Recommend me a hand held VHF

[mjcp]

I have one of these, paid ~£95 for it in 2024.

Standard Horizon 210E Floating Handheld VHF

No issues other than needed to set the location mode to get the relevant UK channels.

Waterproof, 6W, floats, 3yr wty.

 

[Biggles Wader]

I bought a nearly new Cobra HH325 about ten years ago. They get a bad press on here but mine is still going and used for much the same as you would need. I think it has been superseded by a newer model now.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I have one of these, paid ~£95 for it in 2024.

Standard Horizon 210E Floating Handheld VHF

No issues other than needed to set the location mode to get the relevant UK channels.

Waterproof, 6W, floats, 3yr wty.

I think that’s what I had before but all black. Guess I’ll get the same again.

 

[Mark-1]

It would appear that my handheld VHF has gone for a swim or a walk anyway I can’t find it so I need a new one and it’s 2026. I don’t even remember what make the old one was but it worked fine and the battery seemed to last forever. I don’t need anything fancy just a reliable VHF with a good battery life. I don’t want one that I need to license. Just a basic radio.

If you're not to bothered about compliance and you're willing to do some simple set up of the frequencies you want consider Baofeng UV‑5R or Quansheng UV5R Plus. Very cheap (check out Ali Express) and highly regarded for quality.

Not waterproof and won't float which might be a deal breaker.

EDIT: TSB beat me to it.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I think I should have said extra licensing.

 

[Refueler]

Ops spec
Emergency use only?
No licence required.

What range do you expect with 5 Watts a few inches above water.
You could probably talk to rescue helicopter overhead or another boat a mile off.

Baofeng UV5-r

£16 lowest offer found today.


Ducking for cover as incoming expected!

If it does job - why duck ?

I have a pair of Cobra 2W HH's ... supplied with waterproof cases ... and as you say - its short range only when you are in water etc.

People 'scoff' at my Cobras - but in fact they have worked well as 'crew comms' when they toddle off ashore ..

 

[Phil_boat]

and quality feel is all I need.

I wouldn’t recommend the Standard Horizon ones then, unless others are better than my HX210E.

 

[Momac]

OP here.
My primary radio is fixed. The hand held is for backup and convenience when entering a marina. No DSC required or AIS I have that on my primary. Waterproof rechargeable and quality feel is all I need.

Same here .
As for DSC it seems mostly pointless.
I have not made or received a DSC call apart from one time when a friend and I made some test calls about a decade ago.

 

[Slowtack]

I got a free Standard Horizon handheld vhf when buying an SH chartplotter about 2008....both still working...QED....

 

[wonkywinch]

Another vote for Standard Horizon's HX210.

SH is the marine arm of Yaesu who have an extremely good reputation in the amateur radio world.

 

[Roberto]

FWIW I have 2 portable standard horizon (+1 fixed), the oldest one is from the early 2000s, after 20 years the NiCd battery pack was cooked I changed it with a NiMH, it might be going for another 20y. The DSC HX870 has been in almost daily use for about 10y, this year I replaced the Li-ion battery pack as it was very tired. Also have a number of Icom ham equipment without issues, they have no inside batteries

OT it's a pity this sort of thread splis into ''this is better than that'', maybe some SH malfunction, ok, Icom had the ceramic filters problem in several models (replaced FOC), so what? They both make very good kits, marine or ham

 

[wonkywinch]

OT it's a pity this sort of thread splis into ''this is better than that'', maybe some SH malfunction, ok, Icom had the ceramic filters problem in several models (replaced FOC), so what? They both make very good kits, marine or ham

This is very common human behaviour, I'm guilty of it myself. After carefully researching* all the options, and then just buying the second cheapest#, we then proclaim our choice is the best the market can offer (from a sample of one) mainly for confirmation bias to support our own buying decision.

* "research" = 10 mins on Google.
# "buying second cheapest" = technique often used when perusing the wine list in a restaurant under false belief that's where best value is.