Handheld VHF

[Shorts]

Hello

Looking to get a Handheld VHF. looking for cheap options. Usage will be from boat to marina

what are peoples thoughts?

thanks

 

[Graham376]

If it's to be used in the grab bag as well, get one which will take an AA or AAA batteries, such as this Cobra - https://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/7856/cobra-hh125-handheld-vhf-marine-radio

 

[pvb]

Standard Horizon HX300E - waterproof, floats, 3-year warranty, only a hundred quid - https://jgtech.com/Communications/Handheld-Marine-VHF/Standard-Horizon-HX300E.html

The cheaper Cobra isn't truly waterproof, and has older NiMH battery technology, whereas the Standard Horizon has a Lithium-Ion battery.

 

[William_H]

And at the cheap end of town, ie Chinese I have one of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-UV-5R...725428?hash=item5b56e2c274:g:1ZcAAOSwFD1c12L7
The radio works fine but is not water proof. Presumably not approved You have to program it for the marine channels you want. So just put in the channels you want under the channel number in the radio. All a bit tedious. But crazy priced as an addendum to the main real VHF radio. ol'will

 

[jwilson]

Standard Horizon HX300E - waterproof, floats, 3-year warranty, only a hundred quid - https://jgtech.com/Communications/Handheld-Marine-VHF/Standard-Horizon-HX300E.html

The cheaper Cobra isn't truly waterproof, and has older NiMH battery technology, whereas the Standard Horizon has a Lithium-Ion battery.

The slightly more expensive Cobras HH300/325/350 models are fairly good: I have two, older HH300 and newer HH325. Both have manual squelch controls, which I prefer to the digital squelch on many modern radios. Don't buy the £69 cheapo Cobra. Lower power, and I think no M1/M2 channels. But if buying now it would probably be a Standard Horizon.

 

[dmayes]

Look at the Cobra HH500, fully waterproof, floats with own battery, extra holder for AAA batteries and has blue tooth connection so you can answer mobile phone calls on your radio. Keeps your mobile safe.

 

[scottie]

PM sent

 

[Elemental]

And at the cheap end of town, ie Chinese I have one of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-UV-5R...725428?hash=item5b56e2c274:g:1ZcAAOSwFD1c12L7
The radio works fine but is not water proof. Presumably not approved You have to program it for the marine channels you want. So just put in the channels you want under the channel number in the radio. All a bit tedious. But crazy priced as an addendum to the main real VHF radio. ol'will

+1 if you like or don't mind tinkering.... Couple it up with a £2.99 waterproof case (mine floats with it on). Also useful for those unprogrammed channels (eg ch31 which is used abroad but not here in the UK) as you can add them yourself.

 

[Skylark]

And at the cheap end of town, ie Chinese I have one of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-UV-5R...725428?hash=item5b56e2c274:g:1ZcAAOSwFD1c12L7
The radio works fine but is not water proof. Presumably not approved You have to program it for the marine channels you want. So just put in the channels you want under the channel number in the radio. All a bit tedious. But crazy priced as an addendum to the main real VHF radio. ol'will

+1 if you like or don't mind tinkering.... Couple it up with a £2.99 waterproof case (mine floats with it on). Also useful for those unprogrammed channels (eg ch31 which is used abroad but not here in the UK) as you can add them yourself.

That’s an incredible price! I’ve just bought one from an eBay UK supplier for less than £20. It has a very good “feel” about it, doesn’t seem “cheap” at all.

It can transmit on both 2m and 70cm Amateur bands as well as marine.

Search Google and download free software to help with programming. You’ll also need a dedicated lead plus its software to do this. Still waiting for my lead so haven’t got that far yet.

 

[ProDave]

And at the cheap end of town, ie Chinese I have one of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-UV-5R...725428?hash=item5b56e2c274:g:1ZcAAOSwFD1c12L7
The radio works fine but is not water proof. Presumably not approved You have to program it for the marine channels you want. So just put in the channels you want under the channel number in the radio. All a bit tedious. But crazy priced as an addendum to the main real VHF radio. ol'will

That's an incredable price. I would not want that as my only VHF but as an additional one for crew to crew etc handy at that price.

