"Moe Conway" wrote in message
...
My experience using the popular 2-way radios hunting & fishing is that
they are not very effective--range is limited pretty much to clear
line-of-sight distance. Hills, lake points, islands, trees,
buildings--any interfering structures reduce the range significantly.
Their claims of 1 to 5 miles distance are not realistic, or perhaps
are based on absolute optimum conditions, such as boat to boat across
flat water.

Maybe Moe or others have had better results?

Nope, your right on that Guy. Cell phone is my weapon of choice - lol

--
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no
trade-in value.
Good Fishing - Moe
Moe's Guide Service (Lake Okeechobee) - http://moebassguide.com
Outdoor Frontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/index


In the waters where I fish there are lots of hills seperating the various
lakes and backwaters. Cell coverage is nill except in a couple of open
stretches of the river. FRS or GMRS is no better unless a lot of people had
them. GMRS is substantially better than FRS. The Audiovox units that cliam
a range of 7 miles get 3-4 miles in the rela world if there are no
obstructions.

The local sheriff's department (who has primary jurisdiction where I fish)
does monitor the emergency channels on marine radio, but only when they are
on the water. You might still be stuck in a back water for days before you
get anybody's attention.

I carry a cell phone and a 12 gage flare gun in my boat. I'll probably add
a mairne radio to my aluminum boat because I'll be using it in more remote
areas, as a back up form of communications.

You know we should start a safety thread on required equipment and general
regulations. Since most states adopt the larger part of Coast Guard
regulations it should be pretty good. I know there are a lot of things I
would not know if I hadn't taken a Coast Guard small craft certification
course back in high school, (over 20 years ago) and I could certainly stand
a refresher.

Did you know that those inflatable life jackets we all like so much on hot
days don't count as one of your required flotation devices unless you are
actually wearing it?

Did you know that you are required to have two (2) different signalling
devices on your boat? (Cetain small craft are exempt from some stuff due to
size and payload constraints. Craft like canoes and kayaks)

Did you know that in most states you are responsible for any damage caused
by your wake regardless of whether it is a no wake or open speed zone?

Did you know that a functioning horn is a mandatory?

Did you know that inboard and I/Os are exempt from the level flotation
requirements of outboat powered craft?