comfortably numb
New member
i need help, do i fit a fixed radio on a jetski or do i opt for a hand held . if so then what handheld...make model ? pls guys help a guy out here.
radio advice
- Thread starter comfortably numb
- Start date
Stephen.JG
New member
Icom ic-m35 or m36 VHF
handheld radios and they float too.
fix it to your life jacket / vest in case you get separated from the ski.
handheld radios and they float too.
fix it to your life jacket / vest in case you get separated from the ski.
comfortably numb
New member
thanx guys i'll look into this
Johnno s gone fishin
New member
Hi Guys
PeteT is right.
Although i have both, and no getting away from it, the floating, waterproof handhelds are good.
The VHF is a bit more of a mission IRO licenceing.
For 29 Mhz, all you need is a licence ( similiar to CB days) from ICASA
For VHF, you need a licence for the unit AND an operators licence for which you need to sit an exam .Also from ICASA
PeteT - You might want to play around with your antenna ( type and location) cause it sounds like a SWR prob you have there.
Cheers
Johnno
PeteT is right.
Although i have both, and no getting away from it, the floating, waterproof handhelds are good.
The VHF is a bit more of a mission IRO licenceing.
For 29 Mhz, all you need is a licence ( similiar to CB days) from ICASA
For VHF, you need a licence for the unit AND an operators licence for which you need to sit an exam .Also from ICASA
PeteT - You might want to play around with your antenna ( type and location) cause it sounds like a SWR prob you have there.
Cheers
Johnno
Johnno s gone fishin
New member
RUBBISH.
Hand helds are STILL acceptable. Whoever told you this is blowing smoke up !!
Hand helds are STILL acceptable. Whoever told you this is blowing smoke up !!
Johnno is right. You don't need a fixed radio, they changed it again for JS. A handheld will get you your COF. The only 29mhz handheld I know of is the NAVSTAR and its available from killerdeals.co.za Keep them in a waterproof bag and out the bag when the ski is not on the water. They are rather useless and if care is not taken you will go through a couple of them. I'm lucky in that sense, suppose it's it cause I'm very anal about my equipment but, I've had my radio for almost 2 yrs. ow with out a single days problem.
In terms of who told me it was an authorised SAMSA inspector with a reputable boating business in Durban.
Anyway I fitted a GME into the cubby hole on my FX1800 will post some picks. It is not quite fixed as I can store it down inside the cubby and pull it out when I need to use it. Not sure if this would work with other jet ski's though.
I think as a backup get a floating hand held VHF and as mentioned keep it on your person just in case you become parted from your ski.
Anyway I fitted a GME into the cubby hole on my FX1800 will post some picks. It is not quite fixed as I can store it down inside the cubby and pull it out when I need to use it. Not sure if this would work with other jet ski's though.
I think as a backup get a floating hand held VHF and as mentioned keep it on your person just in case you become parted from your ski.
Johnno s gone fishin
New member
Hi Schatzie
I am not doubting that you thought you were getting info from a reputable source.
But when i read on another topic where the person claims their instructor (on a SAMSA skippers course) says don't worry about a radio, cell phones are better !
Maybe the instructor did not get to Chapter 7 in the manual ??
All I can do is shudder.
How about these gems ?
From a senior SADSAA official, addresing a club " The reason we don't want to allow jetski's into our comps is because you have not spent a lot of money to get your craft!. So it's not far to those who spent big bucks on their boats "
From a so called SAMSA accredited surveyor " There is no such thing as a Cat D or Cat E for Jetskis. You must go for U something or other"
The list goes on, but you get my drift.
As far as radios are concerned, my guess is that soon ICASA and SAMSA are going to insist on VHF only -- More money can be made that way.
Cheers
Johnno
I am not doubting that you thought you were getting info from a reputable source.
But when i read on another topic where the person claims their instructor (on a SAMSA skippers course) says don't worry about a radio, cell phones are better !
Maybe the instructor did not get to Chapter 7 in the manual ??
All I can do is shudder.
How about these gems ?
From a senior SADSAA official, addresing a club " The reason we don't want to allow jetski's into our comps is because you have not spent a lot of money to get your craft!. So it's not far to those who spent big bucks on their boats "
From a so called SAMSA accredited surveyor " There is no such thing as a Cat D or Cat E for Jetskis. You must go for U something or other"
The list goes on, but you get my drift.
As far as radios are concerned, my guess is that soon ICASA and SAMSA are going to insist on VHF only -- More money can be made that way.
Cheers
Johnno
Schatzie they did make it a rule and then changed it again. A friend of mine had his ski's COF done by Stan Walter who is one of the top bras at SAMSA and at 1st Stan didn't want to do it without a fixed radio but as soon as they took that requirement away Stan called him and they did the COF with only a handheld radio.
The guy who told you made a couple of $$ out of you
If you'd like to I'll get you Stan's number and you can check with him.
The guy who told you made a couple of $$ out of you
If you'd like to I'll get you Stan's number and you can check with him.
It actually cost him money as the cost of fitting the fixed radio was more than him supplying the hand held option. The Cat D was included in the purchase of my new ski so he actually was not out to make a buck it may have been in the transition period you mentioned.
One must realise where there is smoke there will be fire and I recon if they tried it now they may try it again next year eventually it will come. I think I am happier with my current installation from what I have heard about the hand held 29MHZ radios its not good.
One must realise where there is smoke there will be fire and I recon if they tried it now they may try it again next year eventually it will come. I think I am happier with my current installation from what I have heard about the hand held 29MHZ radios its not good.
Suppose different stroke for different folks. I'm happy with my handheld and it's never let me down. I use my cubby way to much to have a radio fitted. I the days comes when we're forced to have one fitted then I'll go about doing it.
And schatzie don't believe anything these sales men tell you, trust me he made money off you fitting that radio. Believe it or not.
Anyway hope you enjoy your ski and catch to much fish
And schatzie don't believe anything these sales men tell you, trust me he made money off you fitting that radio. Believe it or not.
Anyway hope you enjoy your ski and catch to much fish
Hi Johnno,
I disagree with the difficulty and exam for a vhf radio. I purchased 2 vhf Cobra radios which are also fully waterproof from Killerdeals. I contacted ICASA, told them I had two vhf radios, one for the ski and one to leave at base (when in Moz I leave one switched on in the holiday accom).
They were very helpful, emailed me the application forms, helped me fill them in I emailed them back with proof of payment of R480 for the application fee.
Two weeks later in the mail I had a license no. with a request to pay R72 for the annual fee, paid the fee and two weeks later in the post I got the license certificate-one license for both radios! No exam, no hastle!
I decided on vhf as the frequency spectrum is greater, the range is usually better than 29mhz. I also use them for vehicle to vehicle when travelling into Moz.
Cheers
Pinto
I disagree with the difficulty and exam for a vhf radio. I purchased 2 vhf Cobra radios which are also fully waterproof from Killerdeals. I contacted ICASA, told them I had two vhf radios, one for the ski and one to leave at base (when in Moz I leave one switched on in the holiday accom).
They were very helpful, emailed me the application forms, helped me fill them in I emailed them back with proof of payment of R480 for the application fee.
Two weeks later in the mail I had a license no. with a request to pay R72 for the annual fee, paid the fee and two weeks later in the post I got the license certificate-one license for both radios! No exam, no hastle!
I decided on vhf as the frequency spectrum is greater, the range is usually better than 29mhz. I also use them for vehicle to vehicle when travelling into Moz.
Cheers
Pinto
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