Handheld VHF

[oldbloke]

I need to buy an additional handheld vhf, nothing fancy, just for using in the dinghy, in the harbour. The Internet shows a number of (much cheaper) unfamiliar brands, such as Retevis. Does anyone use these and are they any good?

 

[BlueSailor]

I found a perfectly acceptable one quite cheaply on eBay. Worth a look.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Don’t know if Retevis make marine radios.

Not every country has adopted the same set of vhf channels. Make sure whatever you go for is designed and approved for use in the uk, and that you can select any /all of the uk marine vhf channels.

 

[MontyMariner]

What do you call cheap?
Retevis marine vhf low end price seems to be about the same price as Cobra HH 150 or Plastimo SX 350 at around the £80 mark.

​

 

[oldbloke]

What do you call cheap?
Retevis marine vhf low end price seems to be about the same price as Cobra HH 150 or Plastimo SX 350 at around the £80 mark.

​

You're not wrong.On further looking the bottom end sets from mainstream makers seem to have improved a lot. Last time I went through this process they were low power and not plug in to recharge.

 

[Hermit]

No connection the the poster of this one but could be a better bet than new?
Standard Horizon HX890E VHF Handheld Radio for Sale (ideal for solo sailors)

 

[oldbloke]

No connection the the poster of this one but could be a better bet than new?
Standard Horizon HX890E VHF Handheld Radio for Sale (ideal for solo sailors)

Thank you. I hadn't seen that. Should be just the job

 

[KompetentKrew]

In a rowboat in the harbour I want a handheld VHF with DSC. Costs more, might as well buy a reputable brand, but in case of emergency just hit the button.

 

[Alicatt]

In a rowboat in the harbour I want a handheld VHF with DSC. Costs more, might as well, buy a reputable brand, but in case of emergency just hit the button.

Make sure it is waterproof and can float, mine has a auto activated strobe if it falls (or I do with it) in the water

 

[ashtead]

As a counter view do you want to consider weight and size. I do have the standard horizon dsc on board but for the dinghy I tend to take the smaller lighter old icom -m31 I think in a 3m type blow up version - guess it depends on size/nature of dinghy though and storage etc.

 

[dancrane]

Slight thread drift, born of almost total ignorance.

I know people are dismissive of handheld VHF for anything but short range use. Despite passing the exam, I will happily never use any VHF if I can avoid it, aside from keeping my ears open to others in need of help.

Towards a practical, economical and responsible minimal approach, do any manufacturers offer a handheld which when required, can supplement its operating range by being wired to a fixed arial?
.

 

[Grumpydev]

Slight thread drift, born of almost total ignorance.

I know people are dismissive of handheld VHF for anything but short range use. Despite passing the exam, I will happily never use any VHF if I can avoid it, aside from keeping my ears open to others in need of help.

Towards a practical, economical and responsible minimal approach, do any manufacturers offer a handheld which when required, can supplement its operating range by being wired to a fixed arial?
.

I imagine most can, I have a cheap Standard Horizon HX300E I picked up for about £60 2nd hand, and that can have the stubby antenna unscrewed and a boat antenna screwed in with a small adapter.

 

[Alicatt]

I imagine most can, I have a cheap Standard Horizon HX300E I picked up for about £60 2nd hand, and that can have the stubby antenna unscrewed and a boat antenna screwed in with a small adapter.

Same with my SH handheld

 

[Mark-1]

Make sure it is waterproof and can float, mine has a auto activated strobe if it falls (or I do with it) in the water

Yeah, mine floats with light. I thought it was a gimmick until I dropped it in.

 

[Alicatt]

Yeah, mine floats with light. I thought it was a gimmick until I dropped it in.

I was on the Maersk Seville in Zeebrugge a good while ago as a guest of the Captain, they were conducting launch and recovery drills with the lifeboat when the skipper of the lifeboat stumbled and dropped his handheld overboard, never to be seen again. I was on the bridge at the time watching and photographing the trial, the skipper got a bit of a dressing down from the Master!

 

[Grumpydev]

Yeah, mine floats with light. I thought it was a gimmick until I dropped it in.

First thing I did when I got mine was chuck it in a bowl of water upside down to see if it actually worked