Recommendations for a new VHF

[Alpha22]

I need to replace my manky old VHF. I have about £200 to spend, but could do with a new antenna too....

I like the idea of twiddly knobs for volume, squelch and channel select and not rubber buttons and many menus.

I boat around the East coast and rarely in company so I am not looking at the bells and whistles features, but good build quality, good backup, the best audio quality and good interface design are more important.

I already have AIS so don't feel the need to have that integrated.

The contenders are:-
Lowrance Link-5 about £140.00 but no reviews on audio quality or build quality.

Standard Horizon
1600 - In budget and looks OK but has buttons for channel select.
GX2000E - Looks good, will integrate with my AIS, but top end of budget.


Any other ideas????????

 

[[2068]]

Icom M323?

Volume and squelch are a twiddly knob.
Changing channel is holding down a button.
Menus are for setting up, rather than day to day use.

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/99373689/icom-m323-vhf-radio

 

[skipmac]

Have been using Standard Horizons for over 30 years and never had one fail. Also have very good sound and volume which is nice for aging ears. Just make sure you get one with DSC.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Garmin 100i - rotary knobs for ch, vol, sql, big display
Did not like the M323 because of menus/buttons

In terms of quality/reliability you can't go wrong with any Icom, Garmin or Standard Horizon model

 

[scubaman]

Last winter I upgraded mine to Garmin 200i and if that is anything to go by, the 100i should be very good. I like the feeling of quality, it has the rotary knobs as well as three soft keys below the screen that make simple tasks even simpler (also the 100i have these). But as OF says, can't go badly wrong with any of the ones he mentioned.

 

[prv]

Have been using Standard Horizons for over 30 years and never had one fail. Also have very good sound and volume which is nice for aging ears.

I too am a fan of Standard Horizon - feels solid and professional rather than a consumer "toy", and the menus are reasonably well laid out. Mine has three knobs for channel/volume/squelch, which I agree is important. I don't recommend my particular model because you said you weren't interested in integrated AIS, which was the main feature for me. I routinely pick up Jobourg Traffic in the Solent and Solent Coastguard off Alderney, so can't fault the radio performance

Just make sure you get one with DSC.

Did you slip a decade or something? I can't remember when non-DSC fixed sets stopped being sold, but it was a very long time ago now.

Pete

 

[mlines]

Another Standard Horizon fan.

Never realised how poor the audio on my previous radio was until I replaced it with a Standard Horizon one.

Martin

 

[skipmac]

Did you slip a decade or something? I can't remember when non-DSC fixed sets stopped being sold, but it was a very long time ago now.

Pete

If I didn't know better I might think you were making a subtle reference to the fact that I might possible be of a slightly older generation of sailors? :sleeping:

Actually I guess one might say I did slip a decade, or three. Did a lot of cruising when I was young(er) but sold the boat, got a job and didn't go sailing for 30 years (bet you can guess the motivation for that). Now bought a boat again and ready to jump back in, figuratively speaking.

In further defense of my obviously outdated knowledge of the current state of the market and technology, perhaps the OP finds a very, very, very old used VHF for sale cheap. In that case he or she might want to inquire as to whether or not DSC technology had been developed and implemented in such an antique device before buying.

 

[Alpha22]

It's looking very favourable for a Standard Horizon at the moment. Now which model?? Will I ever use the features in the GX2000 or will the 1600 fit the bill??
All the technical data for the Standard Horizon points to 4.5 watt audio output..... the only competitors data I could find states 2 watts output... that could explain the difference in audio quality and volume!!

Has no one got anything to say about the Lowrance Link-5?

 

[Spi D]

Have had several (SP Sailor, Raymarine, Shipmate). Am now happy with Icom and the only disappointing experience was a Cobra (not in scope, but still, not recommended).

 

[skipmac]

As far as quality of construction and design, reliability, etc I think Standard Horizon, Icom and maybe some of the other brands are quite equal. The only significant difference I have seen consistently is the sound quality of the Standard Horizons have been a lot better than the competition.

 

[Alpha22]

Have had several (SP Sailor, Raymarine, Shipmate). Am now happy with Icom and the only disappointing experience was a Cobra (not in scope, but still, not recommended).

Strangely it is a Cobra that is being replaced. It is a fair few years old and the knobs have turned to jelly..... also the DSC only does distress... nothing else. The quality of the audio is marginal and when receiving transmissions from it it sounds dreadful...... other than that it has been a great radio!! I was given it, and it was worth every penny!!!!!

 

[oceanfroggie]

After replacing our old set with a Garmin 200i a few weeks ago, very pleased with the control layout. Has built in fog horn mode and two way loud hailer so I can hear when folks on the foredeck are trying to pass info to the helm. Has NMEA 0183 and 2k so future proof when we get around to a NMEA 2k backbone replacing the last of our Raymarine gear with an all Garmin set up. Smartphone type simplicity to the setup menus not needed for normal ops.