Handheld VHF - What to look for?
- Thread starter Little Rascal
- Start date
jac
Well-Known Member
Screw to a safe place and the cradle for the 851e has retaining parts that hold the hold radio in place. can hold the cradle upside down and radio stays in.
Edit - beaten by Pete
Last edited:
Ripster
Well-Known Member
Agh... beaten by both of you. You can even blue-tak it to a horizontal surface - I know because my 11 yr old grand-daughter fixed like this when we first got it.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
You fixed a baby down with blu-tak? You monster. Everyone knows that's a job for velcro.
RichardS
N/A
Virtually useless in the sense that Lithium batteries are better than Ni-Cads in every area. It's like buying zinc-carbon dry-cell batteries rather than alkaline ones. The price is less but everything else is a retrograde step.
It is not recommended to leave lithium batteries completely discharged for long periods although, from my experience, ni-cads are pretty much the same. However, I wouldn't overstate this as a few weeks is not going to do any harm.
The memory effect of Ni-Cads is what makes totally inferior to modern rechargeables.
Richard
It is not recommended to leave lithium batteries completely discharged for long periods although, from my experience, ni-cads are pretty much the same. However, I wouldn't overstate this as a few weeks is not going to do any harm.
The memory effect of Ni-Cads is what makes totally inferior to modern rechargeables.
Richard
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Hmm. Wonkypedia says
There is evidence that the memory effect story originated from orbiting satellites, where they were typically charging for twelve hours out of 24 for several years.[10] After this time, it was found that the capacities of the batteries had declined significantly, but were still fit for use. It is unlikely that this precise repetitive charging (for example, 1,000 charges/discharges with less than 2% variability) could ever be reproduced by consumers using electrical goods. The original paper describing the memory effect was written by GE scientists at their Battery Business Department in Gainesville, Florida, and later retracted by them, but the damage was done. It is unlikely to be a real phenomenon, but has taken on a life of its own as an urban myth.
A bit more googling turns up
True memory only happens in sintered plate NiCd cells (which aren't necessarily the sort of NiCd you're using, and are of course completely different from any kind of NiMH cell), and it only happens when you precisely discharge a cell to exactly the same level over and over again, and recharge it without any overcharge. True memory effect happens in satellite power systems, electronics test labs, and practically nowhere else.
http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm
http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm
Li-ion certainly has some advantages, but they are not as overwhelming as many believe and, in the case of the Icom radio I have, they are almost non-existent. The main reason that Nicads are hard to find now is that they have been (largely) banned by an EU directive intending to reduce environmental discharges of cadmium.
Tryweryn
Well-Known Member
One that floats and is waterproof....dropped mine in the sea last month. Strobe went of, picked it up and it was fine.
Little Rascal
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the input. While I would really like to go for a DSC/GPS handheld I think that will be prohibitively expensive for this trip. A fixed DSC radio appears a bit cheaper? And greater range appeals. What sort of battery draw could I expect? I just have a single 60A car battery at the moment, running the sounder, mobile charging an possibly nav lights.
Someone did mention that its possible to extend the antenna on a handheld? Or connect it to a masthead aerial?
Someone did mention that its possible to extend the antenna on a handheld? Or connect it to a masthead aerial?
jac
Well-Known Member
Doubt you'll get a fixed DSC that much cheaper. Cheapest DSc VHF I have seen is about £90 -£95. I assume that you don't have existing masthead aerial so about £40-£50 for that. Then will need some cable maybe £10 for the coax. I'll assume that you have the cable for connecting to battery as would be similar to HH
Then have to install it all and connect to a standalone GPS ensuring that they you can get the NMEA to talk to each other.
You might save a couple of quid over the £160 that an 851 will cost and the fixed will be a better system but will not be able to move to your kayak.
RichardS
N/A
Battery Universe says
When nickel-metal-hydride was introduced in the early 1990s, this chemistry was promoted as being memory-free but this claim is only partially true. NiMH is also subject to memory but to a lesser degree than NiCd. While NiMH has only the nickel plate to worry about, NiCd also includes the memory-prone cadmium negative electrode.
That fits more with my experience but I guess you pays your money and you makes your choice.
Richard
When nickel-metal-hydride was introduced in the early 1990s, this chemistry was promoted as being memory-free but this claim is only partially true. NiMH is also subject to memory but to a lesser degree than NiCd. While NiMH has only the nickel plate to worry about, NiCd also includes the memory-prone cadmium negative electrode.
That fits more with my experience but I guess you pays your money and you makes your choice.
Richard
Little Rascal
Well-Known Member
Hmm. True. I've not still not found an 851 for under £200 though!
jac
Well-Known Member
Link I gave you in #4 has them at £159. Bought one from them earlier this week.
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Not necessarily in order of importance but I'd say:
1 - Ability to read the screen easily and to press buttons when you're wearing gloves, etc. If you can't operate it when it's really needed it doesn't matter how good any of the other features are.
2 - Ability to hold a charge (i.e. to stay charged up for a few days without having to leave it on a charger all the time). You will forget to charge it one day, I can guarantee that.
