radio for talking to someone on shore

I have read most of the VHF radio threads I can find on this site and would like to get one.  However, my wife who is often hanging out on the beach would like to be able to check in with me (like when I huli in the surf or while pulling crab pots).

I read that you are not allowed to use a VHF on land.  Is it OK to use a VHF radio between the water and the beach?  If so I will just get 2 VHF radios.

The other option would be a pair of FRS/GMRS radios but I have yet to find any that seem to be very water resistant and they do not have very good range.  Also, the $85 licence to use the GMRS takes the price almost as high as just getting 2 VHF radios.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

        M c. C 


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Have your wife stand just below the high tide line.

Just use two VHF radios.  She can talk to you from the tent, truck, cabin, wherever.  You don't need to worry about tide lines.

Sent from my GD300

That was meant to be sarcastic.

You can use them on land. You just cannot be on any dedicated channels such as coast guard, law enforcement, search & rescue, etc. Another good back up alternative that I use is Casio has the "Gz gear" line of cell and smart phones, they are water resistant, shock proof, etc. I have one through my work and take it with me out on the water. It has been in the drink more than once in the last 3 years that I have had it. The military and law enforcement use the "Gz gear". Mine is through Verizon. Hope that helps you out.

Thanks for the tips guys.  Now I can get on to spending the next couple hundred dollars on this hobby.

When I read the "stand below the high tide line" comment, I immediately pictured the "Are you crazy" look i'd get from my wife if I told her she has to stand in the water to use the radio.  I might do it just to get a laugh the first time we use them.

For checking in with the wife I just use my regular cell phone in a phone dry bag (also have my VHF for on the water stuff).  That way if you want to "check in" range is never an issue.   I also have the local coasties and local Sherif water rescue on speed dial.  Why buy two VHF when you really only need one plus an inexpensive cell phone dry bag.

Ron...

My smell phone hardly works in some places. Get radios. One if the reasons I got divorced is the ex wanted to know what I was doing all the time. Irritating.

LOL.... Just make sure...... Radio at all times! Cell phone for back up.....

I used the Frs/Gmrs hand sets for years before  buying  cell phones,They Do work good if they are better brands,They are a line of sight radio, That means the less things in the way the better they work,We have used a set of 2 mile rated radios from one mountain peak to another in Calif Line of site distance was Over 18 miles!very clear transmition and they are cheaper than a cell phone,they also have some that have weather alert channels too ,

Thanks for the responses.  Didn't mean to make it sound like my wife stalks my every move.  The main incident was she saw me huli, then couldn't see me for a while and got nervous.  So some communication would be nice.

Cell phones don't work at one of our favorite places to go.  I was seriously considering an frs/gmrs radio but I could not find any that didn't have a lot of negative feedback as to their lack of waterproofness.  As I mentioned, I also don't want to pay for and remember to update the gmrs license since it costs almost as much as a VHF.

A VHF was on my short list after doing some research on this site so I figured that was the best option for now.

... Another good back up alternative that I use is Casio has the "Gz gear" line of cell and smart phones, they are water resistant, shock proof, etc. ...

I have a Casio Commander G'Zone and love it.   It's a few years old and the camera sucks, but it's gone in the water a few times, been dropped, and generally abused and keeps on celling. 

There is a 4G LTE version out on Verizon.  It's half the price of the original.

Also, Cobra makes a decent, waterproof VHF/GMRS combo radio. I picked one up a couple months ago for similar reasons. So far, no complaints. MR HH425 is the model I have.

Didn't mean to make it sound like my wife stalks my every move.

I didn't take it that way myself. LOL. It's kind of like my online campfire here.