Hi, I want to get a radio for my b/f's 36' sailboat but haven't a clue about radios. I found one at Costco called Midland Regatta RG 2. It says it has a fixed mount and Nautico and 1 hand held VHF. Anyone know anything about this radio? Is it decent? or anyone have any suggestions on what to get? Any help is much appreciated!
- Status
Gotta Love Costco
Wow - you just gotta love that Costco. The deal is for the fixed mount, DSC capable, full featured 25W marine VHF AND a 5w hand held, including charger - all for $179 Typically, the fixed mount radio alone could be found for about $140-$150 and the handheld for another $120-$140, so on price alone, it's quite a package. Costco usually does a pretty good job of sourcing quality stuff - you won't find much in the way of off-brand junk. So, while I can't comment on the specifics of Midland radios - other than that they have been in business for a long time - on price alone, this is a pretty good deal. Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Wow - you just gotta love that Costco. The deal is for the fixed mount, DSC capable, full featured 25W marine VHF AND a 5w hand held, including charger - all for $179 Typically, the fixed mount radio alone could be found for about $140-$150 and the handheld for another $120-$140, so on price alone, it's quite a package. Costco usually does a pretty good job of sourcing quality stuff - you won't find much in the way of off-brand junk. So, while I can't comment on the specifics of Midland radios - other than that they have been in business for a long time - on price alone, this is a pretty good deal. Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Back in the day...
when we were all talking on CB radios out on the interstate highways, Midland was one of the best brands of radios you could buy. As Tim said, on price alone, it's a great deal. Have you done any internet research looking for blogs or sites where people air complaints? Hopefully someone else will chime in with 1st hand information for you. Great gift idea.
when we were all talking on CB radios out on the interstate highways, Midland was one of the best brands of radios you could buy. As Tim said, on price alone, it's a great deal. Have you done any internet research looking for blogs or sites where people air complaints? Hopefully someone else will chime in with 1st hand information for you. Great gift idea.
water resistance
The price may be good but and I can't speak about Midland's general quality but I see that the handheld is only "water resistant" and the fixed mount is water proof to what looks like a low standard. For me that wouldn't be worth the price savings. I would want a hand held to have the highest waterproof rating I could find. I'm not knocking the deal but I think a 36 foot boat probably deserves a better radio. A radio is a piece of primary safety gear on a boat and I don't think it should be something you get just because it is on sale. I would suggest ICOM or Standard Horizon. Additionally, in my personal experience, its hard for my wife to by something like that for me as a present. If we need something like a radio I usually have something in mind and if she gets something that's not up to the quality I'm looking at she knows I'll be disappointed. She knows that and so doesn't try to get me those kind of things. (She usually figures out something very nice though). Not trying to rain on your parade. I think its great that your trying to get him something for the boat but if its something about which you don't have a clue I think you should look at something else. Either that or maybe start looking at radios in the West Marine Catalog and say "gee honey, if you were going to get one of these which ones would you like" I hope that didn't come off in negative or condescending way! Happy Holidays!
The price may be good but and I can't speak about Midland's general quality but I see that the handheld is only "water resistant" and the fixed mount is water proof to what looks like a low standard. For me that wouldn't be worth the price savings. I would want a hand held to have the highest waterproof rating I could find. I'm not knocking the deal but I think a 36 foot boat probably deserves a better radio. A radio is a piece of primary safety gear on a boat and I don't think it should be something you get just because it is on sale. I would suggest ICOM or Standard Horizon. Additionally, in my personal experience, its hard for my wife to by something like that for me as a present. If we need something like a radio I usually have something in mind and if she gets something that's not up to the quality I'm looking at she knows I'll be disappointed. She knows that and so doesn't try to get me those kind of things. (She usually figures out something very nice though). Not trying to rain on your parade. I think its great that your trying to get him something for the boat but if its something about which you don't have a clue I think you should look at something else. Either that or maybe start looking at radios in the West Marine Catalog and say "gee honey, if you were going to get one of these which ones would you like" I hope that didn't come off in negative or condescending way! Happy Holidays!
what Richard said
is good advice. Icom and Yaesu (makes Standard Horizon) are two of the top 3 quality radios on which someone's life could one day depend. A 36 ft boat should have at least one fixed mount radio with DSC which is selective emergency calling capability and you could find a good quality one for around $150 at most marine stores.
is good advice. Icom and Yaesu (makes Standard Horizon) are two of the top 3 quality radios on which someone's life could one day depend. A 36 ft boat should have at least one fixed mount radio with DSC which is selective emergency calling capability and you could find a good quality one for around $150 at most marine stores.
