VHF Antenna Suggestions?

[DOCREED]

Beamwidth - the higher the db the narrower the beamwidth
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Range: http://reviews.ebay.com/VHF-Marine-Radio-Antenna-Buying-Guide_W0QQugidZ10000000000015940
Square Root of Height Above Water (in feet) times 1.42 equals Range in Miles

Example: Highest point of your boat is 6 feet above water. You attach your 3-foot antenna at that point. The antenna is now 9 feet above water. The square root of 9 (which is 3) times 1.42 equals 4.26 miles

You must also take the height of the other antenna into consideration.  If you are calling a land station with a tall antenna, your range will be much better.

[John Jones]

Beamwidth - the higher the db the narrower the beamwidth
----------------------------------------------------------
Range: http://reviews.ebay.com/VHF-Marine-Radio-Antenna-Buying-Guide_W0QQugidZ10000000000015940
Square Root of Height Above Water (in feet) times 1.42 equals Range in Miles

Example: Highest point of your boat is 6 feet above water. You attach your 3-foot antenna at that point. The antenna is now 9 feet above water. The square root of 9 (which is 3) times 1.42 equals 4.26 miles

You must also take the height of the other antenna into consideration.  If you are calling a land station with a tall antenna, your range will be much better.

yep.  You calculate for both stations, then add the results, just like the website I posted pages back does for you so you don't have to do the calculations.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Don't buy a Cobra.    

SeaBob already told me this once... but I guess since I already had it, I was gonna use it.

Lately, when I've gone to prep my boat, the starting battery (which everything excluding the troll motor, courtesy lights, and spotlight/cigarette lighter plug is hooked up to) has been less than 12Volts.  I put a charge on it at least once a month.  I figured I had a slow draw somewhere   .  Didn't feel like investigating.  2 weeks ago, charged the battery, ran the motor for 20 minutes, and dialed everything in.  Went to go pick up the boat tonight to take it out tomorrow, and the battery was stone dead  :x  :x

The slow to increasingly fast draw on the battery:  the positive lead to my busted Cobra VHF.  When it went out (which took less than a year), it tried to take the battery with it.

Perfect excuse to try out my new radio and antenna.  When I install it  :tongue: