Handheld VHF

[solent clown]

Following a prolonged nagging I have purchased one of these (see link) as a spare/use in one of our small boats set.

Amazon reviews were OK, it was cheap enough to take a punt on without breaking the bank - my thinking being if it is good enough, we could get a second one for a grab bag.
Anything to make using our boats easier as we regularly use three, and Karen is insisting on VHF in the dinghys too.

Anyone else have one, and how involved is reprogramming? (I dont have it in my grubby mitts yet)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01JLJ3Y4O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Graham_Wright]

The review site claims it is illegal to use in the UK.

 

[solent clown]

The review site claims it is illegal to use in the UK.

That I think is referring to unlicensed use as a scanner etc

 

[Pinnacle]

Advert says "ALL BAOFENG RADIO PRODUCTS HAVE CE LICENSE AND ARE LEGAL TO USE". We all know that to use the VHF Marine Band, the user needs a certificate plus the radio itself will need an OFCOM Licence (hand portable licence).

Without these two bits of paper, I would agree, its use in the UK is not legal.

Edit;
No idea about programming!

 

[solent clown]

Advert says "ALL BAOFENG RADIO PRODUCTS HAVE CE LICENSE AND ARE LEGAL TO USE". We all know that to use the VHF Marine Band, the user needs a certificate plus the radio itself will need an OFCOM Licence (hand portable licence).

Without these two bits of paper, I would agree, its use in the UK is not legal.

Edit;
No idea about programming!

surely I just add it to current licence and get another MMSI for it?

 

[Pinnacle]

surely I just add it to current licence and get another MMSI for it?

I agree. I think you can use the same MMSI if you only plan to use it on the mother ship.

 

[solent clown]

But then it's not tranfserrable from boat to boat I suppose... The only time we are going to use it is for emergency operation. Maybe we will just keep it in a bag....

 

[pvb]

Maybe I'm paranoid, maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I'd never buy a cheap non-waterproof handheld for boat use. One day, I might need to rely on it...

For £99, you can get a Standard Horizon HX300E which is waterproof, floats, has dual/tri watch, has a water-activated flashing light, works straight out of the box with no programming needed, is completely legal to use, and has a 3 year warranty.

 

[bedouin]

surely I just add it to current licence and get another MMSI for it?

It doesn't seem to be a DSC radio so it won't have an MMSI

I think if you register it with the fixed VHF they may give you a "T" call sign

 

[solent clown]

Right! I thought it could be reprogrammed for DSC, but I may be wrong!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Maybe I'm paranoid, maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I'd never buy a cheap non-waterproof handheld for boat use. One day, I might need to rely on it...

For £99, you can get a Standard Horizon HX300E which is waterproof, floats, has dual/tri watch, has a water-activated flashing light, works straight out of the box with no programming needed, is completely legal to use, and has a 3 year warranty.

Absolutely agree with all of that :encouragement:

 

[solent clown]

Absolutely agree with all of that :encouragement:

OK, I will cancel the order and go for something more suited to the task

 

[[70521]]

Does it transmit in the marine frequency band? How quickly could you find Ch16 if you ever need to send a PAN-PAN or MAYDAY? Is it waterproof?

 

[solent clown]

Does it transmit in the marine frequency band? How quickly could you find Ch16 if you ever need to send a PAN-PAN or MAYDAY? Is it waterproof?

OK, I get it, I have been a silly billy.
I doubt if it is very waterproof. but yes it will transmit in marine band, keys are programmable etc so it would have been useable except probably exactly when we need it, ie upside down in the solent with a knocked out wife and the Red Jet bearing down on us... Saving 50 quid doesnt seem worth it now

 

[lpdsn]

OK, I get it, I have been a silly billy.
I doubt if it is very waterproof. but yes it will transmit in marine band, keys are programmable etc so it would have been useable except probably exactly when we need it, ie upside down in the solent with a knocked out wife and the Red Jet bearing down on us... Saving 50 quid doesnt seem worth it now

Exactly. And you probably won't even have to spend £50 more if you shop around. Both Standard Horizon & Icom make excellent radios IMHO, and the other proper brands aren't that far behind.

 

[PaulRainbow]

OK, I will cancel the order and go for something more suited to the task

Good choice :encouragement:

The Standard Horizon that PVB mentioned is a good budget radio. Anything with Standard Horizon or Icom badges is good kit.

Stick it on a Portable Ships Radio license, then you can use it on all of your boats. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/online-licensing-service

 

[Prasutigus]

Absolutely agree with all of that :encouragement:

+1

 

[solent clown]

I didnt know about the separate portable licence, I just assumed you had to add to current licence. That makes things much easier

 

[Cactus Sailing]

i bought a handheld so i didnt have to trot down below to use the radio when talking to the marina for a berth, make life easier... or so i thought but the one i purchased - its range is not very good and i had to resort to going below to use the boats as it didnt broadcast far enough :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cobra-Wate...&qid=1515591656&sr=8-2&keywords=hand+held+vhf

for what its worth ^^

moral of the story... don't buy crap again.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I didnt know about the separate portable licence, I just assumed you had to add to current licence. That makes things much easier

You can do either with a non-DSC handheld. A DSC portable can only have a portable license.