Uniden Atlantis 200 VHF handheld radio

[pupluv]

I recently bought a Uniden Atlantis 200 handheld radio, new-in-box but very cheap. Looking around the web I could find only a couple reviews of this little radio and they were rather negative. Apparently, Uniden has discontinued this model contributing to my suspicion that it may be a dud.

If anyone has experience with this model, I would appreciate hearing their opinion. If a radio doesn't work well, it doesn't matter how cheap it was; it's no bargain.

 

[Joe]

You've already made your purchase. A decision based on price. Maybe you'll get lucky and it will give you good service. Unless you can return it, why aggravate yourself with self doubt and hindsight.... use it and write a report based on your own experience.

 

[pupluv]

It's a gift!

You've already made your purchase. A decision based on price. Maybe you'll get lucky and it will give you good service. Unless you can return it, why aggravate yourself with self doubt and hindsight.... use it and write a report based on your own experience.

Actually I bought it as a gift for another sailor, which is why I am especially concerned.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It's always the thought that counts ... I'm sure a friend wouldn't be critical. If you buy another that has better reviews, maybe exchange it with your friend and explain that you will use the original one so that you can compare performance!

 

[31seahorse]

Re: It's a gift!

Hello pupluv,

What's in a number?

We have owned the Unidem Atlantis 250 for many years. It has worked until recently. Within the last year it has failed to hold a charge. The charge indicator looks fine until we call on the radio. Although it receives well the indicator takes a nose dive after calling. To describe the radio accurately I must mention that several areas of the case now show corrosion signs. Batteries + does not have a replacement for the internal battery and long ago I misplaced (read threw out!) the back cover that allowed for the use of AA batteries in place of the rechargable battery. We got many hours of use from it.

RE: the gift...... I think I remember an old saying: "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

31seahorse

 

[Steve Walsh]

Mine is about 10 years old, and still works fine, though I rarely use it. It gets a charge every 90 days or so, whether it needs it or not. Still has original rechargeable battery. Never tried the AA battery option, but have it on board. I've dropped it on the cockpit sole a few times with no issues.

 

[weinie]

I had one...good to go. Liked that it used AA batteries.

 

[stevec22206]

I just replaced the rechargeable battery for my old uniden 250. Mine exhibited the same symptoms this past season, showed a full charge but as soon as I keyed the mike it would show little or no charge and wouldn't transmit. New battery works great.

Steve

 

[pupluv]

Uniden 200

I gave the gift and we tried it out in a daysail today. I discovered one reason for the low price is that it is underpowered compared to most handhelds: 3.5 watts compared to 5 for the typical. I guess this could be important because the antenna is not high.

Regardless (or irregardless as is said in New Jersey) the little radio worked well enough and I liked the fact that it used cheap re-chargeable AAA batteries rather than the proprietary battery that always costs a lot.