Antenna height is more important than watts for range

Posted By: Kruse'n, Mac 22, Washington DC
Date: 2/4/10 4:41p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Adapter (Al Watts)

I use a handheld connected to the high antenna and have good results A handheld just 4 feet off the water has a line of sight range of 2 miles plus the range for the other antenna, but if you are using a masthead antenna 16 feet above the wateer, the line of sight range of 4 miles. Those two miles difference can be important. 25 watts gives less than twice the range of 5 watts, antenna height not being a factor, but with the antenna height we have in small boats 5 watts will reach further than the line of sight distance to any likely antenna height. An exception is a Coast Guard Station, and their receivers are good enough to receive 5 watts from any distance that you have line of sight. I have been using a handheld for many years. On low power, 1 watt, I have talked to the Coast Guard from more than 5 miles away using the masthead antenna. In addition to the height, the MH antenna is a high gain antenna and has a much higher radiated signal strength than the handheld antenna. Mine is a Shakespear, but other brands are fine too, as long as they have a gain of 3db or more.