What Size Radio would I need?

[Hotrod]

If you Figure I'm Fishing Central.. ( Little Egg)  What size Radio would I need to reach you guys 70 miles North and 50 miles South?

( Open Water / 8' Antenna on Top

[Luna Sea 5]

All of the radio's have about the same wattage.  If you want distance, the quality and the height of your antenna is key.  I got a good quality, 8' antenna, and I can while sitting on the boat in my lagoon, I can reach people at the LE Reef very clear.  Now, I would have to guess that is about 18 miles or so.  The only way to get a good 50 miles is to be on a channel that nobody is on that will interfer with  your signal.  If you want to get 10 miles out of Sandy Hook while being on channel 68, it will never happen.  It isn't easy to test this distance but the only way is to get someone 50miles away on there cell phone and go to a channel that is vacant.

[Hotrod]

That makes sense.. 

Thanks Nick.

[Reel Time]

 get yourself a ham radio operators license, then a radio and run a few thousand watt linear you'll be able to talk to china without skip.

 although im sure it is illegal, i bet you could get a linear for marine vhf. wont need much, like a 50watter should do real well.

[Luna Sea 5]

That makes sense.. 

Thanks Nick.

Another suggestion is, they see a 2 or 3 peice 12 - 14' antenna.  Mount that on your T top if you have one, and now you have a height of over 20'.

[Hotrod]

Think I'll stick to my 5w hand held and the cell phone

[ped579]

Hay Reel Time your so right except you can't use ham radio if you are on a commercial trip.  It is against Part 95 rules and Regs.  Plus you technically can not transmit out side the ham bands.

With that said if some of you did have your licenses and with the repeaters in the area you probably could transmit well over 50 miles with no problem.  I can hit the Manahawkin repeater from up in Perth Amboy with no effort at all.

I have been licensed since 1964.  The changes in the licensing procedures have changed drastically for one thing no more code required.

My call is N2HYG.  I usually monitor either the Manahawkin rept or the Toms River machine.  Both are great at distance.

[Luna Sea 5]

Hay Reel Time your so right except you can't use ham radio if you are on a commercial trip.  It is against Part 95 rules and Regs.  Plus you technically can not transmit out side the ham bands.

With that said if some of you did have your licenses and with the repeaters in the area you probably could transmit well over 50 miles with no problem.  I can hit the Manahawkin repeater from up in Perth Amboy with no effort at all.

I have been licensed since 1964.  The changes in the licensing procedures have changed drastically for one thing no more code required.

My call is N2HYG.  I usually monitor either the Manahawkin rept or the Toms River machine.  Both are great at distance.

what do you need or qualifications to get a licence to use the radio

[ped579]

Let me dig up info for you.  If you want to really look into it go to:

http://www.arrl.org/

This is the main site for amateur radio.  I believe the test is 25-35 questions about for the most part general type questions with a few technical questions.  If your good at memorization it is a piece of cake.

I am a general class operator which is more technical than the entry level license but bedcause of the no code anymore it is easy.

[Luna Sea 5]

Let me dig up info for you.  If you want to really look into it go to:

http://www.arrl.org/

This is the main site for amateur radio.  I believe the test is 25-35 questions about for the most part general type questions with a few technical questions.  If your good at memorization it is a piece of cake.

I am a general class operator which is more technical than the entry level license but bedcause of the no code anymore it is easy.

I got enough things to remember so my memory bank is full.  It would be a great idea to get licenced so you have obtain a unit with that much power.

[ped579]

Just to give you an example I run a Kenwood dual band (VHF - UHF) rig that puts out 50 watts.  As long as I can hear you I can talk to you.  The antenna is the key though.  The higher the better plus the Gain on the ant. is important as well the better ant.'s will sort of act like an amplifier.