Midland Neptune VHF Marine Radio

[kamsinsailing]

HI. Anyone has or uses a Midland Neptune VHF radio? Is it any good? I am thinking of buying a used one. Has a damaged mic cable. This has a 7pin female socket. Also is it easy to repair the cable and the socket? Thank you.

 

[st599]

Check you can get the MMSI changed to match your boat.

 

[Dellquay13]

error erased

 

[cpedw]

It's not red but there's a slidey thing bottom right labelled DISTRESS.

 

[ProDave]

IF you can delete the old MMSI number, and IF you are good at soldering and IF you can find a replacement mic cable with enough cores and IF it is cheap then buy it.

 

[st599]

The ITU requires MMSI changes are done by service centres (to prevent unnotified changes).

Midland are a US-Italian company, so you may need to ship it to Italy to change the MMSI if they don't have a UK support network.

 

[wonkywinch]

I'd say it's not worth it for any money. New mic lead, £20, MMSI reprogramme (if even possible) £40. It's an old design with discrete channel/frequency selection buttons.

Google shows one last sold in the US for $26.

Budget £100/120 for half decent used UK sourced Icom.

 

[kamsinsailing]

Thank you All,

I am applying for a VHF licence before installing, and it makes sense, to have a UK based provider/manufacturer. It is an important safety equipment. so worth paying few bobs. Cheers. `

 

[wonkywinch]

You can get a ships licence and MMSI (if you don't have one already) pretty quick from Ofcom. I'd say almost same day?

Ship radio and ship portable radio

 

[KevinV]

HI. Anyone has or uses a Midland Neptune VHF radio? Is it any good? I am thinking of buying a used one. Has a damaged mic cable. This has a 7pin female socket. Also is it easy to repair the cable and the socket? Thank you.

If it was being given away it would be worth having a go, but any exchange of money and I'd save your effort - good radios are not expensive, and are essential safety kit

 

[st599]

You can get a ships licence and MMSI (if you don't have one already) pretty quick from Ofcom. I'd say almost same day?

Ship radio and ship portable radio

If you're getting a new one, you may as well ad a Notice of Variation request for Ch 31 and ATIS for if you head to the Continent.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Thank you All,

I am applying for a VHF licence before installing, and it makes sense, to have a UK based provider/manufacturer. It is an important safety equipment. so worth paying few bobs. Cheers. `

Bear in mind you need TWO licenses - a ship's license (which is probably what you are getting) and a short range operator's license (which is a one-day course). The former gives you a call-sign and MMSI; the latter permits you to use the set. Of course, it is allowed to use it for emergency calls without the latter license. But theoretically, you could be fined for using it for operational calls without the short range certificate.

Note also that the ship's license applies to the ship, and is transferable between owners. If the ship already has a license, OfCom can transfer it to your name, and the MMSI and call sign remain unchanged.