Standard Horizon Fixed VHF - best price?

[John100156]

Looking to buy a Standard Horizon GX2100 Fixed VHF shortly, anyone know of any good deals floating around on SH kit at the moment?

Couldn't get to LIBS this year as I was on the boat in Spain!

I have tried the MES Website but it doesn't seem to be working?

 

[Hurricane]

Try here, John

http://www.jgtech.com/webshop.htm
I got my Standard Horizon handheld from him

FWIW - I think Standard Hoizon kit is top quality at a very affordable price.
They've been building radios for donkeys years as well.

 

[John100156]

Thanks Mike, I did have them bookmarked but not for VHF. I will give them a call tomorrow, must book some flights this weekend, I wonder if Castellon Airport will be open soon! Doubtful....

 

[ontheplane]

I got mine from a dealer in Bristol - I just rang him and told him a best web price which he matched. Just shop round on the web, find the 2 or 3 cheapest then ring each and ask what their best price is.

 

[Who]

MES site is working ok now. Look like they have stock

I bought an icom 505 with command mic from them. Good people

Easy to install on an F43.

 

[John100156]

MES site is working ok now. Look like they have stock

I bought an icom 505 with command mic from them. Good people

Easy to install on an F43.

Still can't see MES website using iPad/Safari at www.mesltd.co.uk for some reason, will try from PC tomorrow.

Yes, the install should not be a problem but my lower helm dash is a bit busy what with the Echopilot+Navtex printer and other equipment. I would prefer it to go nearer port side of helm rather than STB, you can then reach it quickly from the galley/saloon if needed. I may relocate the printer.....

 

[PaulGooch]

Still can't see MES website using iPad/Safari at www.mesltd.co.uk for some reason, will try from PC tomorrow.

Yes, the install should not be a problem but my lower helm dash is a bit busy what with the Echopilot+Navtex printer and other equipment. I would prefer it to go nearer port side of helm rather than STB, you can then reach it quickly from the galley/saloon if needed. I may relocate the printer.....

The VHF set has AIS out, so should display the AIS info overlaid on your plotter. You really need three spare NMEA ports to get the best from it though (two if you only use DSC on the VHF and want the AIS data on your plotter).

If the helm is short on space, how about fitting the main set somewhere else and fitting a RAM mic at the helm ?

http://www.standardhorizon.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=178_173&products_id=100021

 

[John100156]

Yes, I looked at that on the SH website. The AIS is a useful feature and this VHF looks like an excellent piece of kit, I was going to get a RAM anyway for the upper helm on FB. Might be worth swapping around, although I am a set on keeping the main set at the lower helm at the moment.

I only have the old Ratheon Chartplotter but have an NMEA/Seatalk converter so will be looking into whether/how I can interface them all later, but thanks for the heads-up.

 

[henryf]

With regard your desire to fit on the port side of the dash so it can be reached from the kitchen would that not mean every time you use it underway - which is going to be the majority, you have to stretch over and possibly interfere with the person sat with you on the helm seat. You will also be stretching the unit's cable.

Surely far better to fit on the stbd side and on the odd occasion you need to use it whilst not under way pop up onto the helm seat?

Henry

 

[Hurricane]

With regard your desire to fit on the port side of the dash so it can be reached from the kitchen would that not mean every time you use it underway - which is going to be the majority, you have to stretch over and possibly interfere with the person sat with you on the helm seat. You will also be stretching the unit's cable.

Surely far better to fit on the stbd side and on the odd occasion you need to use it whilst not under way pop up onto the helm seat?

Henry

You have to remember that we use the VHF in port as a kinda telephone. I wouldnt want John having to stretch too far whenever I call him at breakfast

 

[Hurricane]

John

The old plotters wont display any AIS data but I think you already know that.

 

[jfm]

If you ever decide to create more dash space by selling the Navtex printer I'd happily buy it off you. I luv em. No rush; I have one in stock ready for my next boat but after that I've run out

 

[slipknot]

Marine superstore Port Solent. £289.95 delivered.

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99275419++++++++++++

 

[John100156]

With regard your desire to fit on the port side of the dash so it can be reached from the kitchen would that not mean every time you use it underway - which is going to be the majority, you have to stretch over and possibly interfere with the person sat with you on the helm seat. You will also be stretching the unit's cable.

Surely far better to fit on the stbd side and on the odd occasion you need to use it whilst not under way pop up onto the helm seat?

Henry

The handset to the existing VHF, fitted standard to the F43, is to the left of the switch panel to the port side of the helm, excellent position IMO. I was going to fit the new unit higher up to take advantage of the additional display features supported by this unit. I will decide when I have it on board. I may consider a position to STB where the cup holder currently sits, but will likely just remove the Navtex printer, I could always fit some connectors to make it a plug-in device!

Anyway that's the plan for now - hope to shop around this weekend! So if any VHF distributors are reading this thread and want to help out by selling me a unit cheaply, I will put in a good word to my little friend:

As Mike says, we do use VHF quite a bit in our marina, particularly for contacting each other or when we're going out to raft-up or play in the lagoon outside SCM. You can even call Xiringuito's the restaurant on stilts located nearby.

 

[kennythejoiner]

I recently fitted one to mine its the modal with a bigger screen GX2100E and it was so easy to overlay on to the plotter as well got it here http://www.electronics-marine.co.uk/product.asp?catid=48&productid=1318

 

[John100156]

I recently fitted one to mine its the modal with a bigger screen GX2100E and it was so easy to overlay on to the plotter as well got it here http://www.electronics-marine.co.uk/product.asp?catid=48&productid=1318

Thanks Ken, I had seen Redcar before but did not have them bookmarked. So another one to call!

The GX2100E is the VHF I'm going for, whats your opinion of its performance? All pretty similar, but the AIS feature is a bonus. I had AIS on my Targa 34 but do not have it on my F43. I notice you have an open cockpit, what's the screen resolution like in sunlight?

 

[kennythejoiner]

Thanks Ken, I had seen Redcar before but did not have them bookmarked. So another one to call!

The GX2100E is the VHF I'm going for, whats your opinion of its performance? All pretty similar, but the AIS feature is a bonus. I had AIS on my Targa 34 but do not have it on my F43. I notice you have an open cockpit, what's the screen resolution like in sunlight?

As been said before SH are renowned for there VHF, and with my plotter coming from the same company it was just a mater of plugging it in ... as for the sunlight its only a problem if its coming through the side window as you can only swivel it so far...

 

[John100156]

John

The old plotters wont display any AIS data but I think you already know that.

Yes, I thought so, but it will interface with an E7D and iPad, which I hope to install later this year. Then again, if I do, I will need to upgrade the Radome.... It never ends...... May just settle for: AIS on VHF, retain old Plotter(s)/radar and use my iPad with Navionics as a back-up. I expect I could cobble up the AIS feed into a PC, decisions, decisions.

The Navtex printer is good, when I first bought the boat I was able to print off journeys undertaken by previous owner, it was good to see how often and the general manner in which the boat was used all good fun...

Thanks to all for responses, all coming in around £290ish any other links gratefully received. Hope to phone around Sat/Mon.

 

[Hurricane]

John

Have you seen these

http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...643BA843213FE8B8DD6&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

 

[Hurricane]

Or its bigger brother
http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...DF294C496C0D48585D6&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

With 2 extra video inputs - maybe a PC fed into one?
Not sure if you can join 2 of these plotters together.

There's an interesting emulator you can download which gives a prety good feel of how it works.