Hand held VHF radio's recommendations

[J. Dillon]

Mine crapped out today . In fact it crapped out months ago . In fact maybe last year. I could never get a radio check response. It won't hold a charge even though I let the batt. run down to 0. then recharge it. Yea it's one of those ancient kind. 10 years old at least.

I would like to get a new one but don't know which one. Definitely the kind that can be charged any time. Not too expensive( I'm retired ) and most of all reliable.

Any recommendations ?

JD

[Gary E]

I have always had real good service from STANDARD HORIZON
In the fishing mags they are showing a new model with ...

Your LIFE JACKET FLOATS...
Shouldn't your Radio??

If I were looking, that would be on my list..

[J P]

I went with the Icom M34 but haven't used it enough to offer much of a critique. It seems like a good unit with a decent screen, big buttons, floats, chargeable or AA battery pack option.

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69285

[paladin]

If you think it's the battery, and it looks like the cells can be replaced, send me the battery pack and any info.....my operation uses nickle metal hydride batteries, a better replacement for nicads and we may be able to switch them out for you...not me personally but one of the teenyboppers from the local high school that does assembly......they're here a couple days a week to pick up notes etc and any prototypes I need done....

[J. Dillon]

Thanks Chuck for your kind offer but I don't think the unit is worth fixing. It's a Humminbird and it says a nicad battery. I got a lot of use out of it but I feel it can't be relied on any more.

JD

[J. Dillon]

JP , Thanks for the thread link.

JD

[paladin]

I would look at an ICOM unit as replacement.....I just sent one to someone recently....as I had 2

[J. Dillon]

How does this one rate ?

Standard Horizon HX270S

http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/a9/95/05e9_1.JPG

The Horizon HX270S is a value packed handheld VHF with many features found in more expensive radios including an enormous LCD window with very easy-to-read digits, bold information flags, and a battery gauge indicating battery time remaining. You have a choice of using the 1400 mAh Ni-MH battery for a 10-hour duty cycle or your own AA alkaline batteries in the included battery tray. This radio features all US/Canadian and International channels dedicated one button access to WX channels 9 and 16 programmable scanning and a dual watch capability with channel 16 priority. Both the LCD and Keypad are backlit for convenient nighttime usage. The waterproof construction of the radio exceeds the J.I.S. 7 submersible standard (three feet for 30 minutes), and the solid construction will provide years of use. Comes complete with rechargeable battery pack, AA alkaline battery tray, drop-in charger with both AC and DC power cables. 4.8H x 2.3W x 1.2D. Three-year warranty.

The HX270S has the capability to be programmed to scan any number of channels with other without priority to channel 16 also includes Ch16 Dual Watch and NOAA Weather alert. The PRESET key allows you to easy recall 8 of your most used channels. Additionally, an easy to see battery life indicator on the LCD warns you when the battery needs recharging.The accessories supplied with the Standard Horizon HX270S are unmatched; a 1400mAh Nickel Metal Hydride battery that will last over 18 hours (5/5/90 duty cycle) when transmitting at 5W. Also included is a waterproof alkaline battery tray, 12VDC Charger, 110VAC changer and a desk top drop-in cradle to charge the radio on shore or on your boat.



JD

[Thorne]

Not bad at $90 from Hamilton Marine.

Being the cheap person that I am, I'm leaning towards the absolute bottom of the 'waterproof' category, the Midland Nautico 3, available for $60 on eBay. This is not the older Nautico 1 which is only water-resistant and can be had for $40...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Midland-Nautico-3-Waterproof-VHF-Handheld-Marine-Radio_W0QQitemZ110258593011QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m110258593011&

[Captain Blight]

I use a Standard Horizon HX 500 (I think) in my job as a riverine towboat deckhand. Tough as nails, plenty of range on High-power, good battery life, waterproof (which also makes it sparkproof for explosive atmospheres). Provided by the company but I'd buy one on my own if I had to, I'm pleased as punch with it.

[Rob Hazard]

I have an Icom M34, too, which lives in my PFD. I got it partly because it floats, and partly because there's an optional battery pack that holds AA's, so you're not tied to your recharging cycle, not that that's been an issue for me yet...

So far (~1 year ) no complaints.

[Bill Perkins]

What type of range are people getting ? About 1 NM per watt? I believe this thread has inspired me to finally toss my old Uniden 980 , which is showing no signs of life . The battery's no longer made , though Ebay might be a possibility .

[Canoeyawl]

This is the best hand held I've ever had.
I keep it in my sea bag as a back-up, it seems to hold a charge forever.
Standard Horizon STD-HX471SB
About $200
*They have gold plated contacts on the battery pack, these can corrode on other radios and become unreliable.
And how do I know this, you ask?
Also a remote mike option, will charge while turned on, has a back-up battery pack w/AA batts and etc.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JAG0894HL._SS500_.jpg

[StevenBauer]

Hamilton marine has these http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/prodimg/CEC-HH90.JPG for $29.95, I may buy one as a backup.


http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/4,32977.html

[Tylerdurden]

I have the 270 and am quite pleased with it. I have the programming cable and software to add frequency's to it and have added several local Ham repeaters. Its a good value for the money.

[Soapy]

JD: I have had the 270 S for 3 years and its secondary purpose has been as a weather alert radio here in tornado land. I have it silently scanning the 3 local weather channels and it sounds an alarm when a local warning is being issued. Then, I just touch one button to silence the alarm and then hear the full report. We are too far from town to hear the siren so this is a great alternative. Works fine as intended on the water as well.
Soapy

[switters]

love this place, just did a 2 minute search on handheld radios.

getting an ICOM M34 for the Oregon jet sled so we can get outside the bar. They are on sale right now and I have a $20 off coupon.

[Breakaway]

+1 for Standard Horizon. Saw a model at the Miami Boat Show that floats and had a glow n the dark gasket, making it easy to find in the bottom of a duffel ( or worse, floating beside you at night!)





Model HX751
Kevin

[Breakaway]

Pic didnt post--here ya go

http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85&encProdID=73D2C7E9606CA8DC0C3D3EE7C337C53C&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

[dredbob]

In general, you can't go wrong with either Standard Horizon (Vertex/Yaesu) or Icom. That's not to say that some of the other brands won't give good service, but just that these two companies have a long record of supplying high quality, well engineered radios to a variety of markets (commercial, marine, ham, military, etc).

When buying a handheld, keep in mind two things. The battery life will suck (no matter what the technology) if the radio is actually being used much, and that a rubber duckie antenna is essentially a radiating dummy load. Therefore, when you buy a handheld, the following items should be considered essential accessories.

1) A double-A (AA) battery case if one is available (and batterys).

2) A 12 volt power cord with cigarette lighter plug

3) An adaptor for the antenna connector on the radio to a BNC connector

4) A collapsable BNC quarter or half wave antenna (this will extend out to somewhere between 18 inches to 2 or 3 feet, and will put out a much stronger signal than the rubber duck)

With these things in your kit, a handheld can be depended on to be useful when you really need to get out.


Bob

[paladin]

Actually, get the cheapest thing you can....the specs are almost identical...then order a separate antenna for it, a longer Rubber Duckie, or let me know the fitting and I may have a few in a box somewhere.