Standard Horizon GX2200E - Any good?

[GHA]

I'm big fan of my 2150 plus ram mic in the cockpit. As others have said the ais display isn't huge, but in the Thames where there's not much traffic and it sticks to the channels it was still very useful. Only downside is it's quite thirsty, over half an amp in standby.

 

[chubby]

Folk speak highly of the SH sets, are the ICOM sets for a similar spec any better or worse, I have a SH but somehow wonder if ICOM is any better? Also is the key radio circuitry in these sets from any given manufacturer similar and the difference in price just the add ons like GPS and AIS or do you get any better radio performance for paying more? My SH is fine but seems to give lots of squelch static for weak stations compared to it`s predecessor a Furuno set.

 

[Keel]

Good link but just muddies the water for me.

I suppose it would depend on how little I could buy an Hp-33a for. Best price I've seen is £280 so far.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marine-GPS-Matsutec-HP-33A-AIS-Transponder-/321958712033

Seems a prtetty good price.

 

[Toutvabien]

I installed a Standard Horizon 2200, with remote cockpit command mic, on our boat last summer and it has proved to be a real success. We used it for a number of crossings of the Thames Estuary and Channel last summer and the AIS was a very useful aid to navigation. For the first couple of trips we just used the AIS information from the radio and command mic, on later trips had it wired up to our B and G Zeus Chartplotter.

As somebody else commented the GPS function is very good and it usually gets a fix in less than a minute mounted down in our cabin. The AIS data was usuable from the radio and mic but much much better when displayed on the chartplotter.

At some point we may fit an AIS transponder but I am not sure that I feel that it is needed, although in some countries it seems that an AIS transmitter is now a requirement, having radar and AIS on the boat I now feel reasonably confident that I can keep out of the way of any of the big stuff that may try and hurt me.

 

[prv]

Folk speak highly of the SH sets, are the ICOM sets for a similar spec any better or worse

I've mostly had Standard Horizon, plus NASA (bit crap, DSC features missing), Cobra (very sturdy, better than most people give them credit for), and Simrad RD58 (sold before using it much, but didn't really like). So no experience of Icom. But I get the impression they're of about the same quality as Standard Horizon. SH is just the marine brand of Yaesu, and Yaesu and Icom are the global radio makers for all sorts of fields.

Icom used to have a reputation for fiddly and complex DSC controls, but I believe they've brought out a completely new menu system since then so that probably no longer applies.

Pete

 

[pvb]

I'd agree that Standard Horizon and Icom are the main brands, primarily because radios are their main business. In terms of spec, you essentially get what you pay for, regardless of brand. Cheaper sets may well have inferior audio quality; more expensive sets may have additional tempting features.

One thing not mentioned in this thread so far is the sophistication of current handheld radios. I got a Standard Horizon HX870E last year, and it's very impressive, with DSC and GPS built in. For many owners of smaller boats, it may be a more convenient alternative to a fixed set.

 

[rogerthebodger]

One thing not mentioned in this thread so far is the sophistication of current handheld radios. I got a Standard Horizon HX870E last year, and it's very impressive, with DSC and GPS built in. For many owners of smaller boats, it may be a more convenient alternative to a fixed set.

I purchased a UNIDEN handheld radio some years ago that also has DSC and GPS same as the HX870E which I also think is very good. I attach my UNIDEN HH to my life jacket if I am on night watch on my own so that I can simply press the Big Red Button if I go over the side and all DSC radios in the area will receive a MOB alarm including the boat I fell off. My radio as most DSC radios can also send location updates to the main radio and in my case this position will show up on my OpenCPN chart plotter.

 

[Peroo]

Installed a GX2000 in 2012 - excellent radio with DSC, cockpit mike and AIS.

Very happy with it and, yes the AIS does drive you nuts at times, but it's a small price for a great piece of kit.

 

[Ufolover]

Hi some great comments on the SH2200e and quite impressed so far, just purchased one and looking to connect it up to my tablet that I use as a chart plotter through the 9 pin serial port connector, can anyone give me any advise?

 

[prv]

Hi some great comments on the SH2200e and quite impressed so far, just purchased one and looking to connect it up to my tablet that I use as a chart plotter through the 9 pin serial port connector, can anyone give me any advise?

Can't help with the tablet end of things, but it probably makes sense to use the mode where the radio shoves everything (AIS, DSC, and optionally GPS if your tablet doesn't have its own) down one channel at 34.8kbps. That's the grey (+) and brown (-) wires.

You then need to change a couple of settings in the menu - see the top half of page 94 in the manual and choose 34800 bps to put all the output onto the one channel. If you need GPS output as well as AIS and DSC, see page 125.

Pete

 

[Ufolover]

Thanks for that Pete, but there are 5 wires (blue, grey, brown, red &white from memory) coming out of the VHF, was wondering what ones I need to connect to the nine pin DB9 lead and what colours/pins to get the VHF Ais and GPS to work on open on on my London chart plotter bought tough book running navionics charts if that makes sense?

 

[prv]

Thanks for that Pete, but there are 5 wires (blue, grey, brown, red &white from memory) coming out of the VHF, was wondering what ones I need to connect

I told you, grey and brown.

Pete