Re: VHF radio

Posted By: Steve E/Montgomery 15 #102 "Scamp", Lake Pleasant,Phoenix, AZ
Date: 2/12/02 10:50a.m.

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In Response To: VHF radio (FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26)

Ditto what Don said, but here's one that will give you lots of bang for the buck. Standard Horizon has a good reputation (see Todd J's review on the TS home page). I just bought one, an HX350S from West Marine last weekend. They're on sale now. Not sure what your budget is, but this radio has lots of good features, including weather alert, programable priority scanning, options to charge batteries from 12V cig lighter plug or 110V AC, NiCad or Alkaline battery packs, IPX 7 submersible, jacks for optional lapel mike or external speaker, 3 yr warranty. I got a handheld because I sail a really small boat, space below is at a premium, and I think a hand held will serve my needs well. For a larger boat like yours, why not consider a fixed mount VHF, like the one Todd wrote his review on? The prices of handheld vs fixed mount aren't that much different, except the purchase of an antenna and cable, and the time and effort to wire it in and install the antenna. But you get almost unlimited battery time (assuming you have means to keep your house bank charged), and greater range, due to higher peak wattage (25 watts vs 5 watts for handheld), and some offer DSC(Digital Selective Calling) capability. But the real increase in range comes from having a masthead mounted antenna. Most short range talking is done on low power, 1 watt so you don't blast everyones ear off. If you're thinking, 'well, if I have a handheld, and later install a fixed mount, then I can talk between the bow and the cockpit, between the handheld and the fixed mount, while both are still on the boat, or between the fixed mount on the boat and the handheld on shore', but this is illegal, against FCC regs! For that you need to look into FRS radios. Surf the West Marine site, they have lots of info there. Otherwise, ICOM and Raytheon are two other popular makes. ICOM's IC-M502 fixed mount got an endorsement from Practical Sailor, but it's a $300 radio.

HX350S Hand held VHF

Messages In This Thread

VHF radio -- FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26 -- 2/12/02 8:18a.m.

Really Neat Boat -- Sam Bateman, Fork Union, VA - Ensenada 20 -- 2/12/02 9:08a.m.

Re: Really Neat Boat -- FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26 -- 2/12/02 10:42a.m.

Picture of my cabin layout -- FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26 -- 2/12/02 1:21p.m.

Nifty Boat -- Fat Frank -- 2/12/02 5:38p.m.

Re: VHF radio -- Don,Lancer25, Rkfd,Il -- 2/12/02 9:37a.m.

Re: VHF radio -- Steve E/Montgomery 15 #102 "Scamp", Lake Pleasant,Phoenix, AZ -- 2/12/02 3:00p.m.

 Re: VHF radio  -- Steve E/Montgomery 15 #102 "Scamp", Lake Pleasant,Phoenix, AZ -- 2/12/02 10:50a.m.

Lower Priced Radio (ICOM-Raytheon) -- Terry Dishongh/ Capri 25 River Bee -- 2/12/02 1:03p.m.

Why I need a hand held -- FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26 -- 2/12/02 1:20p.m.

Re: I have a radio in the Cabin I am buying a handheld. -- Jeff G. Indiana, US Yacht 21 -- 2/12/02 2:04p.m.

Communicating with the harbor master -- Don E. -- 2/12/02 2:52p.m.

Re: Why I need a hand held -- Don E. -- 2/12/02 2:13p.m.

Re: VHF radio -- FamilySailor, SouthCoast 26 -- 2/12/02 4:57p.m.

Uniden -- Fat Frank -- 2/12/02 5:23p.m.