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Author Topic:   Handheld VHF

merc125 posted 07-01-2007 03:26 PM ET (US)
I'm about to purchase a handheld waterproof rechargeable VHF and would like recomendations on the most economical and reliable units. thanks MartyD
oahuwhaler posted 07-01-2007 03:43 PM ET (US)
icom m34 $169 from West Marine and it floats!
No battery memory can be charged at anytime.
Over the LINE posted 07-02-2007 10:53 AM ET (US)
Not a recommendation.
I wanted to pass on that I am less than pleased with the Standard Horizon HX270S. I was so happy with my last Standard Handheld I did not investigate the features of this one closely enough.
It does not have an easily adjustable squelch; the old one had a knob. I need to read the book better but the battery condition is not always shown. Lastly, it is easily accidentally turned on when transporting.
swist posted 07-03-2007 08:08 AM ET (US)
This is a very indirect recommendation but I bought a BOAT-US house brand "Shipwright" handheld VHF 20 years ago. It has seen all manner of use and abuse, and its original battery still holds a charge.
House brands are always made by someone other than the house, usually a well-known manufacturer. If I ever find out who made Shipwright electronics, I'd buy more without hesitation.
Whale1 posted 07-03-2007 09:18 AM ET (US)
I bought an Icom IC-M32 (the predecessor to the M34) and am very pleased with it. I also bought the battery tray that holds AA batteries just in case the main battery loses its charge. I have only needed it once but was happy to have it.
I always carry spare AA's in my boat bag for my handheld GPS, etc.
jimh posted 07-03-2007 04:11 PM ET (US)
I bought this radio:
West Marine VHF250 Multiband Handheld AM/FM/Air/FRS/Marine
http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/full.asp?page=0011&LinkBackProdId=242261
It is six radios in one:
--VHF Marine Transceiver
--FRS Transceiver
--NOAA Weather Receiver
--AM Broadcast Receiver
--FM Broadcast Receiver
--Aircraft Band Receiver
Features:
--JIS7 compliant
--Lithium ion battery
--AC and DC Charger and Cradle
The user interface is very straightforward. I learned how to use the radio without having to read the manual. Controls are well organized and display is good.
I got it at a terrific price in the dead of winter on a Manager's in-store special. I could not resist.
Moe posted 07-03-2007 09:03 PM ET (US)
We like the Standard Horizon HX270S. For me, a rechargeable VHF handheld has to have the capabilities of using an external antenna, as well as AA batteries as a backup. These are more important to me than DSC and NMEA, since where we boat, we're more likely to get a response to a voice distress call than waiting for an "ACK" with a digital one.
The HX270S came with a waterproof AA battery tray, but the external antenna pigtail was extra cost. It came with both AC and DC chargers, but only one cradle, so I bought a second, one for each charger to leave at home and in the boat. I also bought a nylon carrying case for it, and have never had it accidentally turn on while carrying it back and forth. We don't leave it aboard.
I generally prefer more knobs and dedicated buttons than menus, but don't find the squelch hard to use. Push the squelch button (below the PTT button), use the same up/down arrows you use to select channels to increase or decrease the squelch, then press the squelch button again (or wait until it times out and leaves that mode).
The battery indicator only shows up when the battery is getting low. There's a partially charged cell image, an empty cell image, then a flashing empty cell image when it's really time to charge. I've honestly never got it that low.
In general, I find a direct relationship between my satisfaction with a product and the amount of time I spend reading the owner's manual. In fact, I usually download the manuals of different brands/models of competing products prior to purchase to see which I might like best.
--
Moe

jimh posted 07-03-2007 10:26 PM ET (US)
Re the reliability of any handheld transceiver: it is inversely proportional to
--number of times it is dropped
--distance it falls
--hardness of surface it falls onto
cgaux posted 07-04-2007 01:53 AM ET (US)
Not sure the size of your boat and electronics you already carry, but, from the perspective of a main radio, I wouldn't rely on a VHF portable for anything but back up communications tool. If you have the ability to mount a fixed 25 watt radio somewhere on your boat I would explore that.
As a coast guard radio officer for over 14 years I can tell you of several stories of people that rely on portables (kayaks being one) as their primary communications link, they don't have good outcomes in fringe radio coverage areas. The batteries die, the antenna and radio don't have the capability to cut through the often loud chatter on channel 16 in distress situations. They also can suffer the same demise as a cellphone, a dead battery.
If you have limited room, there are units now that you can use a wireless mic and/or a remotely installed radio, both Standard Horizon and Icom manufacture such a product.
Be safe come back alive

