Handheld VHF radio

[Ted]

I am ready to replace my handheld VHF radio. I'm considering the Standard Horizon HX851 which has a built in GPS and is capable of DSC along with some other nice features. Anyone care to share some first hand opinions about this unit?

http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...FF5498D5C3153D6E29B&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I considered this one as a gift for our son's birthday but my reservation was that most of the functions are menu-driven. That is a consequence of having lots of flexibility with the radio but in a handheld, I thought simplicity and battery life are more important.

As to the menu-driven nature of the radio, rather than have manual controls of functions, each of the few keys has multiple functions selectable via menu. Better get used to having the instruction manual around a while for reference. If you don't mind the complexity, it's a feature-packed radio.

 

[reworb]

I have one. I think it's a great radio. Having radio and gps functions in one handheld package is great especially if you're going to use it in a small boat or a dinghy.

For some of the lesser used functions you do have to remember how it's done or consult the manual. For the commonly used functions that does not seem to be a problem, at least for me.

In my opinion having multipul layers of menus instead of of a button is problem with most products these days.

 

[Snotter]

I get frustrated with the complexity of mine. Keep the manual nearby.

 

[heart of gold]

The HX851 is an excellent radio, I have one that a bought when they first came out. Battery life is good, range is decent. The new ones have an upgraded lithium ion battery which should last longer. I also have one of these after my original was stolen.

 

[Brian D]

What is the purpose of a handheld radio? To mimic to the last detail your fix radio in the boat? No, it is to use for (very) short-range communications. Does one need GPS in a handheld? No, there is no purpose under heaven for a handheld to have GPS. If one wants GPS that bad, buy a watch that has WWVB and GPS then one will know where they are and exactly what time it is.

I do not mean to be condescending if the above sounded like that. But manufactures are forcing on us things we do not need. There is no need to have a GPS in a radio in a dinghy. Next we will be putting chart plotters in dinghies.

I too am in the market for a handheld. But I will not fall in to the fad of having 1000's of features that are useless. My philosophy is very simple... keep it simple. If you want a handheld, then just buy one that has no features other than on/off, SQ, Vol, and channel selector.

DSC on a handheld? Who is going to hear that other than another boat 3 miles away?

 

[kpgraci]

I too have considered a hand held, but with the idea in mind that when single handling If I fell overborad having a VHF clipped to my vest would come in handy. If a handheld only has a range of a few miles, and less when 6" from the water, hailing a boat within visual range in that situation is still useful. GPS and DSC probably not.

 

[tommays]

I have it and like it as the belt clip is very robust which allows it follow me very nicely should I do something stupid and not be able to get back onboard

 

[tkanzler]

I don't know, but some gentleman lost his life on Lake Ontario shortly after I moved to this area, about 8 miles from the USCG station. Folks reported hearing weak mayday calls, presumably from a hand-held, but being night time, they couldn't find him until the morning. DSC with GPS might have directed S&R straight to him. Unless I'm mistaken, line-of-sight from the surface to a 100 ft antenna (which is only about ten stories) is around 12 miles, and boats in the area and/or a helicopter or plane would presumably have antennas configured to look both down and out. Sounds like GPS would be useful in such a near-shore scenario.

 

[Johnb]

Adding to kpgraci's opinion, we have a water proof handheld for each of us (wife and self) and figure if we went overboard in San Francisco bay it could save you life. Yelling goes no distance at all but a whistle and radio reach much further.

One day we heard a transmission about an unoccupied fishing boat moored near Richmond. Later in the day we saw a helicopter off Emeryville pulling a body out of the water. The person had a lifejacket on and maybe succumbed to the cold whilst drifting the 5 miles South - on a busy weekend day.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Do you keep your HHs tethered to your lifejackets?

 

[tkanzler]

I do when I'm single-handing, regardless of boat size.

 

[Chris Patterson]

I guess I'm kind of with Brian on this one. I keep a SH-280 that goes where I go on the boat. I have a helm remote, and still primarily listen to the HT. Very simple, rugged, (I tested it), and the battery lasts forever. And ever. Amen.

 

[Richard19068]

What is the purpose of a handheld radio? To mimic to the last detail your fix radio in the boat? No, it is to use for (very) short-range communications. Does one need GPS in a handheld? No, there is no purpose under heaven for a handheld to have GPS. If one wants GPS that bad, buy a watch that has WWVB and GPS then one will know where they are and exactly what time it is.

I do not mean to be condescending if the above sounded like that. But manufactures are forcing on us things we do not need. There is no need to have a GPS in a radio in a dinghy. Next we will be putting chart plotters in dinghies.

I too am in the market for a handheld. But I will not fall in to the fad of having 1000's of features that are useless. My philosophy is very simple... keep it simple. If you want a handheld, then just buy one that has no features other than on/off, SQ, Vol, and channel selector.

DSC on a handheld? Who is going to hear that other than another boat 3 miles away?

As a ditch item I think GPS and DSC would be a great thing to have in a handheld VHF. The coast guard towers can pick up a handheld VHF signal from a fairly long distance. Take a look at the story posted here earlier today : http://www.acrartex.com/survivors/stories/2011/foster-stanback/

Here a handheld was heard from near Catalina all the way to San Diego and was instrumental in a successful rescue. If the guys in the water didn't also have a PLB the handheld and GPS could have been the difference between life and death.

If you don't want or need that capability don't buy it. But a handheld with GPS and DSC certainly has it's place.

