how do I decide on a Hand Held VHF sub GBP 150?

[Halo]

The main criteria for me is the ability to take standard AA cells if necessary, no good having a flat battery in the grab bag.

Good point. My Exel battery has failed and its not worth getting a new one vs a new radio. If it could take AAs I would be sorted.
I also like a 12v charger that will screw to the wall at my chart table.
Anyone care to make a recommendation - must be waterproof

 

[gjgm]

I'd add another fiver to the budget and buy a Standard Horizon HX851E. Superb quality, properly waterproof, DSC capability, built-in GPS, floats face up, big lithium-ion battery, ability to enter waypoints and navigate to them, 3 year warranty.

850 was standard rechargeables, 851e is (rechargeable) lithium. the E is now superceded by the 870, which is just out and at about £190. The new ones has a bigger screen and supposedly a far better menu structure.

 

[prv]

I also like a 12v charger that will screw to the wall at my chart table.
Anyone care to make a recommendation - must be waterproof

I'm only aware of one non-waterproof handheld on the market nowadays, a cheap and nasty Midland whose sole redeeming feature is that it only costs £50. So that's that requirement covered

The Cobra radios tend to come with more bits and bobs (like drop-in chargers) included as standard, though they're available separately for most radios.

Pete

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I wouldn't get DSC unless you need it, even if money is no object. The 851 is a brilliant piece of kit but is quite a bit larger and heavier than the non-DSC sets, which are exactly as good as a radio and much more comfortable when shoved in a pocket. Simpler to operate for someone new to them too. I'm also getting very near the stage where I need my glasses to operate the 851 (or longer arms).

 

[ffiill]

I'd add another fiver to the budget and buy a Standard Horizon HX851E. Superb quality, properly waterproof, DSC capability, built-in GPS, floats face up, big lithium-ion battery, ability to enter waypoints and navigate to them, 3 year warranty.

Vertex standard horizon stuff is good and usually good value.

 

[prv]

I wouldn't get DSC unless you need it, even if money is no object.

+1

Pete

 

[eddystone]

I'm only aware of one non-waterproof handheld on the market nowadays, a cheap and nasty Midland whose sole redeeming feature is that it only costs £50. So that's that requirement covered

The Cobra radios tend to come with more bits and bobs (like drop-in chargers) included as standard, though they're available separately for most radios.

Pete

I have had a "cheap and nasty" Midland Pacific for 4 years now and it's been quite good - you can also swap the internal battery for AAs.

 

[prv]

I have had a "cheap and nasty" Midland Pacific for 4 years now and it's been quite good - you can also swap the internal battery for AAs.

In that case it's not the one I was referring to. That one only accepts AAs, there is no other battery pack.

Judging by the case and the buttons, I think it was originally designed as a PMR446 / FRS radio (ie cheap consumer "walkie talkie") and then they realised they could reprogram the radio chip and sell a marine VHF version. It fills a niche as the cheapest marine VHF on the market, and if that means that the angling pikeys in their cockleshell dinghies have a radio when they otherwise wouldn't, then fair enough. But it is undeniably cheap&nasty.

I never said anything about the rest of the Midland range, as I've never used them.

Pete

 

[Laysula]

I bought one of these this year from these people. Over the moon with it. and the service.

 

[FishyInverness]

I had one of the Midland Atlantics for a little while before moving on to Standard Horizon (HX290e and latterly 300e - of note with the 300e is the micro USB charging port - allowing much more flexible recharging options)

I found that the midland atlantic still way outperforms the Cobra HH125 (as in, it managed a radio check, whereas the Cobra HH125 only seemed to reach a response 50% of the time) - which seems to be able to absorb moisture from any location and start to corrode within weeks of ownership unless put in a plastic bag!

 

[prv]

Standard Horizon (HX290e and latterly 300e - of note with the 300e is the micro USB charging port - allowing much more flexible recharging options)

I believe that's the one I bought for the Zapcat style boat I've got involved with. I thought the USB charging would be handy in the car on the way to the launch site.

Seems a nice little radio, more compact than many which is handy when we're storing it in a polybottle along with all sorts of other gear.

Pete

 

[gjgm]

I wouldn't get DSC unless you need it, even if money is no object. The 851 is a brilliant piece of kit but is quite a bit larger and heavier than the non-DSC sets, which are exactly as good as a radio and much more comfortable when shoved in a pocket. Simpler to operate for someone new to them too. I'm also getting very near the stage where I need my glasses to operate the 851 (or longer arms).

It does of course then give you GPS too.. At least when you call Help Help, you can tell someone where where the hell you are...

 

[grumpy_o_g]

It does of course then give you GPS too.. At least when you call Help Help, you can tell someone where where the hell you are...

Absolutely. and that's why I got it. I used to carry a GPS and VHF so I'm better off.

 

[gjgm]

Absolutely. and that's why I got it. I used to carry a GPS and VHF so I'm better off.

I guess that is more use at sea where there is no landmark.. I guess coastal wise most of have some idea where we are (hopefully!), eg- a few miles west of Anvil Point.

 

[prv]

I guess coastal wise most of have some idea where we are (hopefully!), eg- a few miles west of Anvil Point.

Of course the problem nowadays may be that the Coastguard don't know where that is...

Seriously though, I have heard the new guys pestering distressed boats for a lat and long when they've already given a perfectly good verbal description of their location and were clearly stressed / busy dealing with the problem. The old crew wouldn't have done that. I imagine they were filling in a form on their screen which had a box for lat / long and they were unwilling to leave it blank and not confident to just quickly pick it off the chart themselves.

Pete

 

[mil1194]

When I refitted I used Garmin for everything simply because I was naive and it was all easily available and to setup etc. I've never had to use it in anger BUT I was first I/C with a friend(who had one arm and one leg who wasn't confident with more than 1 onboard) who had refitted his old Princess 32 with Standard Horizon and I was a bit 'poo poo' with SH when we had a 5day jolly on Bagpuss from Neyland to Bristol BUT we came out of Saundersfoot in fog and could just make out the cliffs etc to starboard, and it was THICK. Then a little (18/20) shot straight across the bows and we (Captain and I) said forget this and went back to the harbour and we could see NOTHING. All the cliff face and rocks didn't exist as far our eyes were concerned and all I could do was follow the plotter back on the course in which we'd taken out....there is a 'hard left' into the harbour walls and it was all done on faith and only the plotter was telling me where to go at 2/3kts - pure faith - and in we went and the harbour walls just 'appeared' to each side of us as we entered the walls - an unforgettable experience. Basically that day Standard Horizon did the bizzo for us and I'll never forget it - especially with 4 on board because otherwise you wouldn't have seen your nose in front of your face....invaluable kit. Whether Garmin etc would have been better on the day I can't say but I was bloody glad it was there that day

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've got a cheap Cobra inherited from a friend. Works OK but not DSC. If I were buying a new one I would look for floating, waterproof, DSC, good battery life and probably ICOM or standard horizon.