Chinese VHF radios

davidwf said:
Ok I wasn't knocking Cobra, the original poster wanted a rechargeable radio, although you can put rechargeable batteries in the Cobra.

As for Chinese manufacturing, well I worked for the largest Chinese Telecoms supplier and I can assure you that whilst our kit was made in the same factory as loads of other manufacturers we only got the quality we needed by putting our own quality controllers on the lines. And paying a lot more for the manufacture than other cheap brands being made there as well.

You can see that at Foxcon who make all sorts of kit for just about all the major players including Apple, just because a cheap brand is also made there it doesn't guarantee the same quality.

I was also involved in a startup making a wireless device in China, it was a nightmare getting rid of spurious emissions in order to pass the tests required in Europe and the USA. We did that to conform to the relevant standards, we could have just sold them on Alibaba and let the buyer beware. But we didn't we went the extra mile to sort the issues that costs money.
Click to expand...

Very close friend of mine who sails with me - is the ex R&D Manager of Nokia ... he left when MS took over.

He had some very interesting stories about Nokia and their Chinese Production ... which funny enough - because I have many connections in Chinese production for my business mimicked as well ...
 
KompetentKrew said:
Could they possibly have been PMR radios, which are often sold as pairs at around that price?

I don't think I've ever seen a marine VHF radio so cheap.
Click to expand...

Funny !!!

As an ex Merchant Navy Officer of 17yrs, sailed yachts all my life, owner of 4 boats now ... owned Icom, SH and now the main DSC Cobra on board main yacht and the two HH MARINE Cobra's ( Model MR HH100EU ).................. I shall regard your comment as just plain daft !!

Just to 'rub it in' ....

http://www.wedophones.com/Manuals/Cobra/VHF Marine Radio/MRHH100-English.pdf

They are listed on my ITU Marine VHF radio listing / Ships Radio Licence .....

I do say that it was a while since I bought them ... a few years in fact .. but fact is still valid.

BTW : I actually do have a couple of PMR radios as well ... we use them on flight meetings. Well aware of the difference.
 
Last edited:
pvb said:
Ah, that explains the price, nearly 20 years ago. Plus the fact that they're not waterproof and only 2W output.
Click to expand...

Certainly was not 20 years ago ... but I agree not yesterday.

But something that you cannot get away from is the fact that they BOTH still work as good as the day they were new.

Go ahead ... feel good and decry them ... vote them down .... funny how you can still see them on sale second hand in FWO.

As to Waterproof - you should go back and read my original post where I state clearly Splashproof ... which is actually better than the rubbish Icom I had ... and the SH ...
2W is low - admitted ... but all those HH's that advertise high wattage are rubbish on batterys as many will know ... and range is not actually all based on Watts ... VHF is line of sight with all HH's ...
 
Refueler said:
Certainly was not 20 years ago ... but I agree not yesterday.

But something that you cannot get away from is the fact that they BOTH still work as good as the day they were new.

Go ahead ... feel good and decry them ... vote them down .... funny how you can still see them on sale second hand in FWO.

As to Waterproof - you should go back and read my original post where I state clearly Splashproof ... which is actually better than the rubbish Icom I had ... and the SH ...
2W is low - admitted ... but all those HH's that advertise high wattage are rubbish on batterys as many will know ... and range is not actually all based on Watts ... VHF is line of sight with all HH's ...
Click to expand...

As I remember from my SRO License training there are two prescribe power settings. 1W for normal use a 25W for SAR operations.

And oh the gods of 'romantic consumerism' and the delusion of 'value'. The £249.95 ICOM on Force 4 doesn't have £220.47 more function, brand value, quality or anything else than the £29.48 BaoFeng on AliExpress.
 
Hello Clive (Coopec) The situation in Australia is that you need to get a Marine Radio Operators Certificate. This is done by doing a course and sitting the exam. Our club EFYC I think can do it as does Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue group. You may be confused by this forum mention of ship's radio licence. In Australia the government got smart and issued a Class radio licence. (to meet international obligations.) It means all private vessels are automatically licenced to use VHF. (not HF SSB) This means you do nothing.
As for the radio for your boat. I would recommend a fixed cheap simple VHF, (not DSC this is not much used in W Oz) with an antenna on mast top. I would fit the radio not at the nav station as people love but at the steering position. Or buy a set with remote control from outside. The Baofeng for me is just a toy but i use the boats name for call sign so no one knows if I am using it or the boat's radio. You might want to go for an emergency VHF antenna on the stern rail in case of mast loss. ol'will
 
Thanks William

Many moons ago I did a Radio Operators Certificate(?) at TAFE as part of Yachtmaster's Certificate and even had to learn Morse Code. But I think I'll have to update the qualification! (I know things have changed because they don't monitor the 2125 Distress Frequency anymore).

