Marine Radio Basics

What kind of antenna do I need?
You will need a marine antenna, designed for the marine band. A CB antenna will not work. For availability, check with local boat dealers and marinas. Make ...
Range of Cobra Marine Radios
It is difficult to provide a number, because range will be affected by the following factors:   Transmit power: Higher transmit power gets better range. ...
Marine Radio SWR
What is SWR? SWR is short for STANDING WAVE RATIO. It is a measure of how well the antenna is performing. Most problems with the antenna or antenna cabl...
Can I connect an external antenna to my handheld radio?
The following models can use an external antenna: Models:  MR HH300, 325, 400, 415, 425 The antenna connector on your radio is a type “SMA female”.  This...
What is DSC (Digital Selective Calling)?
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is a radio technology allowing enhanced distress radio messages to be sent digitally. In addition, a DSC equipped vessel wit...
Why should I register my VHF radio and obtain an MMSI number?
Your VHF radio is the single most important piece of safety equipment you can have on board your vessel. By using a VHF radio with Digital Select Calling (D...
Why is it so important to have a DSC radio with built-in GPS and/or the option to connect to an external GPS?
Having a built-in GPS in a emergency, one push of the Distress button, transmits the distress signal containing your MMSI# and location Lat/Lon information ...
Why join BoatUS?
Pair your new Cobra marine radio with a BoatUS membership for complete boating confidence. Benefits include free MMSI registration and 24/7/365 dispatch acc...
MMSI explained (Maritime Mobile Service Identity)
Here is some basic information about MMSI numbers, what they are, and why they are important. In addition, you will find information on what to do if you se...
Can I use a repeater?
A radio repeater is basically a receiver tuned to one specific frequency and the receiver audio is routed to a transmitter tuned to a different frequency.  ...