----- Original Message -----
From: "Captain Beeky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: [canals-list] Lydney - the return crossing
> All very tidy. Just one point of note - whilst waiting in Lydney
> harbour with about 12 feet of wall all around us, we failed to contact
> Sharpness VHF on a handheld radio. However, the cruiser Welded Bliss
> did raise a response from her first call, her aerial being mounted
> aloft. I wonder if BW were on tea break or whether the extra 10 feet or
> so of aerial height makes all that difference. I believe I read that
> VHF works on line of sight, which seems to be the case.
>
It does make a huge difference - we used to have our VHF aerial on the
mizzen mast as it was easier to fit there but found so many places around
the Scottish west coast where getting the Coastguard weather report was
marginal or impossible. Since moving it to the mainmast I don't think we
have ever failed to get a good signal.
It is frequently possible to have a fully quietening signal on the fixed set
while a handheld at deck level won't pick up a trace of signal.
If your handheld has an aerial socket it might be worth getting one of those
extending poles they sell at steam rallies etc. for flying banners etc and
mounting a lightweight VHF aerial on the top.
--
Niall
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