Hand held VHF DSC or not

[wadget]

Do the handheld DSC sets have a built is GPS?
As personally being able to send a distress alert with a position at the touch of a button is the best thing about DSC.

 

[LadyInBed]

Do the handheld DSC sets have a built is GPS?

I'm not sure that they all do, but yes, a lot do. That is more to the point that I was getting at when I previously said "handhelds with DSC are probably better spec'd".
Sorry if others just looked at that comment at a superficial level.
ie STANDARD HORIZON HX851E
internal GPS
Navigate to waypoints
compass display

 

[wadget]

I'm not sure that they all do, but yes, a lot do. That is more to the point that I was getting at when I previously said "handhelds with DSC are probably better spec'd".
Sorry if others just looked at that comment at a superficial level.
ie STANDARD HORIZON HX851E
internal GPS
Navigate to waypoints
compass display

Wow that thing looks impressive.
I was expecting them to have a sort of position only GPS like an EPIRB not proper handheld GPS combined into a radio.

 

[lustyd]

To the OP, FWIW - in a handheld VHF I would like to see the following features, in order of priority (assuming transmission / reception / ease of use being equal)
- waterproof (so you can leave it in the cockpit without worrying about it)
- Li-ion battery (NOT NiMH - so the battery life is useful)
- DSC
- small size
- floating

You can get them all in a couple of models, but it is up to everyone how much each of the features is worth.

The reason for ni mh is that it doesn't die if you leave it without a charge. If you have li ion you'll need to charge it after every use and top up over the winter.

 

[pvb]

The reason for ni mh is that it doesn't die if you leave it without a charge. If you have li ion you'll need to charge it after every use and top up over the winter.

You don't have to charge Li-ion batteries after every use, and their very low rate of self-discharge means it's unlikely they'll need topping up over the winter. Li-ion batteries are far superior to Ni-MH batteries for handheld radio use - that's why the better manufacturers routinely supply Li-ion packs rather than Ni-MH.

 

[lustyd]

You don't have to charge Li-ion batteries after every use, and their very low rate of self-discharge means it's unlikely they'll need topping up over the winter. Li-ion batteries are far superior to Ni-MH batteries for handheld radio use - that's why the better manufacturers routinely supply Li-ion packs rather than Ni-MH.

To keep them in top condition you do. Li ion also hates the cold so for this purpose ni mh is probably the better option. Similarly top end cameras such as the Eos 1d have ni mh battery options for cold environments.

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

To the OP, FWIW - in a handheld VHF I would like to see the following features, in order of priority (assuming transmission / reception / ease of use being equal)
- waterproof (so you can leave it in the cockpit without worrying about it)
- Li-ion battery (NOT NiMH - so the battery life is useful)
- DSC
- small size
- floating

You can get them all in a couple of models, but it is up to everyone how much each of the features is worth.

I like your list, but you should add one more item - battery does not run down when switched off.

Most DSC hand held radios maintain their GPS position in case of a DSC Mayday call, EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF. Therefore if you wish to keep it in your grab bag for use in an emergency you will need to keep the battery out of the radio in order to stop it running down.

You could therefore find yourself in a liferaft having to fit the battery without it wet. That is the only reason why I do not have a hand held DSC marine radio.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a DSC hand held marine radio that does not run down then please post here.

 

[davydog]

Do the handheld DSC sets have a built is GPS?
As personally being able to send a distress alert with a position at the touch of a button is the best thing about DSC.

I like your list, but you should add one more item - battery does not run down when switched off.

Most DSC hand held radios maintain their GPS position in case of a DSC Mayday call, EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF. Therefore if you wish to keep it in your grab bag for use in an emergency you will need to keep the battery out of the radio in order to stop it running down.

You could therefore find yourself in a liferaft having to fit the battery without it wet. That is the only reason why I do not have a hand held DSC marine radio.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a DSC hand held marine radio that does not run down then please post here.

Don't know about how long till it runs down yet as not had mine for more than a month but I don't think it is continuously monitoring gps when off as reacquires the position (albeit quickly) when switched on again

P.s sorry if the message gets there slowly as newbie all my messages taking days to get through moderation

 

[pvb]

To keep them in top condition you do. Li ion also hates the cold so for this purpose ni mh is probably the better option. Similarly top end cameras such as the Eos 1d have ni mh battery options for cold environments.

Maybe you should advise Standard Horizon and Icom to stop fitting Li-ion batteries...

 

[pvb]

I like your list, but you should add one more item - battery does not run down when switched off.

Most DSC hand held radios maintain their GPS position in case of a DSC Mayday call, EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF. Therefore if you wish to keep it in your grab bag for use in an emergency you will need to keep the battery out of the radio in order to stop it running down.

You could therefore find yourself in a liferaft having to fit the battery without it wet. That is the only reason why I do not have a hand held DSC marine radio.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a DSC hand held marine radio that does not run down then please post here.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Most DSC hand held radios", as there are very few on the market. The main contenders at the moment are the Standard Horizon HX851E and the Simrad HH33. Both of these have the facility to turn the internal GPS off. The Standard Horizon also has a number of "power saver" modes, in which the internal GPS operates for a short time at regular intervals. So there's actually no reason why you shouldn't have a DSC handheld.

