Good starting point for VHF and chartplotter combo?

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wipe_out

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Hi,

Recently bought and 25ft power cruiser that is just being repaired and antifouled etc.. I want to fit a DSC VHF radio (just completed the course) and a chartplotter.. Since its all new to us and we are just getting out on the water I don't need the most advanced kit in the world.. Just the most basic will be fine as long as it had the required level of detail on the charts and is easy to use.. As for the radio there seem to be some cheap ones less than £100 but the question is how well they will work and how clear the communication will be because I see some have noise cancelling etc..

So what would you recommend as the jumping off point for a VHF and chartplotter to get started with?

Thanks..
 
wipe_out said:
Hi,

Recently bought and 25ft power cruiser that is just being repaired and antifouled etc.. I want to fit a DSC VHF radio (just completed the course) and a chartplotter.. Since its all new to us and we are just getting out on the water I don't need the most advanced kit in the world.. Just the most basic will be fine as long as it had the required level of detail on the charts and is easy to use.. As for the radio there seem to be some cheap ones less than £100 but the question is how well they will work and how clear the communication will be because I see some have noise cancelling etc..

So what would you recommend as the jumping off point for a VHF and chartplotter to get started with?

Thanks..
Click to expand...

There is a wide choice to suit all budgets but one thing I would recommend is to buy the same make of plotter as the same make of radio and you will save yourself hours trying to get them to talk to each other if they are differant makes.

Also ask wherever you buy from 'will this DSC radio talk to that plotter' as most DSC radios need the plotter to show the boats latitude/Longitude position and some of the dated units do not.

Mike
 
Hi.

I was recently in your position.
Read alot about this very subject. I like you dont have a fortune to spend either, but opted for the top the range Standard Horizon AIS capable recieving Radio and CPN 700i Plotter. Why....Because it saves a fortune in the long haul, I dont need a TV the plotter does that, I dont need a music player as the plotter can that too i dont need a laptop as the plotter has internet connectabilty.

All in all it does everything without having a ton of different devices for specific things....keeps the wiring simple too. ALso later down the line i wont be needing to upgrade and flog off cheaper gear losing money, wishing i'd bought this or that. It just does everything right, right from the off.
 
Seems Standard Horizon getting the votes here.. :)

What about the option of spending a little more on the radio with built in GPS, like the Standard Horizon GX1700E Explorer GPS and then using an iPad (which I have already) with something like the Navonics app? What are the pro's and cons to this?
 
What about the option of spending a little more on the radio with built in GPS, like the Standard Horizon GX1700E Explorer GPS and then using an iPad (which I have already) with something like the Navonics app? What are the pro's and cons to this?[/QUOTE]

I spent a long time reading about VHF radio to Plotter interfacing problems much on this site before I decided which system, I also looked at recommendations for 'after sales' back up so also went for SH and as I said I would stick to one make only to reduce/eliminate interface problems and keep things simple.

I have just installed a Standard Horizon Matrix GX 2100E radio (which has in built AIS) and wired it to a new Standard Horizon CP 300i plotter, even then it took two of us 4 hours to figure everything out!

No I am not planning to cross the Atlantic, but it will do me nicely for offshore sailing and add to the boats safety!

Mike
 
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