Recommended Hand-Held VHF

gandy

gandy

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Hi,

I'm looking for a good quality HH VHF, without breaking the bank. Initially this is to be used as the only radio on board our current boat, primarily as a safety/emergency measure. I want a decent piece of kit that I don't have to replace too soon. Prefer waterproof for ease of use on small or open boats.

I've discounted the Icom M31, 'cos of the loss of battery charge issue (thanks to this forum).

Currently it looks like there are two sensible choices. (1) Entel HT640 - a make I've never heard of but which has been recommended here. (2) Icom M1 which some suppliers seem to have for a similar price.

Any comments, or other options worth lookng at? Any recommended mail-order suppliers?

Finally, is there a catch with the Icom - some suppliers sell it for over £300, some have it for around £160?

The Entel is around the sort of price I had in mind. Like for like, I'd pay a little more for Icom since I know the name and reputation.

Thanks in advance,

Tony S
 
There is no catch on the Icom

We dropped the SRP for the London Boat Show in January.
We then decided to keep the price down.

You should see them for aroun £170 ish.
I would guess the ones for £300 have not caught up yet!!
 
Bought an Icom a few weeks ago at the new lower price with the 12v charge lead thrown in. The lead sells for around £10 ish but you could probably knock one up for around £2 from Maplin bits since it's just a piece of wire with a cigar lighter plug on one end & a small standard plug on the other. still if it's free why not.

Good radio. Waterproof. Easy to use. Standard issue for coastie too.
 
I also brought the i-com M31 with accessories for about £125. Find it easy to use and clear. Keep the extra battery pack loaded with duracell so I don't have to worry about it losing all charge. Seeing that you sail a wayfarer the best thing could be it's waterproof.
 
I use a Silva S12 as my primary radio. It has been dropped in the water more than once and even bounced off the roof of my car (don't ask!)

I also have the extra battery pack so you can use AA batteries if the unit loses its charge - it never has though.

I bought it for less than £90 here
 
one massive asdvantage of the icom products is that the gear is pretty good AND they respond well to problems - that jonbrooks below is a senior icom honcho in Kent whose nice posts about grr £160 quid products even manages to make me feel ok about having 2x icom M1V which i paid blimmin over £400 quid for tho ok it was a few years ago now (well, axctually bout eight years ago...) and altho one of them went iffy, they fixed it! So i am well into the icom. Altho er dunno if this is the same thing. Really, i want them to put the price up which will make me feel much much better...
 
It has to have a Li-Ion battery...

Whatever you get, it has to have a Li-Ion battery for optimum practicality. Entel HT640 and Icom M1V both have these batteries. The Entel is, I believe, a rebadged Standard Horizon - which doesn't mean it isn't good, but it does look rather old. So of those two, I'd go for the Icom M1V, one of the keenest prices being £170 inc delivery from Marine Superstore.

However, before you decide, take a look also at the Uniden Voyager. This appealingly tiny handheld has Li-Ion battery and full JIS7 waterproofing. It's available for £157 inc delivery from Rocket Radio's eBay shop.
 
Re: It has to have a Li-Ion battery...

I'd agree on the li-ion battery. I've just used my Entel on a 3 day club cruise during which it got a lot of use and didn't even make the battery indicator move. When I bought the Entel there was a huge price difference between the Entel and the equivalent Icom but it looks like Icom have responded to the challenge now. If I was buying again I'd take a serious look at the Icom. Not that the Entel has let me down in any way it's just that it now has some competition.
 
I posted my findings on this subject earlier here. Based on the tests in YM and PBO I bought the ENTEL. As an update, after almost 6 months of Winter Sportsboating use during which the radio and I have been completely submerged, it is still performing perfectly, including the 'free' fist-mike which came with it. I really wanted an ICOM EuroV, but I am very happy to have chosen the ENTEL.
 
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including the 'free' fist-mike which came with it.

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Does this allow a user to maintain a distance between antenna and skull when talking?
 
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Just had a look at the aforementioned Mr Brooks profile and it appears he is into Waliking... Funny that, so am I.. I think?

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Well spotted, never noticed that before.
Nor has anyone else!!
Best I change it!

Regards
 
No experience with the Entel, so won't comment on suitability ... however,
we have the Icom M1EuroV - it has been the primary radio for a couple of years and is/was used for just about anything that we needed a reliable radio for - including patrol boat duties in a small RIB where it regulaly got soaked.
Even took it to Croatia on a flotilla holiday and it performed better than their fixed VHF ....
The cheaper radios (including the Silva S12) have cheaper batteries - and if you intend to go down this route - because of the included 12v cable - check that it the radio will operate off the 12v cable and it isn't just a charging lead...
 
We currently use the Entel and it's been great. If I was buying again though I'd probably go for the Icom. The only reason being that with the Icom you can use 4AA batteries if required. Having that option would increase its use for me.
 
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