3 - Long enough battery life when in use to avoid a low battery (in my experience VHF gets remarkably little use - just a few sentences exchanged - until you're in a situation. Then you suddenly find you want to talk to the Coastguard, etc. a lot more than a few short sentences). The ability to fit a tray of four AA batteries is something to consider as chargers and Li-Ion batteries do go wrong.
4 - Small and light enough that you can keep it wherever it's needed (pocket of your oilies perhaps?) and that it doesn't get buttons or knobs operated when you do put it in a pocket. A VHF that isn't where you are is pretty useless as well.
5 - Loud enough to be heard over the engine if you're leaving it on to monitor a frequency. That's not just the engine as it's amazing how noisy just sailing can be sometimes. You don't notice it as your brain filters out the noise.
Range is often limited by aerial height so the ability to plug in an external aerial if you think you may need it from a way off shore would be a definite bonus. Other than that it's pretty much impossible to determine the range of a handheld - there's a whole bunch of factors involved of which the electronics is just one part. Ideally you'd have a set that can produce 6W when needed but don't get hung up on it.
If you want to be able to pass your position automatically in the event of a distress you need DSC which usually means the Std Horizon HX-851e or it's replacement when it's available (pretty soon I believe). This means more expensive and bigger plus a lot more complicated to operate. If you've gone overboard then the DSC handhelds have to be held clear of the water to get a good lock and to transmit. I tried chucking mine in the water (while it was under guarantee) and it lost GPS lock - it did pick it up again very quickly when held out of the water admittedly.
I'm going to stick my neck and say I'd go for a small set like Standard Horizon HX-300e and an AA battery tray for it as well - you should get that for not much more than £100. If your sailing is mostly local then or kayaking then the coastguard will at least have a good idea of where to look.
When you feel you really need it and can afford it get a PLB - these are under £200 now and getting cheaper all the time. Ocean Signal have also just announced an integrated AIS and DSC PLB - it can be fitted to your lifejacket if you want or left in a grab bag or whatever and can be automatically or manually activated. If you can't get found with a VHF mayday, a 121.5 homing signal, a DSC distress signal with your GPS position and an AIS signal to any plotters nearby then someone up there is probably trying to tell you something...
1 - Ability to read the screen easily and to press buttons when you're wearing gloves, etc. If you can't operate it when it's really needed it doesn't matter how good any of the other features are.
2 - Ability to hold a charge (i.e. to stay charged up for a few days without having to leave it on a charger all the time). You will forget to charge it one day, I can guarantee that.
3 - Long enough battery life when in use to avoid a low battery (in my experience VHF gets remarkably little use - just a few sentences exchanged - until you're in a situation. Then you suddenly find you want to talk to the Coastguard, etc. a lot more than a few short sentences). The ability to fit a tray of four AA batteries is something to consider as chargers and Li-Ion batteries do go wrong.
4 - Small and light enough that you can keep it wherever it's needed (pocket of your oilies perhaps?) and that it doesn't get buttons or knobs operated when you do put it in a pocket. A VHF that isn't where you are is pretty useless as well.
5 - Loud enough to be heard over the engine if you're leaving it on to monitor a frequency. That's not just the engine as it's amazing how noisy just sailing can be sometimes. You don't notice it as your brain filters out the noise.
Range is often limited by aerial height so the ability to plug in an external aerial if you think you may need it from a way off shore would be a definite bonus. Other than that it's pretty much impossible to determine the range of a handheld - there's a whole bunch of factors involved of which the electronics is just one part. Ideally you'd have a set that can produce 6W when needed but don't get hung up on it.
If you want to be able to pass your position automatically in the event of a distress you need DSC which usually means the Std Horizon HX-851e or it's replacement when it's available (pretty soon I believe). This means more expensive and bigger plus a lot more complicated to operate. If you've gone overboard then the DSC handhelds have to be held clear of the water to get a good lock and to transmit. I tried chucking mine in the water (while it was under guarantee) and it lost GPS lock - it did pick it up again very quickly when held out of the water admittedly.
I'm going to stick my neck and say I'd go for a small set like Standard Horizon HX-300e and an AA battery tray for it as well - you should get that for not much more than £100. If your sailing is mostly local then or kayaking then the coastguard will at least have a good idea of where to look.
When you feel you really need it and can afford it get a PLB - these are under £200 now and getting cheaper all the time. Ocean Signal have also just announced an integrated AIS and DSC PLB - it can be fitted to your lifejacket if you want or left in a grab bag or whatever and can be automatically or manually activated. If you can't get found with a VHF mayday, a 121.5 homing signal, a DSC distress signal with your GPS position and an AIS signal to any plotters nearby then someone up there is probably trying to tell you something...
Little Rascal
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, thanks ... Missed that!
Tim Good
Well-Known Member
+1
I've always been terribly impressed with Cobra stuff and can't figure out why thy are significantly cheaper. I tend to think we overpay for Entel and Standard Horizon. I have an expensive Entel and a Cobra and prefer the latter as it has Bluetooth, 'say again' memory, waterproof and a decent battery. That said the Entel is nearly 10 years old and still working albeit with a new battery.
