Handheld VHF

As suggested you need a Ham radio licence to operate this radio, it can do marine frequencies but to comply with your marine licence the radio has to be channelised not frequency enterable. I have one on board so that I can listen in to channel 00, but as a second radio they are very underpowered. Better to use a marine HH
 
I tried to cancel the purchase of the Bao Feng from the mighty Amazon, but it was already dispatched, so I might just keep it and try it as a base station for listening at home in the shed.
 
solent clown said:
I tried to cancel the purchase of the Bao Feng from the mighty Amazon, but it was already dispatched, so I might just keep it and try it as a base station for listening at home in the shed.
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You could reject the item on the basis that the seller's claim that it's legal to use isn't true for marine band.
 
Bought a SH HH from West Marine in the States. OK not CE, but identical to the more expensive ones sold over here.
Think it was £50 and came with the recharge battery pack and the one for alcalines. Bonus is, it seems that the French now don't think that HHs need registration as a safety measure.
 
It’s also a bit over priced, I bought two of these last year for £15 each from radio Ham fair, both new
 
solent clown said:
standard horizon looking good again. A few recommendations on here for it, so maybe that will be the one
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If it doesn't say Standard Horizon or Icom on it, walk away.

Edit : Other makes of VHF are also perfectly good, i have a fixed Garmin black box VHF/AIS, but for the OPs budget handheld, SH or Icom is the way.
 
I dont like spending money too much as I don't have much but I would only buy this standard Horizon hx870e or something similar. everything you need in your hand. GPS the lot. A good backup for almost everything. Just under £200 at present but reducing in price.

Steveeasy
 
steveeasy said:
I dont like spending money too much as I don't have much but I would only buy this standard Horizon hx870e or something similar. everything you need in your hand. GPS the lot. A good backup for almost everything. Just under £200 at present but reducing in price.

Steveeasy
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will have a look
 
PaulRainbow said:
I can confirm that this is the dogs. It's DSC, waterproof, floats, 6w, GPS Li-on battery, tray for aaa batteries, mains charger, 12v charger etc.

PBO said "it’s the Standard Horizon HX870E that wins on the combination of features and value for money."

http://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/pbo-tested-10-handheld-vhf-radios-44934

Did i mention that i have one ? :)
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hey Paul, I was going to get one, but it only has an on off switch.. If it does not have a 1 - 2 - both I am not interested
 
Kenneth McGrew said:
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.
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I have also been dissapointed with his model, the range was carp.
 
PaulRainbow said:
I can confirm that this is the dogs. It's DSC, waterproof, floats, 6w, GPS Li-on battery, tray for aaa batteries, mains charger, 12v charger etc.

PBO said "it’s the Standard Horizon HX870E that wins on the combination of features and value for money."

http://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/pbo-tested-10-handheld-vhf-radios-44934

Did i mention that i have one ? :)
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Yes, it's a good radio, I've had one for a couple of years. But for the OP, the HX300E would be fine for using in dinghies, etc.

I also have a Standard Horizon HX470, which is a tiny DSC handheld which also has AM/FM/Aeronautical bands. Neat little radio, which I use a lot, although it's not actually legal in Europe.:disgust:
 
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solent clown said:
hey Paul, I was going to get one, but it only has an on off switch.. If it does not have a 1 - 2 - both I am not interested
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I'm removing another 1-2-vomit switch next week, slowly working my way towards exterminating them all :) If the owner doesn't want to start his own museum i'll ask him if you can have it :)
 
pvb said:
Yes, it's a good radio, I've had one for a couple of years. But for the OP, the HX300E would be fine for using in dinghies, etc.
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Yes, i agree. the HX300E is a good budget radio, but the DSC set is even better if he wants to spend a little more.

I also have a Standard Horizon HX470, which is a tiny DSC handheld which also has AM/FM/Aeronautical bands. Neat little radio, which I use a lot, although it's not actually legal in Europe.:disgust:
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Of course, you only use it outside of Europe :)
 
solent clown said:
I tried to cancel the purchase of the Bao Feng from the mighty Amazon, but it was already dispatched, so I might just keep it and try it as a base station for listening at home in the shed.
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Consumer Contracts Regulations - which replaced the Distance Selling Regulations give you 14 days return on anything purchased online, its part of your consumer rights, just tell amazon you dont want it.

Amazon go further than regulation and offer you a 30 day no quibble return anyway
 
A bit of thread drift - I do like the idea of being able to power the HH from standard alkaline batteries (I have an old Garmin that does that) but I would question whether AAA cells are up to the job. I would think AAA cells would struggle to deliver the current required to provide a 5W signal so the effective range of the radio could be vastly reduced. (I am not an expert so would be happy to be corrected on this)
 
alternative power sources are always desirable. I bought a couple of these for boats/cars. Lidl,
Cheap and cheerful jump packs, also have torch/strobe/sos. two usbs. Although you are not really supposed to use them to power things without the ballast of a battery inline, it runs a car stereo and a vhf set!

IMG_20180111_095855 by mark punksteel, on Flickr
 
bedouin said:
A bit of thread drift - I do like the idea of being able to power the HH from standard alkaline batteries (I have an old Garmin that does that) but I would question whether AAA cells are up to the job. I would think AAA cells would struggle to deliver the current required to provide a 5W signal so the effective range of the radio could be vastly reduced. (I am not an expert so would be happy to be corrected on this)
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With many radios, if you use ordinary alkaline batteries, the maximum transmitting power is reduced automatically.
 
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