I have just been looking to see if there is an online course and apparently there are many.

Enrol Online - Marine Radio Licence
https://www.marineradiolicence.com.au › enrol-marine-radio
The Online Marine Radio Course allows candidates the opportunity of ... Karratha WA to Sale VIC, from Albany WA to Thursday Island QLD, completing the course. ... Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP) which is for operating both VHF radios (short range radios) and Medium Frequency/High Frequency (MF/HF) Radios (which are designed for long range transmission)

There is also a SROCP for short range VHF only.

I'll do the LROCP course but I don't know whether I'll get a MF/HF Marine Radio SSB or a Satellite Phone at this stage. I've made inquiries and there doesn't appear to be too many people around who are prepared to offer an opinion as to which is better.
 
Last edited:
Andy Todd said:
As I remember from my SRO License training there are two prescribe power settings. 1W for normal use a 25W for SAR operations.

And oh the gods of 'romantic consumerism' and the delusion of 'value'. The £249.95 ICOM on Force 4 doesn't have £220.47 more function, brand value, quality or anything else than the £29.48 BaoFeng on AliExpress.
Click to expand...

The matter of power setting for use ...

It is ADVISED to switch to low power setting when suitable to avoid crowding the airwaves. 25W is not just SAR.... it is just the max allowed watts for Marine VHF band use.
The settings 1W and 25W are based on the main VHF set and not on HH's. Many HH"s are ~5W to give a reasonable range ability. But given the usual use is when guy is standing in a cockpit ... the difference of 2W to 5W is not as much as people think.
 
If you are that skint for gawds sake buy something, anything, it might just get you out of the poo at some time, it really depends on what you want to spend your dosh on. Buy only on the premise it is a throw away item and you will not be disappointed. Regards ebay purchases direct from Chinese sources you may well find you will have precious little comeback if you get a problem, Ebay might not want to get involved even after a very short time indeed and you can shout the "fit for purchase mantra" at the computor for as long and loudly as you want.

Personally would much prefer to buy a secondhand unit with a name I can spell/pronounce and have actually heard of.
On my gin palace there are 3 radios one is a new transceiver from a well known and respected importer , other two are secondhand and from the same company, both secondhand radios cost under that magic £65 pounds.
 
Last edited:
oldgit said:
. Regards ebay purchases direct from Chinese sources you may well find you will have precious little comeback if you get a problem, Ebay might not want to get involved even after a very short time indeed and you can shout the "fit for purchase mantra" at the computor for as long and loudly as you want.
.
Click to expand...

You obviously have no idea how eBay works so you shouldn't be making comments like that.

eBay will come down very heavily on an unscrupulous supplier. You will be refunded by eBay and the seller would be de-listed. Of course that would be the end of the suppliers business.

I often get emails from Chinese (and HK) suppliers pleading with me to contact them direct if I am not happy with the goods. They loathe negative feedback as too much of it will destroy their business.

I have bought over 700 items on eBay so I know how it works:encouragement:.
 
coopec said:
You obviously have no idea how eBay works so you shouldn't be making comments like that.

eBay will come down very heavily on an unscrupulous supplier. You will be refunded by eBay and the seller would be de-listed. Of course that would be the end of the suppliers business.

I often get emails from Chinese (and HK) suppliers pleading with me to contact them direct if I am not happy with the goods. They loathe negative feedback as too much of it will destroy their business.

I have bought over 700 items on eBay so I know how it works:encouragement:.
Click to expand...


Having used Ebay for both business and privately , would suggest that Ebays disinterest in resolving warranty problems, especially on inexpensive electronic equipment sourced directly from China is rightly limited.

After the failure of some equipment after 6 months contacted the Chinese supplier who delightedly but promptly informed me its out of warranty.
Do what ?
Contacted Ebay................ sorry chum our resposibility is for 90 days.
Contacted PayPal ...........................................sorry chum 180 days .
Have no problem with concept of Ebay, just do not expect UK standards or quality of aftersales.

Did briefly consider learning Mandarin and checking if Easyjet went to Shenzen. :)
Simply threw the stuff away, life is too short, only course of positive action is to advise others of a real world experience.
 
Last edited:
Andy Todd said:
And oh the gods of 'romantic consumerism' and the delusion of 'value'. The £249.95 ICOM on Force 4 doesn't have £220.47 more function, brand value, quality or anything else than the £29.48 BaoFeng on AliExpress.
Click to expand...


