Vhf marine : How to choose your Vhf ?

The is a marine radio that works thanks to a radio transmission-reception system that is active worldwide. VHF stands for Very High Frequency: communication between two VHFs takes place on the very high frequency band, located between 30 MHz and 300 MHz on the radio spectrum. VHFs are used for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore and sometimes ship-to-aircraft voice communication. The primary function of a VHF is to contact nearby boaters in the event of an emergency aboard a vessel. The marine VHF is part of the safety equipment that must be carried on a boat. There are two types of VHF: the and the .

How does a VHF work?

The works by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. The distressed sailor uses the VHF microphone to broadcast his or her message to nearby vessels or rescue workers. This voice message is converted into electromagnetic waves by the VHF. The transmission of these waves is done via the VHF radio, then their reception is done via a VHF antenna. In addition to receiving messages from surrounding boats, the VHF antenna converts the electrical signals into a clear message for the sailor receiving the message. The VHF antenna is also used to receive and broadcast weather reports.

How to choose your VHF Marine?

The VHF Marine is an essential piece of marine electronic equipment for all sailors, from beginners to experts. A VHF Marine looks the same as a marine GPS, but it has different functions. A VHF allows messages to be broadcast on Very High Frequency (VHF) channels between a transmitter and a receiver located at a very long distance from each other. In navigation, this technology allows a sailor to transmit and receive messages from surrounding vessels, coastal rescue stations and maritime information stations. The Marine VHF is mandatory for semi-offshore and offshore navigation, but it is strongly recommended for anyone who is going offshore, regardless of the type of navigation. Two types of VHF are available on the market: the Fixed VHF and the Portable VHF. Both guarantee a high level of safety, but each has its own unique features adapted to specific uses.

Plastimo Plastimo Portable VHF SX-350 -10% £94.5 ~~105£~~

Plastimo Plastimo Portable VHF Handheld Microphone -10% £24.3 ~~27£~~

Glomex VHF antenna GLOMEASY RA106GRP FME £62

Is it mandatory to wear a VHF Marine?

National regulations state that a Fixed VHF must be worn for semi-offshore and offshore navigation, and a Portable VHF must be worn for offshore navigation. Contact the National Frequency Agency to obtain a license to use a fixed VHF with advanced features (www. anfr. fr).

All sailors advise to get a VHF Marine whatever the activity and the type of navigation you practice. The ideal is to have a Fixed VHF in the boat on the dashboard, and to attach a Portable VHF to your belt or to a bag in order to always be able to deal with a dangerous emergency situation.

The most important channels to know:

Channel 16 is the radio telecommunication channel used to contact the emergency services, primarily the SNSM (Société Nationale et des Sauveteurs en mer)
Channel 9 is the radio telecommunication channel used to establish links with the ports
Channels 6, 8, 72 and 77 are used to transmit messages from ship to ship
Channels 16, 79 and 80 are used to receive marine weather reports
Channels 7, 11, 17, 82, 85 and 86 are reserved for the Navy

Fixed VHF or a Portable VHF: what to choose?

A Fixed VHF and a Portable VHF have the same basic functions. However, each has its advantages and disadvantages:

The advantages of a :

Good transmission power
Important autonomy
Large interface
Waterproof
NMEA 1083 or NMEA 2000 compatible depending on the model
Connection with a marine GPS chartplotter and marine AIS equipment possible
Device linked to its own ship, if you enter the MMSI number of the boat in the VHF

The advantages of a :

Lightweight and compact
Waterproof (between IPX6 and IPX8) and floating
Efficient complement to the fixed VHF for long distance navigation
Guarantees a fast communication and a better reactivity in emergency situations
Suitable for all types of boats
Low energy consumption
No certification required for use
Additional safety features (flashlight and others)

Which VHF should I choose for my leisure activities?

Boaters and professional sailors are not the only ones who need a VHF. Recreational boaters who are not far from the coast may also need this Marine Electronics equipment to ensure their safety at sea.

Portable VHF are suitable for water sports such as canoeing, especially if you have approved equipment that allows you to move up to 2 nautical miles from a shelter. Navigation on light sailing boats (dinghy, catamaran) is also eligible to carry a Portable VHF. For these two types of sailing, we strongly recommend that you purchase a waterproof and buoyant portable VHF that is lightweight and very durable. Choose a waterproof certified at least IPX6. You will be able to store your Portable VHF in a pocket or a waterproof bag so that it does not encumber you during your performances.

Fixed VHFs are suitable for other water sports such as coastal cruising. Note that it is necessary to ensure that each crew member is able to make a simple rescue call via VHF radio.

The AIS, DSC and GPS features on your VHF Marine

AIS: Automatic Identification System. Intended for fixed VHFs. System operating through a VHF antenna. It allows ships and traffic monitoring systems (CROSS in France) to know the identity, status, position and route of ships in the navigation zone. The SOLAS Convention requires large ships to be equipped with this system.
DSC: Digital Selective Calling. Intended for fixed and portable VHF. It allows you to selectively call a ship station or a land station and to launch an automatic distress alert by pressing two buttons simultaneously.
GPS: (= Global Positioning System). Intended for fixed and portable VHF. It allows you to... Choose a GPS Chartplotter to get the most information about your boat and surrounding boats.

These features can be coupled on several models of VHF Fixed or Portable. The only Portable VHF that combines GPS and DSC functionality is the .

Which VHF accessories should I choose?

First of all, note that all types of VHF accessories are compatible for both portable and fixed VHF.

The first essential accessory for the purchase of a Marine VHF is the VHF antenna. The VHF antenna is a useful and affordable Marine Electronics accessory. It is intended to facilitate the reception and transmission of safety or emergency messages through different transmission systems.

The waterproof microphone for fixed or portable VHF is useful to facilitate the understanding of messages and improve the quality of messages transmitted. The waterproof mention is very important, because it allows you to deliver messages easily understandable even from the deck.

Famous portable VHF brands: , , Navicom and

Standard Horizon and Icom are marine VHF brands known for providing high quality equipment. They offer Portable VHF, Fixed VHF and dedicated accessories. Both brands are highly regarded by boaters for their reliability.

Standard Horizon portable VHFs are all waterproof (minimum IPX7). The compact models are very popular because they are easy to store and do not clutter up the boat while on deck. The only drawback of a Portable VHF is its short battery life, which is why these brands sell cheap replacement batteries for Portable VHF.