The new Icom M91D isn't yet available, and I don't know whether it has the ability to turn off the internal GPS, but regardless of that it does have a small constant discharge (like some previous Icom models) so it isn't suitable for grab-bag use anyway.

 

[lustyd]

I like your list, but you should add one more item - battery does not run down when switched off.

Most DSC hand held radios maintain their GPS position in case of a DSC Mayday call, EVEN WHEN SWITCHED OFF. Therefore if you wish to keep it in your grab bag for use in an emergency you will need to keep the battery out of the radio in order to stop it running down.

You could therefore find yourself in a liferaft having to fit the battery without it wet. That is the only reason why I do not have a hand held DSC marine radio.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a DSC hand held marine radio that does not run down then please post here.

The SH one doesn't keep it's fix when off and battery doesn't run down.

 

[bbg]

To keep them in top condition you do. Li ion also hates the cold so for this purpose ni mh is probably the better option. Similarly top end cameras such as the Eos 1d have ni mh battery options for cold environments.

Having had radios with both, I would never again buy NiMH.
Over two seasons I charged the Li-ion battery of my handheld at the beginning of the season, used it occasionally during the season, and didn't need to charge it again until the next winter.
I should also have added it is extremely useful to have a second battery tray that takes AA batteries, so if the main one does die, you can use the backup.

As for radios that self-discharge, I solved this problem definitively with the
HH I kept in the grab bag. By sliding the battery off the VHF, and keeping them both in a ziplock bag so they didn't get separated.

 

[RabT]

SH - only a battery display missing!

This is my second season with a HX851E and I do like it a lot.
Apart from the VHF DSC with GPS fix it has other associated functions: compass, navigation data, waypoints, distance and course to wpt, etc. Very good stuff and easy to use menus.

The only thing missing is a battery display indicator!
If I use the GPS function at all times (I don't have GPS on the boat or speed log), I usually get about 10-12 hours use before the battery suddenly dies, which means that it has to be recharged every night or have limited use of the GPS functionality to last a few days.

SH could improve their product with:
- battery indicator
- a way to recharge battery with a small solar panel.

If they add these two little improvements, then it would be perfect.

 

[LadyInBed]

I usually get about 10-12 hours use before the battery suddenly dies . . . .
- a way to recharge battery with a small solar panel.

Can't you operate it in it's docking station?

 

[davydog]

Can't you operate it in it's docking station?

Should be able to, the docking station even has an NMEA cable so you can network it to rest of the nav equipment!
anyone tried to link this to a GPS repeater?

 

[Dockhead]

The SH has another flaw, namely lack of any useful GPS functions other than lat-lon. And another: it's quite bulky.

Other than that it's brilliant. Position polling and reporting by DSC is fabulous for keeping up with where the dink is, finding mother ship at night, etc, etc. And if I ever go overboard again (God forbid), I hope to have it on my person. Lastly, in the liferaft, the DSC distress call function is better than any quantity of flares. Essential kit, IMHO.

 

[lustyd]

The SH has another flaw, namely lack of any useful GPS functions other than lat-lon. And another: it's quite bulky.

You mean apart from the waypoints, compass etc mentioned above? The only function missing is chart display!

 

[davydog]

The SH has another flaw, namely lack of any useful GPS functions other than lat-lon. And another: it's quite bulky.

Other than that it's brilliant. Position polling and reporting by DSC is fabulous for keeping up with where the dink is, finding mother ship at night, etc, etc. And if I ever go overboard again (God forbid), I hope to have it on my person. Lastly, in the liferaft, the DSC distress call function is better than any quantity of flares. Essential kit, IMHO.

Sorry, I don't work for SH and I guess my posts are somewhat pro (not just trying to justify to myself my 200 quid outlay ) but the GPS functions allow the inputting of way points, marking waypoints, navigating to waypoints giving bearings and course over the ground as well as speed over the ground so more than just Lat and long

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

Standard Horizon hand held DSC

The SH one doesn't keep it's fix when off and battery doesn't run down.

If that is the case then Standard Horizon have changed the specification of the HX-851E in recent months. What I stated in my previous quote was correct some months ago, but the situation may have changed. I wrote to Standard Horizon and their reply was the reason for my quote.

I have to be careful of what I say, their reply to me included "Privileged & confidential transmission from the sender to the addressee, and may not be re-transmitted to any …". I do not wish to breach this because many companies simply would not reply if they could not do it in a more positive way.

I have every faith in Standard Horizon, they make really good marine instruments and are honest and straight forward to deal with. I already have their GX2100E DSC AIS fixed Radio, with AIS displayed on chart plotter and a command mike in the cockpit. I have really tested this piece of gear, particularly the cockpit mike which received a server hammering when it got caught up in a flogging genoa sheet. Never the less it continues to work without a problem.

If their hand held DSC radio does not now run the battery down when switched off then that is the radio I would recommend to the OP.

George

 

[pathfinderstu]

why dont you jus get a new battery/? have just renewed my recargable batteries in mine 4 small pencil ones.