Equipment Any diver uses a Walkie-Talkie with APRS function while losing sight of the boat?

[NW Dive Dawg]

Colombia Dive Adventures issues a PLB to each diver. Each of the RIBs has a handheld unit as mentioned above in addition to monitoring by the mother ship. I have been to Malpelo twice on the Ferox, provides real peace of mind in such a remote, wild area.

Please explain how Colombia Dive Adventures issued a PLB to each diver? Were these PLB's in a housing like the XL Dryfob? My guess is that these were not PLB's.

 

[Colombia Dive Adventures]

Please explain how Colombia Dive Adventures issued a PLB to each diver? Were these PLB's in a housing like the XL Dryfob? My guess is that these were not PLB's.

McMurdo Smartfind S10 AIS Beacons, Dive guides are also issued Garmin Inreach.

 

[Jaan]

Sometimes I wish I could go along with the DRYFOBs on their exotic adventures
Here are some of the Horizon radios used on a liveaboard in the Banda sea ...

And what's the HX40 communication range in practical?

At 6W I would venture to guess it can do > 3 miles but not exactly sure how waves and weather can affect all that.

The McMurdo S10 looks to be waterproof to 60m on its own so perhaps a decent AIS solution (although hearing someone on the other end would surely be reassuring too). Plenty of SB threads comparing technologies ..

 

[tursiops]

McMurdo Smartfind S10 AIS Beacons, Dive guides are also issued Garmin Inreach.

These ae not PLBs' they do not transmit to a satellite. They use VHF line-of-sight to transmit their location directly to a vessel. They are dive rated to 180 ft, and do not need an additional waterproof cannister.

 

[rjack321]

Thank you
And what's the HX40 communication range in practical?

In nearly flat calm water perhaps 10km if the receiving boat has a decently high antenna.

The only possible way you can ever on this globe get 50km is if you were trying to communicate with a helicopter

 

[Colombia Dive Adventures]

These ae not PLBs' they do not transmit to a satellite. They use VHF line-of-sight to transmit their location directly to a vessel. They are dive rated to 180 ft, and do not need an additional waterproof cannister.

I am well aware of the difference between an A.I.S. S.A.R.T. and an E.P.I.R.B. As mentioned the dive guides are also equipped with an Inreach. This combo works well for us but your requirements may be different.

 

[Russjstewart]

Assuming your antenna height is 6 foot above water level then the boat antenna would need to be 350, foot to get 50km range in vhf/uhf

 

[baoch]

Assuming your antenna height is 6 foot above water level then the boat antenna would need to be 350, foot to get 50km range in vhf/uhf

OK
Seems 50km is impossible

 

[baoch]

Sometimes I wish I could go along with the DRYFOBs on their exotic adventures
Here are some of the Horizon radios used on a liveaboard in the Banda sea ...

View attachment 878340

At 6W I would venture to guess it can do > 3 miles but not exactly sure how waves and weather can affect all that.

The McMurdo S10 looks to be waterproof to 60m on its own so perhaps a decent AIS solution (although hearing someone on the other end would surely be reassuring too). Plenty of SB threads comparing technologies ..

OK
Thank you

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

I am well aware of the difference between an A.I.S. S.A.R.T. and an E.P.I.R.B. As mentioned the dive guides are also equipped with an Inreach. This combo works well for us but your requirements may be different.

So how are your guides taking the InReach to depth? Dry Fob? or ??