Help me understand this stuff, please
Some have purchased wired and others wireless cockpit mics. Some of you have had and others not had success. Some have remote mics of either type with a "backup" handheld in the cockpit. And with all these combinations, there still appears to be some, if not major, disappointment in operations and quality.
We sail with, dare I admit to say, an "ancient" below-decks 1986 non-scanning but full-channeled Standard Horizon. (higgs: sound familiar???) This model was their regular middle or top of the line at the time. There may be a connection on the back of the radio (which is very accessible) that would allow me to install a remote cockpit speaker; I'll check the instruction manual which our PO kindly passed onto us.
We have been sailing for the past 11 years with a handheld in the cockpit. They usually last three or four years and we replace them for less than $100. All of them have served us very well. We have never had difficulty contacting anyone we needed to. Only once or twice have we felt a need to use the down-station w/masthead antenna to send or receive messages.
Admittedly, we do not use the VHF for a lot of "chatter" with other boats. The handheld has been extremely useful for contacting bridges, and listening to CH16, voice traffic, telephone calls before cell phones, VTS and WX. We sail on San Francisco Bay, admittedly a rather small body of water compared to the Chesapeake and the Great Lakes. We do a good amount of ocean sailing, but with little requirement for any long distance contacts.
Questions: Please help me understand and explain what requirements you have that would require BOTH a wired or wireless mic AND a handheld in the cockpit. Is it the distance you may need to have contact? Is it the "backup?" I know we've discussed VHF distances between handhelds and masthead mounted antennas, so do those distance differences make all that much difference to you and if so why? I'm just trying to understand, and plan for the future.
One of our members installed another regular VHF right at his helm, built into the cockpit coaming, saying it was the best of backup and range he could figure! And he added it cost less than a RAM or WHAM mike.
Also, Maine Sail, what remote speaker do you have that you like so much?
Thanks, Stu