Backup VHF?

[30boat]

I'm getting a new SH VHF.I have on the boat an old and reliable Sailor VHF that came with the boat and was kept as a backup.Godd thing too because in 2010 when I had an emergency of the life threatening kind the main DSC Simrad RD68 (what a piece of Cr ap) failed and the Sailor saved the day.But the Standard Horizon is a much better piece of kit according to the reports .I would like to retire the Sailor as it's a bulky old thing and ,like everybody else,have only one VHF.
Should I? Or ,given the fact that I already own the Sailor, should I keep it just in case?

 

[sailorman]

I'm getting a new SH VHF.I have on the boat an old and reliable Sailor VHF that came with the boat and was kept as a backup.Godd thing too because in 2010 when I had an emergency of the life threatening kind the main DSC Simrad RD68 (what a piece of Cr ap) failed and the Sailor saved the day.But the Standard Horizon is a much better piece of kit according to the reports .I would like to retire the Sailor as it's a bulky old thing and ,like everybody else,have only one VHF.
Should I? Or ,given the fact that I already own the Sailor, should I keep it just in case?

I only have my trusty Icom 59 euro i see no point in changing it, superb set i bought 17 yrs ago

 

[sam_uk]

Personally I'd keep it. But then i'm a hoarder.

The way I see it:

Pro's: Might save your life

Con's: looks a bit untidy..

 

[30boat]

Personally I'd keep it. But then i'm a hoarder.

The way I see it:

Pro's: Might save your life

Con's: looks a bit untidy..

My instrument panel looks a bit like a 747's and I don't even own a plotter yet.It would be nice to get rid of some of the clutter .On the other hand it's already there and wired.

 

[Georgio]

Assuming you also have a hand-held VHF I would ditch it.

I have had a SH VHF fitted for 6 years and it's been perfect so far with excellent range (which is down to the antenna also).

 

[prv]

Assuming you also have a hand-held VHF I would ditch it.

I certainly would too, but then my space for electronics is relatively limited.

What are you connecting it to aerial-wise?

I have had a SH VHF fitted for 6 years and it's been perfect so far with excellent range (which is down to the antenna also).

Me too (well, six months rather than six years) and I too have excellent range although I attribute that mostly to a Salty John aerial and a brand-new downlead the size of garden hose. On a number of occasions I've picked up Jobourg Traffic in the Solent.

Pete

 

[Bilgediver]

I'm getting a new SH VHF.I have on the boat an old and reliable Sailor VHF that came with the boat and was kept as a backup.Godd thing too because in 2010 when I had an emergency of the life threatening kind the main DSC Simrad RD68 (what a piece of Cr ap) failed and the Sailor saved the day.But the Standard Horizon is a much better piece of kit according to the reports .I would like to retire the Sailor as it's a bulky old thing and ,like everybody else,have only one VHF.
Should I? Or ,given the fact that I already own the Sailor, should I keep it just in case?
View attachment 32814

Perfectly good functional Sailor as used commercially. No DSC but fine for general use and someone might like to give it a home if you vote it off the boat.

 

[Jabs]

I think you may find that the Sailor is very marketable as a collectors item!

Good luck

Tony

 

[sam_uk]

As a slight aside if you haven't decided which radio to get yet i'm very happy with my GX2100 which has built in AIS for only a few extra quids.. http://www.standardhorizon.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=100019

 

[30boat]

As a slight aside if you haven't decided which radio to get yet i'm very happy with my GX2100 which has built in AIS for only a few extra quids.. http://www.standardhorizon.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=100019

I considered one of those but then I got a Nasa AIS set.
In reply to another post I have anormal whip aerial at the top of the mast,can't remember the make.
I may put the Sailor on the For Sale section if I'm happy witht the Standard Horizon.

 

[Uricanejack]

Keep the sailor.
2 radios one on 16 one on local VTS traffic channel or pree aranged with group. way better than dual watch
back up in case of failure.
older electronics were better made and more robust and worth repairing. moderen often just means cheeper

 

[prv]

In reply to another post I have anormal whip aerial at the top of the mast

I didn't so much mean which aerial, as how you connect up your two radios. Separate aerial each, or some kind of switch box, or leave one unplugged and change over the connections?

Pete

 

[30boat]

I didn't so much mean which aerial, as how you connect up your two radios. Separate aerial each, or some kind of switch box, or leave one unplugged and change over the connections?

Pete

I had a switch that wasn't very reliable so now I just plug one radio directly to the aerial.If I want to switch I plug it on to the other.If I keep both radios I'll get a change over switch but I've had poor results with the ones I've tried.

 

[prv]

I had a switch that wasn't very reliable so now I just plug one radio directly to the aerial.If I want to switch I plug it on to the other.If I keep both radios I'll get a change over switch but I've had poor results with the ones I've tried.

A switch seems very unsatisfactory. Even if working properly I suspect it will lose a fair bit of the transmit power, plus you won't be able to use both radios at once (as UricaneJack says, two radios set to different channels is more convenient than dual watch, it's what ships do). If you accidentally press the pressel on the one that's currently disconnected you may damage the transmitter, particularly on an older radio.

I would say either have two radios fitted, each with its own aerial, or have only one fitted and the other tucked away in a plastic bag in a deep locker in case a spare is ever needed, or have only one fitted and sell the other. My preference would be the latter.

Pete

 

[Stork_III]

Perfectly good functional Sailor as used commercially. No DSC but fine for general use and someone might like to give it a home if you vote it off the boat.

Can be converted to DSC with a DSC Controller unit. But you would not like the price, circa £1100.
Great Radio, worth more than the Forum limit.

 

[Sandyman]

I had a switch that wasn't very reliable so now I just plug one radio directly to the aerial.If I want to switch I plug it on to the other.If I keep both radios I'll get a change over switch but I've had poor results with the ones I've tried.

Try one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230374077375?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

mine works fine.

 

[Bilgediver]

Can be converted to DSC with a DSC Controller unit. But you would not like the price, circa £1100.
Great Radio, worth more than the Forum limit.

Quite familiar with it as were normal ships/rigs equipment post 1984. Most commercial equipment had separate DSC with more facilities than our class D and much more user friendly but you had to pay for it

 

[30boat]

Try one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230374077375?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

mine works fine.

Thanks,saved the link.

 

[sam_uk]

I considered one of those but then I got a Nasa AIS set.
In reply to another post I have anormal whip aerial at the top of the mast,can't remember the make.
I may put the Sailor on the For Sale section if I'm happy witht the Standard Horizon.

Fair enough. I do like the feature of being able select the ship that's bearing down on me and call them up direct..

 

[Gabbe]

I just bought a new Sailor with DSC (T&T) and sold my old Sailor on the net to a fisherman.
He was very happy to get it and said it was the best unit for professional use.