Handheld VHF - What to look for?

[Little Rascal]

Ok so assume I'm a total novice when it comes to vhf communications.

I sail a small trailer sailer but until now have managed a few summer trips on the East Coast without using vhf. I feel it would be wise to get better equipped for a proposed trip to Falmouth/Plymouth area this summer.

I'd like to get an economical handheld vhf but I have no idea what features are available.
What features do I need and what sort of thing should I look for?
I'd like to get up to date on distress functions etc

My main reason to get one is for safety reasons really.
Would I be ok with a cheap cobra type?
Or are there other functions I will need?
What about secondhand? Ebay?

I have 12v on board for charging.
Id also like to have something that can be used on the odd sea kayaking trip also.

I'm on a budget but I do want the right one!

Thanks!

 

[Alpha22]

I'n sure there will be lots of folk along soon with helpful suggestions, but one major deciding factor should be range........

In even perfect conditions your hand held is going to be severely hampered by it's little antenna. If you are looking at a DSC enabled jobbie for distress situations I would not go for a handheld. They are useful for boat to boat, calling up the harbourmaster/marina from the entrance, but they are not your best choice for sending out an all ships distress call when more than a mile or so away...... you will not be heard.

My suggestion would be to get a basic DSC set from one of the main manufacturers and install a whip antenna on top of the mast. I prefer knobs rather than fiddly buttons and menus so recently went with a Standard Horizon as they appeared to be the only company that still has knobs for volume, squelch and channel select.

Don't forget you will need a VHF Short Range Certificate from the RYA for you, and a Ships Radio licence from Ofcom-Spectrum licensing for the boat. Or if you go the portable route and wish to use it on multiple boats you can alternatively licence the radio from Ofcom. (but will still need the Short Range Certificate to operate.)

 

[pvb]

You need to look for..
* waterproof (properly, and ideally floating)
* lithium ion battery
* respected brand (Standard Horizon or Icom ideally)

As an example, the Standard Horizon HX300E at £99 (or less) fits these criteria.

You can however go further and get a handheld with built-in GPS, which might be handy for you, and built-in DSC.

 

[jac]

PVB has stated some ideal features. which i would endorse - also look for one with a strobe / light function which can be useful if you abandon and lifeboat is in the vicinity but can't see you at night.

You stated you wanted the latest distress functions which suggests you want a DSC equipped Hand Held. It will need to have GPS built in to send position. Would also suggest getting one which can take AA or AAA batteries then keep some of those in your grab bag in case of emergency.

Also need to think about charging on board. Can you just sit it into a cradle where it can be lifted out when required or does it need a cap removing and a lead plugging in. Cradle is better IMHO

These have just been superseded http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/99275365/standard-horizon-hx851-dsc-handheld-vhf but are good radios and probably around the cheapest DSC sets ( have just bought one so maybe biased.)

They are bigger in the hand than our day to HH ( Icom M23) but perfectly fine.


Also as a reminder you will need either a ships radio license or a portable radio license - both free from Ofcom. You need these to get an MMSI number that you program a DSC radio with. many don't work DSC without an MMSI number.
And finally - remember that you need to be licensed to transmit on one although in an emergency anyone can use it. That's a course - costs about the same as the radio but menas you can get full use and call Marinas etc.

 

[Kwik Decision]

Another feature you may like to consider is a separate battery pack which can be loaded with AA cells, and carried in your waterproof grab bag. Then in an emergency, when you realise you haven't charged up the standard battery recently, the VHF is still usable....... Some of the Standard Horizon ones come with this, inc our 8 yr old one.

Sorry, slower at typing than jac.....

 

[pvb]

People are mentioning grab bags, but is this consideration relevant for a small trailer sailer or kayak?

 

[JumbleDuck]

* lithium ion battery

I have just bought a second hand Icom (thanks again, photodog) with a dead battery and have bough a Ni-Cd replacement rather than Li-ion, because if you let a lithium battery go completely flat, which is not an unlikely situation for a handheld, it's dead for ever. The weight difference is negligible, compared to the weight of the radio and the energy storage isn't much less.

 

[jac]

People are mentioning grab bags, but is this consideration relevant for a small trailer sailer or kayak?

maybe not for a kayak but I said that spare batteries should be in grab bag, not the radio. Scenario I have In mind is HH used extensively as the normal radio then fails when you are in trouble. If you have dedicated emergency equipment in a grab bag that includes batteries you are back up and running. unlikely to have a liferaft on a trailer sailer but if you do jump over board or into a dinghy surely you'd want to be able to grab something.

 

[pvb]

I have just bought a second hand Icom (thanks again, photodog) with a dead battery and have bough a Ni-Cd replacement rather than Li-ion, because if you let a lithium battery go completely flat, which is not an unlikely situation for a handheld, it's dead for ever. The weight difference is negligible, compared to the weight of the radio and the energy storage isn't much less.

Whoever told you that shouldn't be relied on for advice, as it's completely untrue!

