I bought a new radio and RAM, but sadly my boat has been out of the water since.
- a couple of my early boats had only very limited charging ability from an outboard;
- another boat had no electrics, and I was dependent solely on a handheld and its dry cell batteries;
- another boat had a DSC radio, but no GPS, so in addition to all the usual alarms, it went off frequently to tell us it didn't know where it was. We also sailed in the Solent for part of that time!
All of my boats have been of some antiquity and so, by tradition, had their radios below, and with the boats being small (and hence limited places to put a radio in the cockpit) and my funds being very limited, I've not to date resolved that.
I typically can't make out what is being said on the radio below until I go below myself, and that has got more problematic as my hearing has deteriorated plus my latest boat's radio speakers seem poor at the frequencies I do retain, so I can barely make it out below either (especially with engine on) unless I put the telephone type handset (how quaint!) to my ear.
Even with such poor audio quality I have sometimes had to turn the radio off due to prolonged rackets of various sorts.
Consequently in recent years I have become much more casual about having the radio on.
Having a radio I can both hear and control in the cockpit has long been one of the features I desired for my 'ultimate boat'. A while ago I bought a new radio and RAM, but sadly my boat has been out of the water since.
laika
Well-known member
I think if I wanted to describe a device which was a speaker as well as a microphone my first thought would not be to prepend the word “access”
. It’s really not a very descriptive term.But a little Googling suggests that “RAM” (e.g. RAM3+) isn’t a “term” as such it’s simply a product name used by standard horizon for their second station devices and variously described as a “remote station mic” or “remote mic”.
lustyd
Well-known member
Not just a speaker and mic. Buttons and screens allow you to do most stuff remotely. The B&G I think supports all functionality remotely
boomerangben
Well-known member
I don’t have a fixed installation nor 12v so rely on a handheld. So it’s on for when I need it and perhaps on a local day trip. Over night trips it’s only on for perhaps the weather if I can see the transmitting aerial.
Elessar
Well-known member
On when you need it but not in if anyone else needs help.
My hand held VHF lasts for days and charges from a USB.
People are making excuses but I still think it’s selfish to sail and not monitor 16.
It is good to see that the people who don’t are in the minority.
ylop
Well-known member
Where do you draw the line? Sea kayaks? Wayfarer dinghies? 4m ribs? 3m tenders? Yachts at anchor? Yachts on a mooring?
Robin
Well-known member
Our Icom RAM does most things.
RupertW
Well-known member
I’m one of the small minority who only have it on very occasionally - on many trips not at all.
Main reason is that I sailed for years before on a boat with VHF so it hasn’t been a habit, and when I did get a boat with VHF it was sailing in the Solent so very noisy. Then overnight sails where crew woken up by radio when on so that was that.
I am aware that I won’t be able to be first responder in an emergency but that doesn’t seem a very likely occurrence.
[Edit: having seen the reaction from someone I like and respect their sailing judgement I thought I’d add that it’s one of the habits I’m considering changing but sailing would feel very different]
Main reason is that I sailed for years before on a boat with VHF so it hasn’t been a habit, and when I did get a boat with VHF it was sailing in the Solent so very noisy. Then overnight sails where crew woken up by radio when on so that was that.
I am aware that I won’t be able to be first responder in an emergency but that doesn’t seem a very likely occurrence.
[Edit: having seen the reaction from someone I like and respect their sailing judgement I thought I’d add that it’s one of the habits I’m considering changing but sailing would feel very different]
Last edited:
Robin
Well-known member
Whilst we have a RAM the set itself is not on our network and so not clickable to call or receive to/from an AIS target.
which kind of begs yet another poll how many have AIS RECEIVE ONLY? Is that another guilt trip perhaps (we have AIS TX AND RX for the record)
which kind of begs yet another poll how many have AIS RECEIVE ONLY? Is that another guilt trip perhaps (we have AIS TX AND RX for the record)
jamie N
Well-known member
My VHF has been enhanced by this 'RAM', which really does make life simpler, even on my quite small Folkboat.
My MMSI is :235110397.
How do I remember it?
Simples: I was working a few years ago ROVing the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm cable, being pulled into its shore side facility. The guy that was assisting me happened to notice the MMSI as I was sorting out something about my boat, whilst we were between dives. It occurred to him that it was his birthday. 235, is a UK designator, but the rest of it read to him as March 11th, 1997; his birthday.
