Thank you so much! If I have the right radio, this will be the best solution for me for the short term (and a handheld).
VHF at helm (possibly hands free)
- Thread starter patagoniadave
- Start date
I have a Ram microphone on Standard Horizon, hard wired.. I have been very happy with that setup. Seems like rechargeable things need recharging at the most inopportune times..
I have the B&G V50 base and RS50 handset for the cockpit.
i like the system, and this year I am mounting the cradle in the cockpit. That way it is always charging while I am sailing, and it won’t get knocked around so much. It has DSC, and AIS receiver. It was easy to wire the base into a small N2K network between my chart plotter (providing the GPS coordinates) and the radio (providing the AIS info to the CP). CP is a Garmin, but no connectivity issues.
A RAM Mike at the helm would be comparable in my mind…but I like the B& G setup. I think the latest offering is the “60” series.
Greg
i like the system, and this year I am mounting the cradle in the cockpit. That way it is always charging while I am sailing, and it won’t get knocked around so much. It has DSC, and AIS receiver. It was easy to wire the base into a small N2K network between my chart plotter (providing the GPS coordinates) and the radio (providing the AIS info to the CP). CP is a Garmin, but no connectivity issues.
A RAM Mike at the helm would be comparable in my mind…but I like the B& G setup. I think the latest offering is the “60” series.
Greg
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,145
What you asked about is a system that is ready to go. Look at Vesper Cortex.
www.vespermarine.com
Garmin Official Site
Delivering innovative GPS-enabled technology across diverse markets, including sports and fitness, outdoor recreation, marine, automotive, and aviation.
www.vespermarine.com
I used to be a fan of Standard Horizon, good equipment at a fair price. After using a Matrix 2400 VHF and a high end handheld, I'm not so impressed. Essentially I found the units to be not user friendly.
After our SH VHF failed last fall, we bought the B&G V60 and 2 handsets because we were going to do some offshore overnight sails and the battery was a weak spot. Otherwise the radio has been easy to use and to learn, a nice simple interface that is readable for 70 year old eyes.
After our SH VHF failed last fall, we bought the B&G V60 and 2 handsets because we were going to do some offshore overnight sails and the battery was a weak spot. Otherwise the radio has been easy to use and to learn, a nice simple interface that is readable for 70 year old eyes.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,145
I purchased the SH2200 before Cortex was announced (otherwise I would have a Cortex). The SH is now a 4-5 yr old radio. It functions well. The Ram mic provides all the radio features just in the cockpit. It has proven to have full line of sight response at 14.9km atop my 12.9m mast. A solid performer.
To relay some experience with battery life for the wireless units - the HS35 has an 850 mAH battery. That was enough battery life to comfortably get through 8-hour daysails, until the unit was about 7 years old. When it started to struggle we replaced the battery with a 950 mAH one that fit in the same recess. With the fresh 950 mAH battery we get through daysails with at least 50% remaining (and usually still 75%). You can also charge at the helm, either with a cradle or with a USB cable, if you have a 12V USB adapter at the helm.
Both my handhelds have a scan feature. you can set them to scan at least 3 channels... and both have connections for external antenna... but I've never used it. What might be more relevant is DSC capability... Which all the modern fixed mounts have now. I have it tied into the N2k to provide DSC, AIS and emergency info with gps data. The VHF sends AIS info to the chartplotter/MFD where it is displayed on the screen. The remote handheld unit is wireless and has a large display and will duplicate all the features of the fixed unit(even AIS targets). But... if the fixed unit goes out.... the remote is useless, since it's just a repeater. I'd get a handheld right away, to keep at the helm just to solve the immediate need for convenience, if only to talk to other nearby boats... then take time to give serious consideration to your fixed mount solution.... a much greater investment.
Even though my boat's much smaller than your Irwin, I still faced the inconvenience or the fixed mount's inaccessibility from the cockpit. Eventually, I moved it to a ceiling mount just inside the hatch that let me stretch the mike cord far enough to use it while sitting at the tiller. I'm partial to the Navico stuff (Simrad, B&G and Lowrance) so I can recommend any of those fixed units with a remote. Good luck.
Hello,
My previous boat had the Simrad VHF with cradle by the helm. I installed it in 2015 and it was working fine in 2021 when I sold it.
Barry
[QUOTE="Parsons, post: 1747883, member: 105796"
@BarryL you keep your charger at the helm? How does it stand up to the salt and weather?
[/QUOTE]
My previous boat had the Simrad VHF with cradle by the helm. I installed it in 2015 and it was working fine in 2021 when I sold it.
Barry
[QUOTE="Parsons, post: 1747883, member: 105796"
@BarryL you keep your charger at the helm? How does it stand up to the salt and weather?
[/QUOTE]
When I installed my SH GX6000 I installed a wired remote mic. In the radio manual it warned against plugging in the remote mic while the radio was powered on.
I worried that I'd forget to do that and damage the radio so I went ahead and bought the wireless RAM mic. That works very well but does loose connection with the access point once in a while.
I do keep a back up handheld VHF on board.
I worried that I'd forget to do that and damage the radio so I went ahead and bought the wireless RAM mic. That works very well but does loose connection with the access point once in a while.
I do keep a back up handheld VHF on board.
Funny story. As I mentioned in my original post, it looked like a mic had been wired at the helm at one point. People I asked said it was old, and not part of my system.
I found the mike while digging around; "horizon RAM mike" I plugged it into the port on the helm. Nothing.
I went to the radio inside, pulled it out, and noticed a loose wire behind it, but no plug on the radio. Then I spied a little rubber booty, pried it off, plugged the loose wire into the radio, and checked the RAM. works great! Best upgrade project ever!
I found the mike while digging around; "horizon RAM mike" I plugged it into the port on the helm. Nothing.
I went to the radio inside, pulled it out, and noticed a loose wire behind it, but no plug on the radio. Then I spied a little rubber booty, pried it off, plugged the loose wire into the radio, and checked the RAM. works great! Best upgrade project ever!
Here's to all future boat projects going so smoothly!Don't ya love it when a plan comes together?
I don't want to disappoint you but......
Let me get this straight. A previous owner went to the expense to buy and the trouble to mount and run the wire, but did not bother to plug it in? Wow - go buy a lottery ticket.
As near as I can figure, this is my guess as to what happened:Let me get this straight. A previous owner went to the expense to buy and the trouble to mount and run the wire, but did not bother to plug it in? Wow - go buy a lottery ticket.
There was a radio on the boat that was connected to the RAM mike. A previous owner upgraded that radio in the cabin, probably hired someone to do it while on the hard in the Marina down here.
Whomever did the install did not notice that the port to plug the RAM mike wire into was covered by a rubber booty. When they could not figure out how to connect the wire, they left it abandoned, and threw the RAM in a drawer.
I got really lucky that they were compatible.
Keep in mind that hidden wiring done by semi-skilled owners can also have hidden splices or other sketchy install techniques.
(sigh)
(sigh)
Good point, I will pull off the access panel and look, although in the scenario outlined above, the original installation could have been top notch, and it was the replacement radio that was less skillfully installed.