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Author	Topic: Handheld VHF
merc125	posted 07-01-2007 03:26 PM ET (US) I'm about to purchase a handheld waterproof rechargeable VHF and would like recomendations on the most economical and reliable units. thanks MartyD
oahuwhaler	posted 07-01-2007 03:43 PM ET (US) icom m34 $169 from West Marine and it floats! No battery memory can be charged at anytime.
Over the LINE	posted 07-02-2007 10:53 AM ET (US) Not a recommendation. I wanted to pass on that I am less than pleased with the Standard Horizon HX270S. I was so happy with my last Standard Handheld I did not investigate the features of this one closely enough. It does not have an easily adjustable squelch; the old one had a knob. I need to read the book better but the battery condition is not always shown. Lastly, it is easily accidentally turned on when transporting.
swist	posted 07-03-2007 08:08 AM ET (US) This is a very indirect recommendation but I bought a BOAT-US house brand "Shipwright" handheld VHF 20 years ago. It has seen all manner of use and abuse, and its original battery still holds a charge. House brands are always made by someone other than the house, usually a well-known manufacturer. If I ever find out who made Shipwright electronics, I'd buy more without hesitation.
Whale1	posted 07-03-2007 09:18 AM ET (US) I bought an Icom IC-M32 (the predecessor to the M34) and am very pleased with it. I also bought the battery tray that holds AA batteries just in case the main battery loses its charge. I have only needed it once but was happy to have it. I always carry spare AA's in my boat bag for my handheld GPS, etc.
jimh	posted 07-03-2007 04:11 PM ET (US) I bought this radio: West Marine VHF250 Multiband Handheld AM/FM/Air/FRS/Marine http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/full.asp?page=0011&LinkBackProdId=242261 It is six radios in one: --VHF Marine Transceiver --FRS Transceiver --NOAA Weather Receiver --AM Broadcast Receiver --FM Broadcast Receiver --Aircraft Band Receiver Features: --JIS7 compliant --Lithium ion battery --AC and DC Charger and Cradle The user interface is very straightforward. I learned how to use the radio without having to read the manual. Controls are well organized and display is good. I got it at a terrific price in the dead of winter on a Manager's in-store special. I could not resist.
Moe	posted 07-03-2007 09:03 PM ET (US) We like the Standard Horizon HX270S. For me, a rechargeable VHF handheld has to have the capabilities of using an external antenna, as well as AA batteries as a backup. These are more important to me than DSC and NMEA, since where we boat, we're more likely to get a response to a voice distress call than waiting for an "ACK" with a digital one. The HX270S came with a waterproof AA battery tray, but the external antenna pigtail was extra cost. It came with both AC and DC chargers, but only one cradle, so I bought a second, one for each charger to leave at home and in the boat. I also bought a nylon carrying case for it, and have never had it accidentally turn on while carrying it back and forth. We don't leave it aboard. I generally prefer more knobs and dedicated buttons than menus, but don't find the squelch hard to use. Push the squelch button (below the PTT button), use the same up/down arrows you use to select channels to increase or decrease the squelch, then press the squelch button again (or wait until it times out and leaves that mode). The battery indicator only shows up when the battery is getting low. There's a partially charged cell image, an empty cell image, then a flashing empty cell image when it's really time to charge. I've honestly never got it that low. In general, I find a direct relationship between my satisfaction with a product and the amount of time I spend reading the owner's manual. In fact, I usually download the manuals of different brands/models of competing products prior to purchase to see which I might like best. -- Moe
jimh	posted 07-03-2007 10:26 PM ET (US) Re the reliability of any handheld transceiver: it is inversely proportional to --number of times it is dropped --distance it falls --hardness of surface it falls onto
cgaux	posted 07-04-2007 01:53 AM ET (US) Not sure the size of your boat and electronics you already carry, but, from the perspective of a main radio, I wouldn't rely on a VHF portable for anything but back up communications tool. If you have the ability to mount a fixed 25 watt radio somewhere on your boat I would explore that. As a coast guard radio officer for over 14 years I can tell you of several stories of people that rely on portables (kayaks being one) as their primary communications link, they don't have good outcomes in fringe radio coverage areas. The batteries die, the antenna and radio don't have the capability to cut through the often loud chatter on channel 16 in distress situations. They also can suffer the same demise as a cellphone, a dead battery. If you have limited room, there are units now that you can use a wireless mic and/or a remotely installed radio, both Standard Horizon and Icom manufacture such a product. Be safe come back alive