New mic on old radio OR handheld VHF?

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SeaDave

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I've not used my boat radio before (it's a Simrad RT1400) but am pretty sure it works or at least did when I last turned it on (a year ago).
The mic and cable was thrown away recently due to perishing.

I'm moving my boat to Chi where I'll take a VHF course and will be radioing a lot re: the lock.

Now, do I spend £70 on a new cable and mic or just get a handheld VHF? If so - is there one you'd recommend?

Handheld would be good if we're not on the boat whilst we wait for the lock etc.....
 
if you only have one radio keep the fixed one and buy a new mic and cable for it. The fixed unit will have a much greater power output and range in an emergency.
 
ProDave said:
Who has told you a new mic is £70? You can buy a complete radio (with mic of course) for that.

A mic on it's own should be about £10 Or is this another example of "marine" price rip off?
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Err doubt you will find a mike for a tenner.
You should be able to get a basic generic mike fitted for about £25.00.Is it a plug in jobby or one of them "fixed" efforts.?
Stay away from chandlers or marina shops,if you are really lucky you will have a back street shop still flogging CB stuff,they will certainly have a man tucked away somewhere who could fit a cheapo CB type mike to that radio and it will work perfectly well.
 
oldgit said:
Err doubt you will find a mike for a tenner.
You should be able to get a basic generic mike fitted for about £25.00.Is it a plug in jobby or one of them "fixed" efforts.?
Stay away from chandlers or marina shops,if you are really lucky you will have a back street shop still flogging CB stuff,they will certainly have a man tucked away somewhere who could fit a cheapo CB type mike to that radio and it will work perfectly well.
Click to expand...

I'm coming from an amateur radio background where (baring fancy buttons on the mic) they are all pretty much the same, apart from the plug.

So just buy the cheapest one you can find, and fit the plug from your old mic onto the new one. I guess being able to use a soldering iron helps me in that respect. (you did keep the old mic so you have a pattern didn't you)
 
Some RT microphones have the plug wired with two pins linked to connect the internal speaker.

If a telephone handset is used these pins are not linked because the speaker is then muted ( disconnected) .

Maybe they are all like that.

I only know because I made a dummy microphone plug for mine to that it can be used as a receive only set with no microphone (and PTT switch) plugged in.
 
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