DSC Radio - suggestions please.

[Seven Spades]

I need to buy a new DSC radio as my existing DSC has failed. I liked the radio very much but it was not perfect the problem is when I store a friends MMSI I only have space to store either the boat name or their name, but not both, I think that the limit was about 12 characters. I have looked around and cannot find one that allows me to add more than 12 characters, which is terrible in this day and age, even the most basic mobile phone will alow you to store several phone numbers and email addresses for each contact.

If there is a DSC radio that allows more than 12 characters for each contact please let me know as I have my cheque book at the ready! It is not easy to chose as some have Navtext and others allow remote mics and some have barometric pressure graphs.

 

[FullCircle]

Not a Silva S15, even at 99 quid.
I might even follow the popular choice here!

 

[Jonny_H]

My vote goes to the Standard Horizon GX1500E - excellent unit, well built, and has a command mic facility. Command mic is excellent - serves as a cockpit speaker, plus you can use it from the wheel when entering marinas, and you can turn the volume off on the main unit during night passages to save waking the crew with DSC alerts etc.

You can get the radio and command mic for £200.

Jonny

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
You can get the radio and command mic for £200.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite a bit less than that, if you look in the right places. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I also would recommend the Standard Horizon GX-1500 - a very nice radio indeed. Solid, easy to use and with a good range of options/features. Value for money it wins hands down when bundled with a command mic.

 

[Jonny_H]

Wow - bargain! I paid £200 for mine at xmas which was the cheapest around - £169 is a great price!!

 

[JonBrooks]

Martin

You forgot to mention it comes with a dust cover, flush mount kit and three year warranty all included!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Best regards

 

[Sans Bateau]

What are the benifits of the next model up in the Standard range, of command station radios?

 

[Jonny_H]

If its the GX3000E then I believe its just the inclusion of a full numeric keypad - but this makes the actual unit a lot larger and means you need more space at the chart table to mount it. They all use the same RAM remote mic.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I want a command station for the same reason as you Jonny, why is it peeps always call you up when it inconvenient to leave the helm?

So th e2 SH radios are the same exept for a the keypad?

 

[dean1973]

have found it with a remote station mic for £185.99 great value i think on blue v marine

 

[JonBrooks]

The GX-3000 has no keypad that would be the VM-3500.

The GX-3000 can take 2 second station mic's and also has a built in Loud Hailer and Foghorn option.

Best regards

 

[Sans Bateau]

Jon

But what is the difference between these and the 1500?

 

[tome]

Best DSC radio by far I've seen to date is the Icom Becky fitted, can't remember the model. Nice big clear display and sensible sized buttons. If I go for a new one (we have a Simrad RD68 which is ok but useless display) I will def go for the same model

 

[pvb]

Back to your original question...

You asked whether any DSC radios could have MMSI names longer than 12 characters. I reckon the answer's no. Icom & Simrad tend to have max 10 characters, Standard Horizon & Raymarine tend to have max 11, and I think Navman & Uniden have max 12. So you'll have to resort to some inspired abbreviations!

 

[Seven Spades]

Re: Back to your original question...

Thanks PVB, I guess there is a lot of potential for the first company to release a mobile phone style contacts list system using first/last/boat name/MMSI fields and supporting a remote commander. The technology is not rocket science, I am amazed that none of the manufacturers seem to have thought of it.

As none of those on the market seem to meet the specifations I am looking for, the choice is not easy. I don't have Navtext and the Silva S15 is a very good price and has Navtext built in if I buy an active ariel. On the otherhand I like the idea of a remote commander and only the Standard Horizon and Navman seem to have that option.

 

[JonBrooks]

Galadriel,

Ok..........

GX1500 compact size one second station

GX-3000 slightly bigger, two second stations, loud hailer and fog horn built in.

VM-3500 bigger still, full keypad, one second station, loud hailer and fog horn built in.

All are waterproof, come with dust cover, flush mount kit and three year warranty

Hope that helps

 

[pvb]

Don\'t buy on price...

[ QUOTE ]
...the Silva S15 is a very good price ...

[/ QUOTE ]Don't buy on price! Buy on spec and reputation. You'll find that some people have had horror stories with Silva radios. The products could be better now, I suppose. But you'll be living with the radio for a long time, so buy the best spec and reputation you can afford. Icom, Standard Horizon and Navman all offer good value possibilities.

 

[DJE]

Re: Back to your original question...

I can give you the active ariel that I used to use with my Silva S15s; I tried two different sets before demanding my money back. Maybe they've sorted it out now but I woundn't touch one with a bargepole.