handheld VHf?
- Thread starter Orbweaver
- Start date
I have used a handheld on my Precision since purchased. Best thing I did was connect it to an antenna clamped to the stern rail and a quick connect coupler, range increase was amazing. Hung the radio on the backstay in easy reach.Antenna in this photo is 7 ft., hidden by the backstay, wire is long enough to have radio in the cabin if wanted.
Bought an Icom M-25 and couldn't be happier. Around $100.00, and floats. You can program an alarm into it to flash and scream at you when it goes overboard to help find it. That feature does work. Couldn't resist the temptation to throw it in to see if it floated and the alarms would go off
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,044
Made me think of this commercial...
Sure it was intentional?
Alka-Seltzer Plus Maximum Strength Day & Night Cold &...
I have used this radio throughout the boating season. I ride my boat quite often and haven't had any problems. The radio works as it should, communications are clear, lots of customizable settings, great battery life (I only had to charge it once this season and left it on for days), very durable feel and great accessories to charge or plug straight into the ship.
As mentioned above sometimes the received messages are hard to understand. My latest handheld (ICOM M73) has a feature that records the last message, which can be re-played until understood. Unfortunately this radio utilizes multifunction buttons which only teenagers can work. I think all handhelds have poor sound quality. I was getting pumped out the other day and the pumpout boat had a speaker somewhere on deck that was playing all received radio messages. That sound quality was excellent and probably due to the larger size of that speaker. I tried an ear piece plug in on another handheld and that did not help much with understanding what was coming over the air. You can also buy a wired remote mic/speaker for your below deck radio.
I suspect the OP has made a decision on a radio as the original post was about a year and half ago.
There may be posts worth keeping alive and being reborn, so an automatic locking would be a bit dramatic.
Checking the date of the thread you are reading would be simple enough.
The OP ended up with a Standard Horizon HX870 in blue. 
So, go buy one. They are nice to communicate with crew who are away on a dinghy or ashore, or if you are away. just remember when you talk on the VHF, everyone within ear shot can hear your conversation. I remember a guy on his radio telling another boater that he had a fancy for a woman who worked on one of the nearby light houses. He went on and on about his passion and I got on line and reminded him she probably was listening to him as well. He never gave that a thought before I told him. End of communication LOL. And, like the radio in your boat, you have to use the same protocols.
