Several of you recommended I get a new radio to replace my 15 year old model. Apparently the internal battery to power the memory is failing. There are many choices out there...what do you all recommend?? I like the new DSC with auto fog horns and all the bells and whistles but I hate the price. Also should I get a remote microphone or just get a hand held. The hand held gives a backup if the primary fails and is the same price as a remote microphone. Also if I buy a SSB radio will it also cover the VHF bands or are two radios required? thanks, dave
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Rob Rich
Geography...
Hey Dave, I am looking into one also, and after asking quite a few of they guys on my dock, all of them said ixnay on the handheld. In general, they reported that it did not have enough punch to travel over shore obstacles and reach people down river. Of course, we sail on an dammed river that has canyon walls in some areas, so you can see how geography comes into play in regards to radio waves and handheld units. Nevertheless, the standard, hard-wired units do it with ease. I went to school over on LI and am familiar with the Sound, so i guess you could get away with a handheld. But you might have trouble reaching people in the Peconic, or if they went around the east side of Block Island and you were on the west side, that kind of scenario. Let me know what you find out, as I am about a month away from getting one myself. I have heard favorable word-of-mouth reviews on the Standard Horizon series. Best Regards, Rob
Hey Dave, I am looking into one also, and after asking quite a few of they guys on my dock, all of them said ixnay on the handheld. In general, they reported that it did not have enough punch to travel over shore obstacles and reach people down river. Of course, we sail on an dammed river that has canyon walls in some areas, so you can see how geography comes into play in regards to radio waves and handheld units. Nevertheless, the standard, hard-wired units do it with ease. I went to school over on LI and am familiar with the Sound, so i guess you could get away with a handheld. But you might have trouble reaching people in the Peconic, or if they went around the east side of Block Island and you were on the west side, that kind of scenario. Let me know what you find out, as I am about a month away from getting one myself. I have heard favorable word-of-mouth reviews on the Standard Horizon series. Best Regards, Rob
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R. Young
VHF Radio
I assume you will probably want the radio at the helm so a helm mounted radio - or a cabin mounted radio with a remote at the helm is the way to go. Attached to the antenna atop the mast will give you maximum range - line of site. A handheld is for convenience and good for a few miles at best. SSB as far as I know do not have VHF capability, are expensive, require elaborate antenna systems and are for mostly offshore use - where VHF is out of range.
I assume you will probably want the radio at the helm so a helm mounted radio - or a cabin mounted radio with a remote at the helm is the way to go. Attached to the antenna atop the mast will give you maximum range - line of site. A handheld is for convenience and good for a few miles at best. SSB as far as I know do not have VHF capability, are expensive, require elaborate antenna systems and are for mostly offshore use - where VHF is out of range.
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Mike
I like the Intrepid
I like my Standard Intrepid. I have seem them on sale lots of times. It has DSC and is able to interface with a GPS system so that if you use the automated distress feature, it will include your positions automatically. I do not use either of these features, but it's nice to know that when I upgrade, they are available. I found this model to be a great value.
I like my Standard Intrepid. I have seem them on sale lots of times. It has DSC and is able to interface with a GPS system so that if you use the automated distress feature, it will include your positions automatically. I do not use either of these features, but it's nice to know that when I upgrade, they are available. I found this model to be a great value.
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Andy Howard
remote microphone vs hand held
Went through this debate myself last year. I wanted communications at the helm and the remote mics looked pretty cool. In the end, I went with a handheld and I'm glad I did. While it is in no way a substitute for a fixed mount station. It does,as you note, provide a backup for the primary. Also it's standard gear for dingy trips and with kids aboard substitutes for a FRS. Either way communications at the helm is a real conveince.
Went through this debate myself last year. I wanted communications at the helm and the remote mics looked pretty cool. In the end, I went with a handheld and I'm glad I did. While it is in no way a substitute for a fixed mount station. It does,as you note, provide a backup for the primary. Also it's standard gear for dingy trips and with kids aboard substitutes for a FRS. Either way communications at the helm is a real conveince.
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tom
i'm vey happy with my new icom-m502
i just got the new icom -m502 with a remote mike... very happy ... the sound is great. it's simple to operate.. the remote mike also sounds great... we also have two handhelds, they're really inexpensive now, which we use when we go ashore, etc.
i just got the new icom -m502 with a remote mike... very happy ... the sound is great. it's simple to operate.. the remote mike also sounds great... we also have two handhelds, they're really inexpensive now, which we use when we go ashore, etc.