Cheers Lyell....
My MMSI is :235110397.
How do I remember it?
Simples: I was working a few years ago ROVing the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm cable, being pulled into its shore side facility. The guy that was assisting me happened to notice the MMSI as I was sorting out something about my boat, whilst we were between dives. It occurred to him that it was his birthday. 235, is a UK designator, but the rest of it read to him as March 11th, 1997; his birthday.
Cheers Lyell....
Elessar
Well-known member
Not my line to draw. I take one in my 2.6m RIB tender though.
But I do wonder if this is an excuse masquerading as a question.
boomerangben
Well-known member
I take your point. Perhaps I am selfish. However I sail generally within sight of the local MRCC, lifeboat station and SAR helicopter base. Quite frankly sailing single handed, I’m not going to be the best equipped to help someone else in trouble. Nor am I likely to be able to relay with a hand held. I am not saying I am unwilling to help of course.
Elessar
Well-known member
I take your point too. Perhaps “the line” is if you can potentially offer assistance.
dunedin
Well-known member
Well that would be unlikely with your radio turned off.
On the other hand I have twice been first responder. One I heard was a kayak in distress - suddenly realised thatnas I could hear kayak must be close (was 2 miles away). Coastguard could not hear kayak. Hence I acted as Mayday Relay for nearly an hour until the lifeboat arrived. I could not get close enough into rocks but fortunately kayaker managed to get ashore, albeit not able to move from there.
A passing commercial vessel near me did not respond at all — neither to the kayak Mayday nor my subsequent Mayday relay, even whilst the kayak was still in danger and I was explaining that as solo sailor I could not launch a dinghy to assist. The small commercial ship had a RIB on davits which could have saved a life, but it sailed on. I even suggested Coastguard might try them, as they should have seen on AIS, but Coastguard didn’t bother.
Capt Popeye
Well-known member
Well them who own up to NOT having the Radio ON at ALLtimes supprises me , greatly ; maybe they should Get a play time ashore , like Golf or Shove Penny in the local pub , cripes a few weeks ago we were discussing a Marine Incident where a Training Sailing Vessel carrying about 40 persons , was run down by a large Ship , it transpired that the Saing Vessel Captain /Skipper was not apparently covering a Radio Watch , neither was apparently the Mate ; cripes if we want to play a 'Mans Game' , Sailing /Boating surely we should play properly /effectively and in so take full responsibility for Others around us as well as that of our Crew and Passengers
Maybe we should arrange for a Sign to be flown from the Mast Tops that says , I am not keeping a Watch , so Watch OUT
Maybe the Colregs that are so often quoted on here could simplfy things a bit ?
So if I ever get afloat near Cowes etc I should be prepared to keep a special Watch Out for un navigated Yachts ?
Maybe we should arrange for a Sign to be flown from the Mast Tops that says , I am not keeping a Watch , so Watch OUT
Maybe the Colregs that are so often quoted on here could simplfy things a bit ?
So if I ever get afloat near Cowes etc I should be prepared to keep a special Watch Out for un navigated Yachts ?
boomerangben
Well-known member
How can anyone be responsible for anyone else (except of course parents, guardians and those directly supervising the unqualified) ? We can only be responsible for our own actions and inactions. Those of us at the smaller end of the hobby have no legal requirement to carry a radio let alone keep it on. I’m not even sure if any hobby yachters have a legal obligation either. A 20’ Bayraider or 30’ WestMood or 35’ JenBavHan is not a large Sail training vessel.
I accept that the rules of seamanship (ethereal as they are, though that’s not to say irrelevant by any means) present a moral obligation to keep a radio watch where practical. I don’t disagree with that at all.
But to tell those of us who perhaps don’t comply with your panacereal views on keeping our radios come what may to take up golf sounds a bit over the top.
Now if you want to get really worked up about col regs, what about those sailors masquerading as a sailing vessel when there’s a steady throb of a VolPentBukbeta puffing splashes of water without a cone.
LONG_KEELER
Well-known member
Have to say I agree with all the above . We all perceive life and indeed sailing in our own way . It's great to have forums to exchange views on things but some of the recent responses go far beyond that and are only going to drive people away from these forums.
Other threads that may be of interest
