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5 GETTING STARTED
5.1
PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS
The FCC prohibits the following communications:
• False distress or emergency messages:
• Messages to "any boat" except in emergencies and radio tests;
• Messages to or from a vessel on land;
• Transmission while on land;
• Obscene, indecent, or profane language (potential fine of $10,000).
5.2
ABOUT VHF RADIO
The radio frequencies used in the VHF marine band lie between 156 and
158 MHz with some shore stations available between 161 and 163 MHz. The
marine VHF band provides communications over distances that are essen-
tially "line of sight" (VHF signals do not travel well through objects such as
buildings, hills or trees). Actual transmission range depends much more on
antenna type, gain and height than on the power output of the transmitter.
On a fixed mount 25W radio transmission expected distances can be greater
than 15 miles, for a portable 5W radio transmission the expected distance
can be greater than 5 miles in "line of sight".
5.3
SELECTING AN ANTENNA
Marine antennas are made to radiate signals equally in all horizontal direc-
tions, but not straight up. The objective of a marine antenna is to enhance
the signal toward the horizon. The degree to which this is accomplished is
called the antenna's gain. It is measured in decibels (dB) and is one of the
major factors in choosing an antenna. In terms of effective radiated power
(ERP), antennas are rated on the basis of how much gain they have over a
theoretical antenna with zero gain. A 3-foot, 3dB gain antenna represents
twice as much gain over the imaginary antenna.
Typically a 3-foot 3dB gain stainless steel whip is used on a sailboat mast.
The longer 8-foot 6dB fiberglass whip is primarily used on power boats that
require the additional gain.
GX2000/GX2150
3dB
6dB
9dB
Page 7
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