DSC Radio interface with GPS.

[penultimate]

I don't like the Midland Neptune VHF which I have inherited. I find the screen too small and the logic too convoluted. Also I have been totally unable to interface the radio with the Furuno GP32 in spite of tracing the wiring back to the pcb in the radio. I haven't in fact found any DSC radio with an adequate screen and I'm wondering whether for the sake of getting a position input from the GPS it is worth scrapping the Neptune radio; and if so what would forumites recommend?

 

[Bluesquirrel]

I own a cobra MR F75 DSC radio. it has a large screen and it interfaces well with my GPS. I am happy with it.

cobra MR F75

 

[beneteau_305_553]

I'm very pleased with my Icom 421
The dsc features are great:

The alarm starts quietly and gradually increases with time. ( The alarm doesn't sound very often anyway)
The display shows lat and long and also UTC (from the nmea in from the gps )
The dsc call to another boat sets their radio to the channel you select.
The memory of dsc numbers allow a text description ie "Yarmouth CG" is displayed on the menu
Sending a dsc call to a local coastguard automatically selects the correct channel

The audio quality is excellent even at high volume and the mike has a engine noise blanker to make transmission clearer.

I expect lots of other radios also have these features but there are some that don't

 

[Malcb]

I installed a Navman 7200. Large screen plus knobs for volume and squelch (which I prefer). Easiliy connected to GPS and output fr cockpit speaker if required. Also you can turn off the DSC if you wish. (According to the h/book but I've never tried it0

 

[allangray3]

Just got a Cheap Silva S10 for under a ton. Took to boat and after ten min's was up and running with with existing GPS.
the Only problem would not show corrected position as GPS would only show raw data position .1 of a second of Latitude out. Why spend a fortune when the receiver dont care what sent the info as long as its correct.

 

[pvb]

Screens are getting better...

I share your concern over the poor screens on many VHF sets. But the good news is that screens are getting bigger and better, and will continue to do so over the next year or so. Already, the Navman 7200 and Icom M505 offer good-sized screens with quite good legibility. The Navman's screen is 50x45mm, and the Icom's is 37x73mm.

But the technology we're waiting for is high quality daylight-viewable colour screens. The Uniden UM625 pictured below has this type of screen, and it looks superb. This waterproof DSC radio is only about $210 in the US, complete with built-in foghorn and loudhailer. If a distress call is received, the screen can show a "rolling road" display to automatically guide you to the distressed vessel's position. Needless to say, it's not legal to fit this advanced radio to a UK boat, but I have a hunch that we'll see a similar high-quality screen on other VHF sets before too long.