New fixed DSC VHF advice please.

[harvey38]

We have the unit the OP is considering. All I will say it is an excellent piece of equipment, the controls are very intuitive, easy to read display, the audio is very clear and never had any complaints about wind noise using the RAM mount on the upper helm at 22kt.

 

[john_morris_uk]

We have the unit the OP is considering. All I will say it is an excellent piece of equipment, the controls are very intuitive, easy to read display, the audio is very clear and never had any complaints about wind noise using the RAM mount on the upper helm at 22kt.

Thanks. It’s claimed to be a wind cancelling microphone.

 

[dolabriform]

We have the unit the OP is considering. All I will say it is an excellent piece of equipment, the controls are very intuitive, easy to read display, the audio is very clear and never had any complaints about wind noise using the RAM mount on the upper helm at 22kt.

We also have the same. A couple of notes.

If you are using NMEA 2000 for GPS Position, it takes a very long time to lock on to it.
Calling a another ship via DSC from the plotter is manufacturer specific as it's not a standard NMEA message. Therefore the standard horizon will not provide this functionality with a B&G, Raymarine or Garmin plotter. I found this out the hard way, but for the times I would use this I can't justify the cost of a B&G VHF with command mike.

In all other respects, it's a great piece of kit, and the command mike is excellent. It's so useful to be able to switch from ch 80 to 71 and 16 dual watch when leaving Shotley without leaving the helm.

One other thing, why did they make the brightness control a right PITA to get to

 

[Elessar]

Thanks. It’s claimed to be a wind cancelling microphone.

Yes. You have to hold it very close.

 

[WindyWindyWindy]

I thought all DSC fixed sets had a built-in GPS now?

 

[Elessar]

We also have the same. A couple of notes.

If you are using NMEA 2000 for GPS Position, it takes a very long time to lock on to it.
Calling a another ship via DSC from the plotter is manufacturer specific as it's not a standard NMEA message. Therefore the standard horizon will not provide this functionality with a B&G, Raymarine or Garmin plotter. I found this out the hard way, but for the times I would use this I can't justify the cost of a B&G VHF with command mike.

In all other respects, it's a great piece of kit, and the command mike is excellent. It's so useful to be able to switch from ch 80 to 71 and 16 dual watch when leaving Shotley without leaving the helm.

One other thing, why did they make the brightness control a right PITA to get to

I never call using DSC. I wouldn’t have a clue how. DSC is a camel designed by committee. Even the official way of calling distress with a DSC radio is stupid. Quoting that huge long number when in peril is madness.

I just call a ship using their boat’s name using my boat’s name which they can clearly see on their AIS.

 

[Sandy]

I never call using DSC. I wouldn’t have a clue how. DSC is a camel designed by committee. Even the official way of calling distress with a DSC radio is stupid. Quoting that huge long number when in peril is madness.

I just call a ship using their boat’s name using my boat’s name which they can clearly see on their AIS.

You are missing a whole bunch of fantastic functionally. Spend an hour with the manual and your VHF and you will be getting position reports calling your chums on Ch69 for fun and setting up groups for cruising in company.

 

[Elessar]

You are missing a whole bunch of fantastic functionally. Spend an hour with the manual and your VHF and you will be getting position reports calling your chums on Ch69 for fun and setting up groups for cruising in company.

Anything that needs a manual has no place on a boat.
I just use WhatsApp for all the functionally you just described.

 

[Frank Holden]

Thanks. It’s claimed to be a wind cancelling microphone.

That would be a handy thing to have in the roaring forties

I have a hand held Standard Horizon VHF con DSC .... the manual runs to about 150 pages or more.
I treat it as a standard hand held with the idea that I could use the big red button upon sighting a passing ship whilst in the raft.

 

[R.Ems]

Anything that needs a manual has no place on a boat....

Well said. Although my Naxtex refuses to fit in that caregory, being very useful but it doesn't get reprogrammed often enough to become memorised.