Why do I need a VHF radio?
In today’s world of cellphones and satellite systems has the marine VHF radio gone the way of the dinosaurs? The short answer is NO. Not only are VHF radios one of the single most important pieces of electronics on a boat but new technology is making them better and more useful than ever.
There are several reasons why a cellphone is not an effective replacement for a VHF radio even in areas that have good cell service on the water. A VHF radio is primarily a safety device and if you get into trouble not only can you call the Coast Guard, but your radio allows you to call all nearby boats for help. While you can also use a cellphone to call the Coast Guard there may be a fellow boater much closer to you that can lend assistance more quickly. It is also reassuring to know that another boat is nearby, especially if you are not in a May Day situation but perhaps can’t get your engine started or are taking on some water but not sinking.
If you are really in peril, you can make a May Day call and/or send out a digital distress call. Modern VHF radios have DSC capabilities that allow you to send a digital May Day signal that not only alerts the Coast Guard and other nearby boaters that you are in distress but broadcasts your position and your boat’s information. Anyone on board can activate a distress call with the touch of a button (usually behind a small, red cover) on the VHF. It is important that you show this feature to others onboard your boat so if there is an emergency on the boat and you are incapacitated, they can signal for help even if they don’t really know how to use the radio. Be sure to get an MMSI number and set up the DSC on your VHF so the digital distress call will have all the information programmed in. If you only operate in U.S. waters you can get an MMSI number online from Boat U.S. If you travel internationally on your boat you may need to get a ship station license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
VHF radios are ideal for contacting draw bridges, locks, marinas, and more. They include NOAA weather channels and alerts. A VHF is also a handy way to call for a tow or get needed fuel if you miscalculated and ran out. Boat U.S. offers towing service to members as does Sea Tow. Sometimes local volunteer groups can even help, as is the case in Tampa Bay with Eckerd College Search and Rescue (ECSAR) of which our editor Norris Comer is an alum. Whether getting towed by a professional or another nearby boat you should familiarize yourself with tow salvage laws.
VHF radios offer a variety of features. Many fixed-mount radios have built-in loud hailers. Some can transmit fog signals through the loud hailer at required intervals. Another great feature in the fog is “Listen Back” which allows you to hear other vessels’ fog signals through your radio. This can be important if you are operating your vessel inside a pilothouse. It can also come in handy when talking to someone on the foredeck when anchoring. Many VHFs now have built-in GPS including some of the handheld units. This can be important for kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders, and when taking excursions in the dinghy. Popular brands ICOM and Standard Horizon offer waterproof handheld VHFs that not only float but flash light when they are in the water which can help find someone who has fallen overboard.
More advanced VHF radios now incorporate a host of functions including intercom capabilities, apps that allow you to access your VHF with your smartphone while onboard, and AIS. The ICOM M510 Evo is a new fixed-mount marine VHF with a color screen, built-in hailer, and optional internal AIS receiver. What’s new is that you can connect the radio to a smartphone app that allows you to use your phone as a fully functioning second station. This radio also includes a host of other features including the ability to interface with MFDs (Multi-Function Display) using your NMEA 2000™ network. The radio can send GNSS (GPS) position, AIS information, DSC call, and radio channel data to other onboard equipment.
The Garmin Cortex system (formerly Vesper) offers an app that can access VHF and AIS info on your phone, but you can’t transmit on the radio using the app. The Garmin system does offer Class B AIS which both receives and transmits.
A new product is just coming online from em-trak Marine Electronics, a company wholly owned by SRT Marine systems, which is a well-established global leader in AIS technology and development. You may not have heard of SRT but amongst other things they have been an AIS supplier for other well-known marine electronics companies, so their technology is well proven. The em-trak X100 VHF will be available sometime this year. I was able to do some testing on one of their prototype units and it has an impressive set of features. This fixed mount VHF has a 5W SOTDMA Class B AIS that both transmits and receives. It also has a smart phone app that lets you interface with the transceiver to pull up AIS data and act as a second station on the VHF and hailer. This is a really nice feature on my boat because I use the Garmin/Navionics app on an iPad for navigation on the flybridge and don’t currently have an MFD there. With the app I can access all the functions of the X100 from the flybridge and also intercom with the base in the pilothouse below.
The app provides access anywhere on the boat to VHF, AIS and DSC including direct, one-click calling of nearby vessels. This means that if you see another vessel like a ship on your AIS and you need to contact them you don’t have to look up any information you can simply place the call through DSC directly to that vessel by touching a button. Other advanced functions include MOB alarms which allow tracking of any smartphone/smartwatch for fast location and recovery. An alarm will sound, and a location created automatically at the last point of transmission for each connected device at the point when the Bluetooth disconnects. If someone with a device like a cellphone that is connected to the X100 VHF falls overboard you get an alarm on the radio and have a DSC location to navigate back to that shows exactly where they fell in. This can be a game changer making rescues much easier and more precise. It could alert off-watch crew if the watch stander were to fall overboard and then show them the precise location to go back to. Potentially a device could be left in a tender being towed (if it remains in Bluetooth range) and an alert would sound if the tow line parted and the tender drifted away. It will be very interesting to see how these advanced features work onboard in real-life situations and explore the different ways this technology can be helpful.
VHF radios, far from being extinct, are a useful and integral part of any boat’s marine electronics. You can use a VHF to talk to your fishing buddies, listen to the weather, get a slip assignment, or call for help when needed. New advanced VHFs also integrate into MFDs, hailer horns, and allow access through multiple stations and smart apps, and can include AIS functions. If you go out on the water, you should seriously consider getting a VHF if you don’t already have one. If your VHF is old and lacks DSC and other advanced capabilities, you might want to look into upgrading your equipment. All the major marine manufacturers including FURUNO, RAYMARINE, SIMRAD, LOWRANCE and GARMIN all offer VHF radios. ICOM,STANDARD HORIZON, and UNIDEN are companies that specialize in marine VHF.
Is VHF dead? No! Long Live the VHF!