How can you go wrong?
Tim: How can you go wrong. Either radio for $179 would not be a bad deal, but both of them for that price!
Tim: How can you go wrong. Either radio for $179 would not be a bad deal, but both of them for that price!
salt water environs???
I/ve had water estistand radios for 5 years on my boat and never had a problem with the. Course, I've never been in the storm of the week and needed a radio, and when I did, I used the fixed one below rather than the hand held one. So, my 1question is, what does salt air do to a water resistant (rather than a water proof) radio? Does it rot the guts in a year or two?
I/ve had water estistand radios for 5 years on my boat and never had a problem with the. Course, I've never been in the storm of the week and needed a radio, and when I did, I used the fixed one below rather than the hand held one. So, my 1question is, what does salt air do to a water resistant (rather than a water proof) radio? Does it rot the guts in a year or two?
Competing Price Link
"You-do-it" Electronics Center ® | home| Midland CB Radios | Midland GMRS Radios | Midland Marine Radios Midland Marine Radios Midland NAUTIC01 5 Watt Marine Radio 88 Channels 5 Watts of Transmit Power 10 NOAA Weather Channels Up to 12 Mile Range 3 Call Tones Emergency Channel 16 Button Water Resistant Auto Squelch Midland NAUTIC01 YDI Price $69.00 Midland AVP5 Charger Kit Features: Battery Pack AC and DC Charger Mount Headset Midland AVP-5 YDI Price $29.90 Midland REGATTA2 25 Watt Marine Radio All Marine Channels 25 Watts of Transmit Power 10 NOAA Weather Channels Up to 12 Mile Range 3 Call Tones Emergency Channel 16 Button Water Resistant Dual / Triple Watch Auto Squelch PS2 Connector for GPS Device Midland REGATTA2 YDI Price $189.00 Midland 18-251A 8 Foot Marine Antenna VHF 6db 8 foot Fiberglass antenna, with 6db gain to effectively raise output power of radio from 25 watts to 100 watts (ERP). Supplied with a non-corrosive, high-impact ratchet mount which allows one-lever lay over action. Includes 15 feet of coaxial cable & connector (PL259). Base plate mounting screws not included. Midland 18-251A YDI Price $39.00 Midland 18-257A 60" Marine Antenna VHF 3db Ideal for Fiberglass or Wooden watercraft 3db gain doubles your transmitters effective rated power. Lift & Lay mount permits horizontal storage. Adjustable mounting plate for slanted decks Includes mounting bracket & 12 foot prewired coaxial cable. Base plate mounting screws not included. Midland 18-257A YDI Price $29.00
"You-do-it" Electronics Center ® | home| Midland CB Radios | Midland GMRS Radios | Midland Marine Radios Midland Marine Radios Midland NAUTIC01 5 Watt Marine Radio 88 Channels 5 Watts of Transmit Power 10 NOAA Weather Channels Up to 12 Mile Range 3 Call Tones Emergency Channel 16 Button Water Resistant Auto Squelch Midland NAUTIC01 YDI Price $69.00 Midland AVP5 Charger Kit Features: Battery Pack AC and DC Charger Mount Headset Midland AVP-5 YDI Price $29.90 Midland REGATTA2 25 Watt Marine Radio All Marine Channels 25 Watts of Transmit Power 10 NOAA Weather Channels Up to 12 Mile Range 3 Call Tones Emergency Channel 16 Button Water Resistant Dual / Triple Watch Auto Squelch PS2 Connector for GPS Device Midland REGATTA2 YDI Price $189.00 Midland 18-251A 8 Foot Marine Antenna VHF 6db 8 foot Fiberglass antenna, with 6db gain to effectively raise output power of radio from 25 watts to 100 watts (ERP). Supplied with a non-corrosive, high-impact ratchet mount which allows one-lever lay over action. Includes 15 feet of coaxial cable & connector (PL259). Base plate mounting screws not included. Midland 18-251A YDI Price $39.00 Midland 18-257A 60" Marine Antenna VHF 3db Ideal for Fiberglass or Wooden watercraft 3db gain doubles your transmitters effective rated power. Lift & Lay mount permits horizontal storage. Adjustable mounting plate for slanted decks Includes mounting bracket & 12 foot prewired coaxial cable. Base plate mounting screws not included. Midland 18-257A YDI Price $29.00
What about the specs?
