Handheld VHF (5w vs 6W) - Icom M93D euro VS Standard Horizon HX890e

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ducie

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Good afternoon intrepid boaters.
I am looking to purchase a new back-up hand held VHF.
Would there me much difference in transmitting distance between a 5w and a 6w?
When boating on the South Coast of England it would be our back up VHF unit.
When boating on the West Coast of Scotland it would be our main VHF.
I can’t decide between ICOM M93D euro or the Standard Horizon HX890e.
Any recommendations and comments would be most welcomed. Thank you.
Many thanks
 
you will not tell the difference vhf is "line of sight" between the aerials ( give or take depending on conditions )
 
I don't think there's much to choose between them. The HX890E has a slightly bigger screen, has 6/2/1W output (vs 5/1W), is IPX8 rather than IPX7, has a higher-capacity battery pack, and has a built-in FM broadcast radio receiver. Both good radios; I'd buy the 890E.
 
Happy to be corrected, but I think 6W HH VHF nominal power models are restricted to 5W in jurisdictions requiring it. Which as I understand it includes the UK.
 
Back of a fag packet calculation 6W *might* get you 0.21 x the distance extra (using rule of squares). That may sound good, but actually at 3 miles you will be lucky to get more than 3.5miles. obviously there will be times 0.5mile helps. But rarely!
 
ducie said:
Good afternoon intrepid boaters.
I am looking to purchase a new back-up hand held VHF.
Would there me much difference in transmitting distance between a 5w and a 6w?
When boating on the South Coast of England it would be our back up VHF unit.
When boating on the West Coast of Scotland it would be our main VHF.
I can’t decide between ICOM M93D euro or the Standard Horizon HX890e.
Any recommendations and comments would be most welcomed. Thank you.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
I have the M91D and over the five years have had no problems with it. Simple menu. I’d imagine the 93 will be the same, so it will be down to try them both in your hand as that will be the main decider.

South Coast is pretty flat and line of sight will be good for a HH but the West Coast is a different matter to rely on it for a main VHF. Even with our 25W 15m mast head antenna, there are poor reception areas. But then, that is the joy of the West Coast, in three weeks out I heard one radio check, one May Day and maybe a dozen other conversations. :D
 
I bought an M91D about 4 or 5 years ago and it's done everything I wanted of it. Its range is good, as is the clarity of the audio, both TX and RX. I've dropped it in the water a few times and its squack facility quickly dispels any residual water. I bought a second battery with it and both are still performing really well. Can't fault ICOM on this product. Only issue if any is the size of the text on the screen which is a bit smaller than my unassisted vision can cope with. But that's down to me.
 
dom said:
I did say I wasn’t fully sure and I’m am still not. That said, the ops manual of one of their common HHs clearly refers to limiting power from 6W to 5W in certain countries. Look for “ *2”:
http://www.standardhorizon.com/down...804M-BC-1.pdf&FileContentType=application/pdf

I suspect the U.K. is a 5W jurisdiction but not 100% sure. I’ll pop an email to Standard Horizon tomorrow and relay their reply.
Click to expand...

Yes, please do that. Icom UK promote the M73 Euro as having 6W output - https://icomuk.co.uk/IC-M73EURO/Handheld-VHF-Marine-Radio
 
One advantage of Standard Horizon over ICOM is, if its the same as the older HX851, that it takes an alternative AA battery holder which would be useful backup if you couldn't recharge.
 
A better aerial could make more difference than an extra 1W.

I have the Standard Horizon HX890e and really like it. You can even pick up Radio 1 on it.
 
ctva said:
I have the M91D and over the five years have had no problems with it. Simple menu. I’d imagine the 93 will be the same, so it will be down to try them both in your hand as that will be the main decider.

South Coast is pretty flat and line of sight will be good for a HH but the West Coast is a different matter to rely on it for a main VHF. Even with our 25W 15m mast head antenna, there are poor reception areas. But then, that is the joy of the West Coast, in three weeks out I heard one radio check, one May Day and maybe a dozen other conversations. :D
Click to expand...


Hi Chris,
I currently have an old M91D which like you mention to cannot fault over the many years I have owned it.
I was just wondering if the extra 1W of power would be beneficial. Plus if the weather watch feature & FM radio was just a gimmick or worth considering?
No better place to go boating than the West Coast of Scotland ;-)
 
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