A few dodgy comparisons are being made.
Force 4 also do an Icom radio for £139 and two Standard Horizon models each for under 100 quid. Unless someone can provide a link, we might also dismiss comparable VHF at ultra low prices.

The waterproofing on my Standard Horizon failed at the first hurdle and looking inside I am not surprised. But it is a nice radio to use. Icom seem to have an unusual and outstanding after sales service, these things cost a lot to run:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...te-to-fix-an-Icom-handheld&highlight=vhf+icom

I can think of loads of reasons why I would buy a cheap, unbranded radio but for personal use, on my boat, next time I will be looking at Icom.
 
Last edited:
Well I don't buy inexpensive electronic items if they have a vital function. If it is a LED globe for a cabin light no problem if it blows when I switch it on (that has never happened). I wouldn't use inexpensive electronic items from China if its functioning was vital to a piece of equipment, the safety of a person or the yacht.

I have installed many Chinese instruments - voltmeter, temperature, pressure, water pumps, fans, rudder angle but not bilge pumps

I am quite sure (having taught Consumer Law) they would be bound by Australian Law to honor appropriate warranties. But as you say how do you enforce it? (Fortunately I haven't had to at this stage

I take the attitude that when I buy a pressure pump for a third the price of an established brand there is a risk but I am prepared to accept that.
 
Last edited:
Cheap is often seen as a very bad characteristic of safety gear, but in the case of these radios it opens up possibilities that would not be practical for more expensive products.

As just one example, at well under £20 pounds delivered these radios are inexpensive enough to left in the dingy. If they are stollen, damaged by water, or damaged by allowing the battery to flatten it is no great loss. We sometimes cruise areas of poor or non existent cell phone signal and the ability to contact the yacht from the dingy can be an important convenience and occasionally even a safety feature. The radio can be taken on walks and in the event of an emergency in the tender the radio could be used to contact other vessels.
 
Last edited:
coopec said:
You obviously have no idea how eBay works so you shouldn't be making comments like that.

eBay will come down very heavily on an unscrupulous supplier. You will be refunded by eBay and the seller would be de-listed. Of course that would be the end of the suppliers business.

I often get emails from Chinese (and HK) suppliers pleading with me to contact them direct if I am not happy with the goods. They loathe negative feedback as too much of it will destroy their business.

I have bought over 700 items on eBay so I know how it works:encouragement:.
Click to expand...

Anything except 5 stars feedback is regarded by eBay as negative and as said paints supplier in bad light.

You have two actions when using eBay .... you can make Paypal claim if you use that ... and / or use eBay claim system. Of course do not forget if you use a Credit Card - that in itself is a route to claim.
 
noelex said:
Cheap is often seen as a very bad characteristic of safety gear, but in the case of these radios it opens up possibilities that would not be practical for more expensive products.

As just one example, at well under £20 pounds delivered these radios are inexpensive enough to left in the dingy. If they are stollen, damaged by water, or allowing the battery to flatten it is no great loss. We sometimes cruise areas of poor or non existent cell phone signal and the ability to contact the yacht from the dingy can be an important convenience and occasionally even a safety feature. The radio can be taken on walks and in the event of an emergency in the tender the radio could be used to contact other vessels.
Click to expand...

As I said earlier - I have had bad experience with Icom ... at work and play. Particularly the later versions that in fact did not switch off fully, but maintained a draw on the battery. Not only did I stop using them for my Superintendents - but I know many other Shipping Company's that passed on them.

I bought the Cobra's as a joke initially - as the guy here says - to keep in touch with any one ashore from my boat ... save on roaming mobile fees etc. They proved to work very well and I then bought for work ... they have proved to be worth every penny. Cobra is not exactly an unknown brand .... We've used them for Ship to Ship cargo transfer work ... as well as other ...

I don't know what versions are out now from Cobra - but it would be a shame if they didn't produce something similar now.

But let me add this : IF you are a serious BLUE-WATER cruising boat / passage maker .. live-aboard or similar - then yes I agree - get the best you can afford and with reasonable power setting.
But majority are yachties who rarely lose sight of land and usually well within a 1W communication range of help !!
 
Refueler said:
I don't know what versions are out now from Cobra - but it would be a shame if they didn't produce something similar now.
Click to expand...

Marathon are UK distributor for Cobra and the cheapest they show is this floating one @ £70.83 + VAT https://www.marathonleisure.co.uk/cobra-hh150-handheld-vhf-marine-radio-1

I've only had Icom airband and marine handhelds which were excellent but on the boat have a fixed Cobra VHF with internal gps and that works fine, as does the chart plotter I've had for a few years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top