Garmin and marine radios

[bearintheair]

Just got my garmin and I run marine radios in my truck, just wondering what is safe to do around the garmin, I just have a regular marine radio 25 watt or 5 watt on high and low. Can I use the 25 watt setting or am I stuck using the 5 watts. Also has anyone used a garmin truck antennae on trucks with marine radios? When I talked to garmin they said it would be ok as long as the anttenaes were on opposite ends of the trucks.
Just wondering what your guys' experience was with them, it took me a long time to pony up the money for one and don't want to have to send it in to be fixed in the first week.

If anybody is running other radios that are safe with the garmin that have both handhelds and base units, let me know what they are.
Thanks

[Buddyw]

I don't think anyone is going to tell you what is Safe. No one really knows what is safe?

The only thing you can do is make precautions to keep the antenna away, and use the lowest Wattage possible and Hope that you don't damage it. There isn't a magical answer for this to make it safe.

Buddy

[bearintheair]

Would using UHF radios be better than the VHF marine bands?

[tman308]

If you can get Steve White to come out of the woods and geton the computer he could fill you in about all the testing he has done with marine radios. if I am not mistaken he has had no issues with the marine radio and the Astro, however he reccommends not using the truck mounted Astro Antennae at all.

[Buddyw]

Would using UHF radios be better than the VHF marine bands?

Yes. UHF is a Different Frequency than VHF, I tell people the farther apart you frequencies you can get, and to use the least amount of Power you can get away with Only helps you.

Buddy

[bearintheair]

Thanks guys, if I ever get my unit back from garmin, (power button quit working) I can't wait to get it out and try it

[plott]

I have found out the hard way if you use roof mounted antena on garmin and use marine raido it will wreck your garmin .We always turn off marine raidos when tracking dogs .

[Tree'd up]

Iuse a roof mount antenna and a marine radio, I havnt had any issues yet, but I use precautions also.

[Buddyw]

I posted a Statement about this question on the top of the Review section with Garmin's Direct response.

viewtopic.php?f=90&t=23967&start=0


Buddy

[Steve White]

Garmin just sent a friend of mine an email stating with his 50watt business band channel around 158. so real close to marine. He would be safe to use the the mag mount antenna if kept 10ft apart. He tells me one of his partners has not had a problem. However, I have been pretty much refusing to sell him the antenna. Since most of the problems occured while using this antenna. (while on the marine band! other bands other problems)

Personally I have a unit that sits on my dash almost all the time. Most of the time it sits there with a PBLRA attached laying across the dash. I have had this unit now 4yrs. Not one problem yet. Have used marine band channels at up to 90W. Other channels to 150.

I take into account proper tuning of the antenna to the channels to minmize loss and bleed. Not db loss of a connector I take into account radiation patterns of antennas and their mounting location. All little things that make a performance difference. So no problems. The above mentioned unit was even taped to a marine antenna with the stock antenna. Still works great. Just lucky I guess.

Now this is on the marine band. Not the MURS as garmin uses or business band channels that some use around 151. On all of these channels it is flat out stupid to use a radio while the garmin is on. You surely will burn up the units. I tell people to at minimum stay out of 150-155. Always someone that knows better.

UHF is a completely different band and poses very little danger to the garmins. It however is also a very useless band for hunting, or any longer range(over 1 mile) applications. Yeah, I know the cobras. etc get 36 miles. Sure do if you are in an airplane!! UHF also tends to be absorbed by certain objects. Especially pine trees.

I have made extensive posts on this all across the web. I'm sure you can find most of it. Don't have a lot of extra time to be typing these days. Peak season here for buisness, and bear season at the same time. Hunting nearly everyday. Pretty much wears one out.