What does everyone think about the specs of the cheapo Costco radio? Like is a 25 watt radio really adequate????? and a 5 watt hand-held? Sounds like a kid's walkie talkie toy to me. What say you?
What does everyone think about the specs of the cheapo Costco radio? Like is a 25 watt radio really adequate????? and a 5 watt hand-held? Sounds like a kid's walkie talkie toy to me. What say you?
specs
Didn't look at mfg specs regarding sensitivity, rejection or anything really meaningful but the pwr output ratinga of 25 w and 5 w handheld are typical of most if not all marine transceivers.
Didn't look at mfg specs regarding sensitivity, rejection or anything really meaningful but the pwr output ratinga of 25 w and 5 w handheld are typical of most if not all marine transceivers.
Max Legal
Jescrusin and Don - 25W is the max legal power for a marine VHF transceiver. I'm not positive, but I believe that the 5W handheld is also the max legal power. I'd be surprised if you could even buy a fixed mount marine vhf that is at less than 25W. Something in the "competing price link" post caused me to remember to mention that the antenna for the fixed mount radio is a very important piece of any effective radio installation. On a sailboat, that will commonly mean a masthead mounted antenna - although not absolutely required, it'll turn out to be the most useful place to mount the antenna. Following up on even another post about a gift being very well intentioned, but maybe not exactly on the mark, If I was buying it for myself, I think I'd be looking for a fixed mount vhf with a RAM (remote access mike) - which lets you mount the base radio inside the cabin and a really neat combined microphone, speaker and control buttons for all radio functions in a microphone-sized package out at the helm. Having that setup makes the need/use of a handheld different - either for supporting a dinghy, or in an emergency situation, etc - rather than as the "primary" helm-use radio. Just thoughts. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Jescrusin and Don - 25W is the max legal power for a marine VHF transceiver. I'm not positive, but I believe that the 5W handheld is also the max legal power. I'd be surprised if you could even buy a fixed mount marine vhf that is at less than 25W. Something in the "competing price link" post caused me to remember to mention that the antenna for the fixed mount radio is a very important piece of any effective radio installation. On a sailboat, that will commonly mean a masthead mounted antenna - although not absolutely required, it'll turn out to be the most useful place to mount the antenna. Following up on even another post about a gift being very well intentioned, but maybe not exactly on the mark, If I was buying it for myself, I think I'd be looking for a fixed mount vhf with a RAM (remote access mike) - which lets you mount the base radio inside the cabin and a really neat combined microphone, speaker and control buttons for all radio functions in a microphone-sized package out at the helm. Having that setup makes the need/use of a handheld different - either for supporting a dinghy, or in an emergency situation, etc - rather than as the "primary" helm-use radio. Just thoughts. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
VHF Use?
Hello, You didn't state what the VHF will be used for. That will have a bearing on wether this unit is a good deal or not. For me, I have been sailing for 4 years. I day sail often, but have only done about five overnight trips. I have used my VHF radio maybe 5 times. My sailing area, the Long Island sound, is wide, but not very high, meaning that I am usually less than 5 miles from short. That means that the Costo unit would probably be OK for me. If you are going to be 20 miles from land, or want / need to contact people who are 'far away' or really need to rely on you VHF, than I would not recommend the Coscto unit. Good luck, Barry Barry Lenoble Curragh, 1986 O'day 35 Mt. Sinai, NY lenoble@optonline.net
Hello, You didn't state what the VHF will be used for. That will have a bearing on wether this unit is a good deal or not. For me, I have been sailing for 4 years. I day sail often, but have only done about five overnight trips. I have used my VHF radio maybe 5 times. My sailing area, the Long Island sound, is wide, but not very high, meaning that I am usually less than 5 miles from short. That means that the Costo unit would probably be OK for me. If you are going to be 20 miles from land, or want / need to contact people who are 'far away' or really need to rely on you VHF, than I would not recommend the Coscto unit. Good luck, Barry Barry Lenoble Curragh, 1986 O'day 35 Mt. Sinai, NY lenoble@optonline.net
VHF is line of sight
so once your antenna gets below the dip of the curve of the earth, all the power in the world isn't gonna help.
so once your antenna gets below the dip of the curve of the earth, all the power in the world isn't gonna help.
- Status