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Larry Watkins
VHF
Tom; A handheld works well at the helm to keep in touch with buddy-boats, talk to bridge operators, listen to the Vessel Traffic Service in your area to keep tabs on big ships, and is good in the dink. For long range, you need a mounted 25 watts with a masthead antenna. The best all around handheld, IMHO, is the standard HX255: it can be charged three ways, 12v charger, 115 volt charger, and has a ni-cad battery and a alkaline battery tray, too. Lots of options. Larry W.
Tom; A handheld works well at the helm to keep in touch with buddy-boats, talk to bridge operators, listen to the Vessel Traffic Service in your area to keep tabs on big ships, and is good in the dink. For long range, you need a mounted 25 watts with a masthead antenna. The best all around handheld, IMHO, is the standard HX255: it can be charged three ways, 12v charger, 115 volt charger, and has a ni-cad battery and a alkaline battery tray, too. Lots of options. Larry W.
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Alex
Icom-402 + remote CommandMic
.It is smaller and less expensive than the 502,it has some basic DSC features, and it's remote speaker/mic combination in cockpit works great .(same as for 502). What I don't like about handhelds, is that unless you buy the most expensive ones,the rechargable battery get low very quickly . In practice you get a 7-8 hours of Stand-By or 20-30 min max while talking..Most units take several hours at least to get fully charged back ( as my new Reytheon) !! It is practical if you seldom use it and get to shore power daily..But then recycling many times, you shorten the battery life... a new battery these days cost 50% of a new unit.. It might help to get ( some does) a 12V lighter cord.. So for most practical reasons in the long run, I'd go for ( I did..) the mentioned above one. I'd keep the handheld for dinghy or emergencies.
.It is smaller and less expensive than the 502,it has some basic DSC features, and it's remote speaker/mic combination in cockpit works great .(same as for 502). What I don't like about handhelds, is that unless you buy the most expensive ones,the rechargable battery get low very quickly . In practice you get a 7-8 hours of Stand-By or 20-30 min max while talking..Most units take several hours at least to get fully charged back ( as my new Reytheon) !! It is practical if you seldom use it and get to shore power daily..But then recycling many times, you shorten the battery life... a new battery these days cost 50% of a new unit.. It might help to get ( some does) a 12V lighter cord.. So for most practical reasons in the long run, I'd go for ( I did..) the mentioned above one. I'd keep the handheld for dinghy or emergencies.
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Craig Coffman
Second the Standard HX255
I second the recomendation of the Std HX255. When I bought, I was weighing between a remote mike & a handheld, so speak to that.. but on the handhelds, I really agonized over the charging options, & the fact that this model came with both the 12v & 110v charger cords was a biggee for me (The 12v cord was extra with all other radios, a hidden $10-$60 option!!). The alkaline battery tray is a great back-up, though I havn't used it yet. The hx255 is (I believe, not looking at my manual now), 5w on high power, but transmits with the standard 2 or 3 unless you select the high power). My handheld had it's first good workout over the memorial day weekend & was always with anyone in the dinghy & on. The batteries lasted from Fri Noon until Monday morning. Range was acceptable on low power (no intervening canyons though). My only complaint was not being able to hear it over the dinghy outboard, but the unit wisely has a connector for an earpiece or headphones.. & I think microphone. It also has weather band, but most do nowdays. -- Craig Coffman S/V Winds of Change, H40.5
I second the recomendation of the Std HX255. When I bought, I was weighing between a remote mike & a handheld, so speak to that.. but on the handhelds, I really agonized over the charging options, & the fact that this model came with both the 12v & 110v charger cords was a biggee for me (The 12v cord was extra with all other radios, a hidden $10-$60 option!!). The alkaline battery tray is a great back-up, though I havn't used it yet. The hx255 is (I believe, not looking at my manual now), 5w on high power, but transmits with the standard 2 or 3 unless you select the high power). My handheld had it's first good workout over the memorial day weekend & was always with anyone in the dinghy & on. The batteries lasted from Fri Noon until Monday morning. Range was acceptable on low power (no intervening canyons though). My only complaint was not being able to hear it over the dinghy outboard, but the unit wisely has a connector for an earpiece or headphones.. & I think microphone. It also has weather band, but most do nowdays. -- Craig Coffman S/V Winds of Change, H40.5
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