VHF radio replacement

[petedg]

For next season we want to replace our ageing VHF radio. We don't need AIS, however was wondering how effective a radio with internal GPS aerial is at picking up a signal. The radio will be located down below. Was considering the Standard Horizon GX-1700E. Any thoughts or recommendations on particular models?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[mattnj]

For next season we want to replace our ageing VHF radio. We don't need AIS, however was wondering how effective a radio with internal GPS aerial is at picking up a signal. The radio will be located down below. Was considering the Standard Horizon GX-1700E. Any thoughts or recommendations on particular models?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

there is a magazie article somewhere showing the GPS signal below decks on a Standard Horizon and it outperformed most exterior receivers!
Go for the Remote mic too on the helm, they are fantastic.

 

[Aardee]

I've a GX-1700E at the chart table in my (GRP) boat, and the GPS gets a fix quicker than the plotter mounted outside!

 

[prv]

Standard Horizon is a good choice. They have a good heritage (in parent company Yaesu) of making good radio circuits. Their kit seems well made and IMHO looks good. And their DSC menus are reportedly easier to use than Icom (though I haven't tried the latter myself).

Unless you have a small boat that allows you to reach the radio through the hatch from the tiller, then there's a lot to be said for a remote handset in the cockpit. I wouldn't be without one now.

The more knobs you have, versus up/down buttons, the better. So three knobs for volume/squelch/channel is the best, but if you have to accept channel up/down buttons then volume and squelch knobs at least means each function has a dedicated control you can instantly access. Otherwise you first have to click through to the right mode before adjusting up and down.

Internal GPS is probably ok in a fibreglass boat - a puck glued to the underneath of the deck somehow seems better than an aerial built-in to a radio installed in a chart table panel, but I can't really see why it should make a difference. In any case, I believe the SH radios with internal GPS do have connections for an external one if it should prove necessary.

Pete

 

[pvb]

For next season we want to replace our ageing VHF radio. We don't need AIS, however was wondering how effective a radio with internal GPS aerial is at picking up a signal. The radio will be located down below. Was considering the Standard Horizon GX-1700E. Any thoughts or recommendations on particular models?

If you want an integral GPS, you don't have much choice. Although you say you don't want AIS, I'd suggest you look at the SH GX2200E rather than the GX1700E. The 2200E has a built-in dual channel AIS receiver, with some limited display capabilities, as well as an integral GPS. I see you have an e7 chartplotter, and this will display AIS info. The 2200E is only £120 more than the 1700E, a lot cheaper than buying a decent separate AIS receiver, and no worries about aerial splitters, etc.

 

[ghostlymoron]

There was a very good review of the SH GX2200E in Yachting Monthly last month that's the one I'd get with remote command mike. However if you've already got AIS, you don't really need another. Having an internal GPS makes installation easier.
When DSC was introduced, GPS was expensive so it was economic to take a feed from another device, however they're now cheap as the proverbial so can be integral without increasing the cost prohibitively.

 

[prv]

I certainly agree with pvb that if you don't have AIS already and there is any possibility that you might want it in the future, it's worth getting a radio with it built in. This avoids all the hassle of extra aerials, splitters, cabling, etc. Unless you already have some kind of aerial-encrusted goalpost at the stern, to which adding an extra aerial would be trivial, a single masthead aerial with a direct lead into the back of the radio, and then three receiver circuits (AIS, DSC, voice), is the best way to do AIS on a yacht in my opinion. No coincidence that it's what I have, of course . In my case a SH GX2100 as the 2200 didn't exist at the time.

To be clear, the intention isn't that you use the radio to display AIS data - the screen is too small and the controls too primitive to be useful. Rather, you take the AIS feed out the back of it into a separate display, either a plotter or a dedicated AIS display. If you don't have such a display yet then the AIS output can lay dormant until you do.

Pete

 

[lw395]

.....
Internal GPS is probably ok in a fibreglass boat -...

Pete

Probably fine, until there's big seas and heavy spray on the deck.
I.e., until you most need it to work.

 

[NUTMEG]

Probably fine, until there's big seas and heavy spray on the deck.
I.e., until you most need it to work.

Interesting. Could you supply more details?

I have had SH DSC/VHF with inbuilt GPS below decks on two boats (one of them wooden) and on current boat have an 180i CP with inbuilt GPS linked to a 2100, my son has SH combined DSC/GPS/VHF below decks on his 22 footer. Neither of us have ever had a problem with GPS, AIS or VHF reception in any conditions.

Would be interested to hear under what circumstances you base your comment.

Cheers

Steve

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

My SH180i lives at the chart table. Boat (Centurion 32) is fibreglass hull, deck and headlining moulding. Never had any problems with GPS performance.

 

[lpdsn]

I have to admit to being very impressed with the SH VHF I fitted in the spring. 2100 in my case, so can't comment on the GPS reception, but with an unchanged VHF aerial & cable the improvement in reception is pretty good. Twice this year I've picked up Holyhead Coastguard & Stornoway Coastguard quite clearly within minutes of each other.

 

[[70521]]

I purchased a Standard Horizon GX1700E last winter and have been impressed with the GPS fix.

 

[petedg]

I certainly agree with pvb that if you don't have AIS already and there is any possibility that you might want it in the future, it's worth getting a radio with it built in. This avoids all the hassle of extra aerials, splitters, cabling, etc. Unless you already have some kind of aerial-encrusted goalpost at the stern, to which adding an extra aerial would be trivial, a single masthead aerial with a direct lead into the back of the radio, and then three receiver circuits (AIS, DSC, voice), is the best way to do AIS on a yacht in my opinion. No coincidence that it's what I have, of course . In my case a SH GX2100 as the 2200 didn't exist at the time.

To be clear, the intention isn't that you use the radio to display AIS data - the screen is too small and the controls too primitive to be useful. Rather, you take the AIS feed out the back of it into a separate display, either a plotter or a dedicated AIS display. If you don't have such a display yet then the AIS output can lay dormant until you do.

Pete

We already have AIS so its not wort spending the extra, from all the positive responses on the 1700E it would seem to be a good buy. Now need to find the best price!
Thanks to everyone for your answers.

 

[pvb]

We already have AIS so its not wort spending the extra, from all the positive responses on the 1700E it would seem to be a good buy. Now need to find the best price!
Thanks to everyone for your answers.

You didn't list AIS on your blog, which is why I suggested it! You'll probably find that the cheapest UK supplier is JG Tech, at £189 plus £3.50 UK delivery.

 

[petedg]

You didn't list AIS on your blog, which is why I suggested it! You'll probably find that the cheapest UK supplier is JG Tech, at £189 plus £3.50 UK delivery.

I overlooked it pvb, thanks for the reminder to get it done!

 

[rogerthebodger]

We already have AIS so its not wort spending the extra, from all the positive responses on the 1700E it would seem to be a good buy. Now need to find the best price!
Thanks to everyone for your answers.

I also already have AIS so I and going for the GX2000 with RS232 GPS mouse that I also already have.

http://www.milltechmarine.com/Standard-Horizon-Matrix-GX2000-VHF-Radio-AIS-Display_p_201.html