I'm thinking of cheaping out on a portable VHF radio. This one (
Click) looks nice.
I need something that can be compact enough to fit comfortably on a life jacket, waterproof, and have a large battery life (I talk a LOT). And of course it must be reliable. Reliable. Reliable.
The farthest away I communicate is usually a base station 3 miles away, line of sight, 3dB antenna, 25 watts, 20 feet off the ground. But I also want to use it for sailing on Winni and be able to reach someone in case of an emergency.
The max power that the above radio puts out is 3 watts. "Normal" handhelds put out five watts. Will this reduce the effective range of the radio? If so, how much? Does anyone have any other suggestions for a radio?
Thanks!
edit: I just realized there's another thread on this subject. Sorry!!