 

[Ted]

My last handheld VHF radio (Icom IC-M34) cost me $169 three years ago and it had no other features. After the second year of very light use it needed an $80 repair which lasted 6 months. (What a piece of S*it)

The Standard Horizon HX851 is packed with features for $182. (with the present $25 mail in rebate) I think that spending an additional $13 is worth having VHF radio with GPS and DSC capability. The handheld would not be my primary VHF but it's nice to know that in the event of an abandon ship emergency that this single small unit will provide lots of safety functions. Thanks for all the input. I was mainly concerned about buying another piece of electronics that fell into the same "lack of quality" category as my former one.

 

[Brian D]

As a ditch item I think GPS and DSC would be a great thing to have in a handheld VHF. The coast guard towers can pick up a handheld VHF signal from a fairly long distance. Take a look at the story posted here earlier today : http://www.acrartex.com/survivors/stories/2011/foster-stanback/

Here a handheld was heard from near Catalina all the way to San Diego and was instrumental in a successful rescue. If the guys in the water didn't also have a PLB the handheld and GPS could have been the difference between life and death.

If you don't want or need that capability don't buy it. But a handheld with GPS and DSC certainly has it's place.

Well, I surely can't argue with a marketing story. Maybe the PLB had more to do with the rescue than a VHF that only worked for one call.

I will not argue that VHF cannot be heard over great distances. I will argue that VHF can be heard over great distance reliably. In this case (the story) my argument will be proven. However, the specs on the ACR are:

5W (406 MHz), 50 mW +/-3dB (121.5 MHz)

Note the frequencies and not the power. 406 MHz, high VHF frequency in Government and low UHF in all others, is a satellite receive frequency and 121.5 MHz is an aircraft, low VHF, frequency. These are monitored by just about every agency in the US and international. So no doubt they had a great deal to do with the rescue, not the handheld radio that did not work.

Not trying to burst any bubble, but see that PLB or EPIRB will be more effective than just a handheld with GPS and DSC alone.

Now, if one desires to purchase these tools then I would encourage one to do so. However, think about what you are getting and do research.

Thanks for posting that article link. It was a good read and I am very happy the guys made it back safely.

 

[Johnb]

Handheld VHF

Do you keep your HHs tethered to your lifejackets?

We have dedicated pockets on the life jackets.

By the way, did you see in the other earlier post mention of people watching a coast guard helicopter fly by without seeing them.

When I did a lot of dinghy sailing I carried orange smoke flares.

 

[Johnnie Walker Black]

Doesn't DSC force an automatic relay function in other VHF/DSC radios?
If so, then reaching one other boat 3 miles away would do the job right?
Also, does anyone know the lag time for a PLB to acquire satellites? And then how long to transmit accurate GPS data to a local rescue agency?
VHF with DSC is pretty damn fast, and in certain circumstances a better option than PLB.
I'm sure everyone programs their MMSI into the radio too right. Cuz they don't work without it.

 

[Gunni]

Doesn't DSC force an automatic relay function in other VHF/DSC radios? Maybe, but I only monitor voice transmissions. Send me a DSC call and I'll never get it cause I don't fool with DSC. You want help, hail me on Ch16. Simple.
If so, then reaching one other boat 3 miles away would do the job right? See above.
Also, does anyone know the lag time for a PLB to acquire satellites? And then how long to transmit accurate GPS data to a local rescue agency? Seconds to the sat, minutes (about 3) for the GPS.
VHF with DSC is pretty damn fast, and in certain circumstances a better option than PLB. I'll trust Cospas-Sarsat rescue pros to run my rescue, thank you. I require six-sigma response quality.
I'm sure everyone programs their MMSI into the radio too right. Cuz they don't work without it. Actually no, but then I'm not even sure how my scan function works. The manual is gone. See answer #1.

You set off a DSC and the CG will start polling Ch16, asking local boaters to be on the lookout. The assumption is that my kid pushed the cool red button down in the saloon. Again.

I set off my EPIRB or PLB, a solid sat signal ignites, my POC gets a call, and a full rescue response begins (or not). The assumption is if you buy a dedicated sat rescue device, you know what you are doing.

DSC alerts go off all day long, because DSC is now on every VHF radio and we know how many radio operators are actually competent radio operators, have read the manual, and can make sense of DSC ops gibberish. I don't blame people for being clueless about DCS - It was a good idea, badly implemented. Too much error.

 

[Johnnie Walker Black]

You set off a DSC and the CG will start polling Ch16, asking local boaters to be on the lookout. The assumption is that my kid pushed the cool red button down in the saloon. Again.

I set off my EPIRB or PLB, a solid sat signal ignites, my POC gets a call, and a full rescue response begins (or not). The assumption is if you buy a dedicated sat rescue device, you know what you are doing.

DSC alerts go off all day long, because DSC is now on every VHF radio and we know how many radio operators are actually competent radio operators, have read the manual, and can make sense of DSC ops gibberish. I don't blame people for being clueless about DCS - It was a good idea, badly implemented. Too much error.

Guni
1.) If you read my post... you'll see I asked if the DSC provides an automatic relay.
This would be an end around to the boater who just doesn't care to follow the law or common boating courtesy to look out for fellow boaters in distress.
2.) Would you like to site your source for the "seconds" required for your PLB to lock onto satellites and begin transmitting accurate GPS position? You'll find 30 minutes to 1 hour is a more probable time frame.
3.) So what's to prevent your unsupervised child from activating your cool buttons on the EPIRB after he gets bored pushing the cool red buttons on your radio?
4.) Its too bad the rescue 21 system that is just now becoming widely operational for distressed boaters, is already an outdated and critically flawed system in your view.