Many of you will already know that these initials stand for Personal Mobile Radios, the new short range two-way communicators which involve no licence fee and no call charges. They seem ideal for our dinghy cruising needs, cheaper than mobile phones and far better than CB - of which I was an advocate some years back.

The trouble with CB was that sets covering the whole 40 channels were large, heavy and expensive. They also needed a huge number of batteries to operate them. Some smaller sets were produced using only 4 or 5 channels and these were consequently smaller and lighter, but they had one major defect. Not all sets used the same channels. One might tune to channel 1, 3, 5, & 7 for example, whilst another could use only 2, 4, 6, & 8, with the result that no one having a set from one manufacturer could be certain he could talk to anyone else!

About 4 years ago, PMR's came along with 8 channels. They are very small with even the largest fitting easily in the palm of your hand. And most importantly, they all use the same frequencies, so everyone can speak to everyone else. Well, almost! Older models had only these 8 channels whereas the newer clever-clogs PMR's also have no less than 38 subdivisions of each channel called 'codes' - which means that you have to be sure not only to be on the right channel, but on the right code or subdivision! However, most modern sets also have a way of removing the sub-divisions, enabling you to pick up everything on any one of the 8 channels you choose to listen to. Depending on how much traffic there is, your ear could get a bit of a bashing, but at least it means that someone with an older set can actually talk to someone with a newer one.

Sailing Today did a full Which? type test in January with nine of these PMR's whose prices ranged from £20 to £50 each. The writer also gave his generalised 'wish-list' as a guide to anyone shopping for one of these little radios. The most important point for us as dinghy sailors was the power supply. Built-in NiCad batteries, like you get with mobile phones, are useless in small boats with no recharging facilities. Most, however, use disposable AA or AAA, either the throw-aways or the rechargeable-at-home types, so look for this firstly as it's easy to carry spare batteries (when will mobile phone manufacturers learn?). Secondly, a channel lock he says, is essential. On makes without one it is easy to accidentally nudge the channel change button and find yourself talking to no one in consequence. All the sets seem to have a pretty good sound quality and a range of 2 to 3 miles over water, differences being fairly marginal. You have to make your own choice finally, based on price, size, the ease with which the buttons can be located and prodded, and whether the screen display is easy to read etc.

In Link, part of the Dixons group, I found Telecom TE-150s - an update of the TE-100 reviewed by Sailing Today and containing all the ST's 'wish list' - available at the incredibly low price. £29.99 for the pair during their January sale. Usually they are £10 dearer, but even at that normal price, £20 per radio does seem a good value.

Do remember that these are not a safety aid in the way that VHF is. However, keeping in touch for those sailing in company, for those attending rallies where last minute changes of venue are needed because of weather, and even for those on shore around the shops, they must surely be worth the few pounds involved.

Assuming these radios become common amongst our members, I suggest that we adopt one regular channel and code. Chances are it will not be in use - there are over 300 permutations after all! At first I set my pair onto channel 2 and code 3, simply because I was born on the 23rd and felt I and my wife, should just about be able to remember the setting in consequence. But it shows as 2:03 on my screen and isn't so very memorable after all. It then occurred to me that choosing channel 1 and code 23 would show as 1:23. Similarly channel 2 with code 34 would show as 2:34. All much more memorable, and after tossing a coin, I retuned to 2:34. Do give me a call if you're sailing around the Essex/Suffolk areas.

Unless you have any violent objections, I propose we all use this same channel/code. Over and out, as they say!