Cheapest handheld VHF with channel M1/37?

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ridgy

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Last handheld died last year so replaced with a cobra HH350 which to my annoyance does not have this channel, which to me is pretty much the only channel that a handheld is used for.

The pointless magazine reviews all omit this highly useful piece of information so any recommendations!
 
You should find a radio which supports specific regional settings, most are US-CAN-INT but some have other ones for example ''UK''. Ch37 is also on the NL frequency plan (though they have a lot more limitations/prohibitions).
This is for my Standard horizon HX870, it can be chosen by pushing some sort of button combinations before powering up. I have a very old SH HX260 which has natively M and M2.


''UK, regional.jpgsh870.jpg
 
Laysula said:
Why buy cheap? for the sake of a few extra quid buy something decent.
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My boat came with a Cobra handheld, these are cheap, they are also absolute garbage. The sound quality on it is appealing. Luckily i already had a Standard Horizon handheld.

Personally, if it doesn't say Standard Horizon or Icom on it i don't want it.
 
ridgy said:
Last handheld died last year so replaced with a cobra HH350 which to my annoyance does not have this channel, which to me is pretty much the only channel that a handheld is used for.

The pointless magazine reviews all omit this highly useful piece of information so any recommendations!
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure my Cobra (spare handheld) has Ch 37 which it calls P1.
 
ridgy said:
Last handheld died last year so replaced with a cobra HH350 which to my annoyance does not have this channel, which to me is pretty much the only channel that a handheld is used for.

The pointless magazine reviews all omit this highly useful piece of information so any recommendations!
Click to expand...

Some manufacturers use P/E to indicate M or 37a to indicate M1. Pretty sure ther channels will be there once you can work out what they're called.
 
ridgy said:
Last handheld died last year so replaced with a cobra HH350 which to my annoyance does not have this channel, which to me is pretty much the only channel that a handheld is used for.

The pointless magazine reviews all omit this highly useful piece of information so any recommendations!
Click to expand...
This ad says those channels (M,M1) are available
https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ma...radio/cobra-hh350-floating-handheld-vhf-radio

I had the same issue last week on a fixed set. There was a loose page in the instructions that gave instructions to select different regions. I picked up and it is now fine.
 
ridgy said:
Channel 37 is 157.850

The manual does not have that frequency under any name and there are no none numeric channels:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0433/9607/1577/files/MRHH350EU_MANL_071123.pdf?v=1692811722
Click to expand...

FWIW I followed the link from the cobra site and got to the same manual, which as you say, doesn't include 157.850 on any of its region mappings. I checked on the Icom Web site to confirm 157.850 is M1, and it is.

So if that manual is correct it appears it really doesn't support M1.

I have a feeling you have already double checked with the manufacturer, but if not, I think you should. As you imply, M1 is a highly used channel for HH radio buyers, it's an odd ommission. (Assuming you haven't already returned the radio.)
 
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I'll answer my own question with the Cobra 150 for £65. Why the cheap model has M1 but it's more expensive brother does not is a mystery but there you go.
To answer why it has to be cheap, well it gets used for afew minutes each year so why pay more.
 

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