Simrad RD68 VHF Radio

[tinkicker0]

Did my VHF course using this type and got on well with its well thought out menus and alphanumeric keypad. It also oozed quality.

The price at £300 give or take is a bit eyewatering though for an item that is used on a river and probably will never be used in anger.

I have looked at cheaper Icom's and cobra's but they all have multifunction "smart keys", which I have a loathing of.
with the simrad, one only had to press key 7 and key 2, then the enter key to swap channels to 72.

Anyone know of a dsc set with a similar keypad setup without the £300 price tag?

cheers.

 

[Badger]

Standard Horizon GX3000E DSC VHF

Anyone know of a dsc set with a similar keypad setup without the £300 price tag?cheers.

What about one of these for around £180.00 ?

 

[30boat]

Did my VHF course using this type and got on well with its well thought out menus and alphanumeric keypad. It also oozed quality.

The price at £300 give or take is a bit eyewatering though for an item that is used on a river and probably will never be used in anger.

I have looked at cheaper Icom's and cobra's but they all have multifunction "smart keys", which I have a loathing of.
with the simrad, one only had to press key 7 and key 2, then the enter key to swap channels to 72.

Anyone know of a dsc set with a similar keypad setup without the £300 price tag?

cheers.

Mine has been nothing but trouble.If you're willing to get it repaired I'll gladly give it to you.

 

[tinkicker0]

Thanks Badger and thanks for the offer and the heads up 30boat. What is going wrong with it?
I'll avoid the simrad like the plague if they are unreliable in the real world.

 

[tinkicker0]

OK, looking at the Cobra F80 now, plenty of one touch operations apparently.

Anyone have one of these, are they any good, reliable, easy to use even for a dummy like me?

 

[bobgoode]

After 8 years of use....solid and reliable but....keys and display are getting smaller(!) and the annoying design that only gives you 2 seconds to press the next key before the system reverts to previous settings.

 

[30boat]

Thanks Badger and thanks for the offer and the heads up 30boat. What is going wrong with it?
I'll avoid the simrad like the plague if they are unreliable in the real world.

The first time it went wrong was because the frequencies shifted and it had to be reprogramed or something.Now it seems to be working but I get nothing from it.The TX sign comes on when I press the switch but I think it's not emitting.I'm getting an Icom.

 

[DanTribe]

Mine has been nothing but trouble.If you're willing to get it repaired I'll gladly give it to you.

Mine has given approx 8 years trouble free service. The only time it stopped working was when struck by lightning, even then Simrad repaired [or replaced] FOC.
No complants with quality or service.

 

[tinkicker0]

Thanks all, I'm going for the Cobra F80.

Just can't see the point of laying out £300 on a unit that will only see use on a river and then very sporadically. Knowing my luck, Patrick the Pikey would have it away within two days of fitting it.

I did love the Simrad tho. Had a feeling of quality very reminiscent of my old Honda VFR750.


thanks again.