I have an old Icom PMR radio that I have re programmed for the marine channels. Tedious but once set up it works. Even more tedious is the even older one I have programmed by soldering diodes on a matrix board.

Of course programmable ones can have "unusual" channels like channel 0. And if you have a ham licence you can have your 2M / 70cm / Marine handheld all in one.

 

[Daverw]

They are known to just pack up and not switch on, I’m on my third in the past 6 years, but at the price good value. Certainly would not use as only radio.
Both myself and other half Ham licence holders so use them for comms between as well

 

[maby]

Do be aware that the UV5R - and other similar Chinese wide band handies - are completely illegal in this country for anything other than amateur radio use. They put out a perfectly respectable signal - they are quite well built, but don't admit to using one and don't use it in front of any official such as coastguard or police. They are also perfectly able to operate on the PMR446 licence free frequencies and are a lot cheaper than official PMR446 radios, but once again are highly illegal on those frequencies.

The trouble is not the build quality or quality of the transmitted signal - they are simply too flexible. Amateur radio licence holders are required to pass some reasonably advanced exams before they get their licences and are, therefore, trusted to use almost any transmitter safely without causing interference. All other classes of transmitting licence including marine licences do not require any technical training and, hence, only permit the use of radio equipment that limits the operation in terms of both frequency and power output. While the UV5R is perfectly capable of operation on the marine channels, it is able to transmit on just about any VHF or UHF frequency, so it does not stop you interfering with other radio users including some that are safety critical.

 

[elton]

+1 if you like or don't mind tinkering.... Couple it up with a £2.99 waterproof case (mine floats with it on). Also useful for those unprogrammed channels (eg ch31 which is used abroad but not here in the UK) as you can add them yourself.

I bought the USB cable for my Baofeng uv-5r, and programmed it with all the marine channels plus the PMR channels. Then purely by accident, I reversed all the duplex channels, so I could hear the ship side of the channels, then I immediately deleted them because it's illegal

CHIRP is handy because you can keep different sets of channels on the PC, and upload whatever you like. This site is handy https://radiofreeq.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/marine-channel-frequencies-vhf-uhf-radio-programming/

 

[maby]

I bought the USB cable for my Baofeng uv-5r, and programmed it with all the marine channels plus the PMR channels. Then purely by accident, I reversed all the duplex channels, so I could hear the ship side of the channels, then I immediately deleted them because it's illegal
....

Hmmm, hearing the ship side of the channels is a relatively small aspect of the overall illegality!

 

[elton]

Hmmm, hearing the ship side of the channels is a relatively small aspect of the overall illegality!

Probably true. It's not type approved for anything as far as I know. However it's very popular amongst members of our local amatuer radio club, despite being FM/VHF/UHF only.

 

[ProDave]

Do be aware that the UV5R - and other similar Chinese wide band handies - are completely illegal in this country for anything other than amateur radio use. They put out a perfectly respectable signal - they are quite well built, but don't admit to using one and don't use it in front of any official such as coastguard or police. They are also perfectly able to operate on the PMR446 licence free frequencies and are a lot cheaper than official PMR446 radios, but once again are highly illegal on those frequencies.

The trouble is not the build quality or quality of the transmitted signal - they are simply too flexible. Amateur radio licence holders are required to pass some reasonably advanced exams before they get their licences and are, therefore, trusted to use almost any transmitter safely without causing interference. All other classes of transmitting licence including marine licences do not require any technical training and, hence, only permit the use of radio equipment that limits the operation in terms of both frequency and power output. While the UV5R is perfectly capable of operation on the marine channels, it is able to transmit on just about any VHF or UHF frequency, so it does not stop you interfering with other radio users including some that are safety critical.

You could say all that about my re programmed ex PMR handheld, now re programmed for the marine channels. I would never admit to using it of course.