 

[jwilson]

The better Cobra handhelds at £80+ are perfectly good radios: ignore the ultra-cheapy £50 or less one. Handhelds though have very limited range (usually low down and small aerial, plus only typically 5 or 6 watts power\). For not that much more money you can get a fixed 25 watt radio with a DSC emergency button and connect it to a whip aerial, that will give you much better range. The radio licence for the boat is free but you should have a personal operators certificate - see http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/specialist/Pages/SRC.aspx which will cost you a short training course.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Whoever told you that shouldn't be relied on for advice, as it's completely untrue!

Here's a source which says that leaving a li-ion battery flat for extended periods (sorry, that's what I meant) is a Bad Thing. Are they wrong?

http://www.howtogeek.com/169669/debunking-battery-life-myths-for-mobile-phones-tablets-and-laptops/

 

[Ripster]

We have a SH HX851e and I can recommend it. At £160 its got a long of features for the money. We got it to replace an aging ICOM (which was also excellent) that had no DSC.

 

[pvb]

Here's a source which says that leaving a li-ion battery flat for extended periods (sorry, that's what I meant) is a Bad Thing. Are they wrong?

For long term storage, it's ideal to charge lithium ion batteries to 40%. But a flat lithium ion battery can be recharged, unless it's worn out.

 

[ctva]

Given your situation, various uses and types of boats, I'd have to say that you should consider one of the two handheld DSC radios, Standard Horizon SH HX851e or Icom M91D, both around £200. Not cheap but will tick all the boxes for charging off 12v.

Of all the electronic safety kit, this is one that I would not skimp on as it can be the only communication method in an emergancy but can be used in all situations you mention. A cheaper one will do but without GPS, DSC and Distress Call functionality.

 

[ronsurf]

We have a SH HX851e and I can recommend it. At £160 its got a long of features for the money. We got it to replace an aging ICOM (which was also excellent) that had no DSC.

+1 on the SH 851e. An astonishing amount of radio for the price. It has a 6W output, DSC, GPS (including waypoints), it floats, it glows in the dark, it even flashes SOS as it floats.

Get one before they're all gone.

 

[jac]

+1 on the SH 851e. An astonishing amount of radio for the price. It has a 6W output, DSC, GPS (including waypoints), it floats, it glows in the dark, it even flashes SOS as it floats.

Get one before they're all gone.

Just to point out they are now replaced by 870 I believe so no more stock going into chandlers.

 

[RichardS]

I have just bought a second hand Icom (thanks again, photodog) with a dead battery and have bough a Ni-Cd replacement rather than Li-ion, because if you let a lithium battery go completely flat, which is not an unlikely situation for a handheld, it's dead for ever. The weight difference is negligible, compared to the weight of the radio and the energy storage isn't much less.

For long term storage, it's ideal to charge lithium ion batteries to 40%. But a flat lithium ion battery can be recharged, unless it's worn out.

Whereas Ni-Cd are virtually useless in comparison to Li-Ion or Li-Po.

I would try and get my money back and purchase the correct Lithium battery if possible.

Richard

 

[RichardS]

+1 on the SH 851e. An astonishing amount of radio for the price. It has a 6W output, DSC, GPS (including waypoints), it floats, it glows in the dark, it even flashes SOS as it floats.

Get one before they're all gone.

+1 if you can afford it.

Richard

 

[Daydream believer]

. Cradle is better IMHO

.

I would not recommend a cradle. Firstly on a small boat the cradle will fall over or slide about
secondly if the radio moves in the cradle it can disconnect the power so not be charging when you expect it to.
With a cable & plug you can wedge the radio in a safe place & forget
Range with a handheld to ,say , the coastguard mightl not be a problem. I have, to my surprise, found I can contact CG well over expected range presumably due to high power & height of CG aerial. RIB to RIB range 4 miles in clear sight easy but I have contacted (on vhf 16 only) Thames CG whilst out round the longsand head off Thames estuary or 18 miles offshore off the firth of forth to Aberdeen CG so I assume similar elsewhere in good conditions. I have also contacted shipping, in sight, quite easily
Some makes have a slightly higher transmission power but my ICOM works OK

 

[JumbleDuck]

Whereas Ni-Cd are virtually useless in comparison to Li-Ion or Li-Po.

"Virtually useless" in what sense?

Edit: Out of interest, I had a look at the defunct Icom Li-ion battery pack which came with the radio. It's 7.4V x 950mAh = 7.1Wh in a package 4.8 x 1.6 x 11cm = 84.5cm³ which is an energy storage density of 84mWh/cm³. I also have the Li-ion battery for an old Casio camera here. That's 3.7V x 700mAh = 2.6Wh in 3.2cm x 0.4cm x 5cm = 5.2cm³, which is 500 mWh/cm³, almost six times as much as the Icom.

Even allowing for the plastic casing on the Icom pack, they weren't really trying. Their Ni-Cd pack is 7.2 x 750mAh = 5.4Wh, so buying a new Li-ion battery would have given me only 30% extra energy for twice the price, to say nothing of the leaving discharged issue.

Don't get me wrong - Li-ion is undoubtedly better for regularly used stuff where a high energy density is worth paying for. For a spare handheld VHF I think Ni-Cd will be just fine. I'll also have a pack full of AA Lithium disposables, just in case ...