VHF recomendation

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mel80

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I'm going to be replacing my VHF with a new DSC radio sometime soon. Does anyone have any recomendations (or warnings). My preferences are:
1. That it isn't too pricey.
2. That the mic is as uncluttered as possible. ideally just a PTT button, with all the other controls on the main unit.
3. That the position is easy to enter manually; the unit won't be connected to a GPS, so something that's easy to update when filling in the log would be handy.

Any advice gratefully recieved.
 
A non-recommendation for a Simrad RD68. A lot of menu-button pressing to enter positions manually (to the extent that I doubt you'd do it in an emergency). Mine is GPS connected, so that is not a problem. The bigger irritation is how awkward it is to select channel 37 (M1/P1) - again a series of menu-presses
 
Second the M421, very user friendly, though not used it for entering position.
 
Ok, thanks for the recomendations and warnings. I've had a look at the M 421. Seems good, but I notice that it doesn't have a numeric keypad. Does this not make entering positions a bit laborious, or am I asking a for bit much from the cheaper end of the market?
 
I have a Standard Horizon Quest. Cheap robust and simple to use. It's cheap enough ($117 www.defenderus.com) to buy a small hand held GPs to connect to it for position info. I have my old Garmin12 tacked on. It has all the European channels.
Added advantage - and IMHO the best bit - is the optional remote mic which means I can use the radio while at the wheel.
 
We have just bought a Standard Horizon GX1500E - great set and controls appear very intuitive.

If looking for a numeric keypad, you will find (from my experiences when looking recently):

a) Numeric Keypad is on the mic - one of your unwants!
b) The keypad is on the unit, and consequently the unit is much bigger than a standard unit - and also they tend to cost more!

Suggest you connect the VHF to a portable GPS (you can pick up a Garmin 12 or simalar on ebay for under £40) then you wouldn't need to enter positions.
Also, the time when you really need your position in the VHF is when sending distress calls - at this point you'll have no time to spare to enter your position by hand. Wouldn't a connection to a GPS set be easier?

Jonny
 
Some good recomendations there. Thanks.

I can see the advantages of connecting it to a GPS, and perhaps I will in time. Thing is, I'm not the most experienced navigator in the world, and I'd like to resist the temptation of having a GPS for a bit. Until I get a bit more experience with the basics at least.

As to safety, I've sailed on a boat without a GPS before; updating the radio everytime the log was filled in seemed to be a reasonable compromise, and not too much trouble to do.
 
To enter a position manually in an emergency will be quite a job, for £79 you can purchase a handheld GPS to transfer the position. Then any of the current VHF radios, from £89 upwards are available. Try Piplers of Poole.
 
Whilst there are some very cheap sets out ther you get what you pay for.

The Icom M421 and our GX-1500 are about the same price.
Both these units come with a three year warranty most, if not all the cheap ones don't.
I guess that shows confidence in the radio from the makers.

The GX-1500 comes with the flush kit and a front dust cover in the box.

Big differences between these two is the GX-1500 has a much bigger display, rotary knobb for channel change ( M421 has up/down buttons).
The GX-1500 can also take a second station command mic and in the recent PBO review beat the other sets on offer.

Both are good sets so it would come down to which of the suits your needs the best.

Would also agree and recomend a cheap GPS plugged in to the radio.
Whilst you may have the easiest radio in the world to fly when it comes down to it you don't want to be fussing about entering your lat and long if you have an emergency, def worth £80-100 for a simple hand held GPS like the Etrek.

All the best
 
[ QUOTE ]
2. That the mic is as uncluttered as possible. ideally just a PTT button, with all the other controls on the main unit.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to admit that I thought like this once. I thought all the buttons on the radio was best.

Until I bought my navman 7200 2 years ago. The ability to control the radio without having to stand over it is actually really handy. My radio is by the companion-way and I can control the conversation without leaving the helm.

I would not automatically discount this feature, I realise it seems different to what we were used to, but some change can be good. If you are worried about the mic being muffled as it is not as exposed, I have so far not been advised that I could not be understood by a recipient. As the recipient in the tender I find my crew come through loud and clear.

Just thought you might like to know.
 
If you are not going to connect to GPS it seems somewhat pointless to get a DSC radio, because at the moment this is the biggest advantage it has.
 
what, like this? :

"In the interests of a balanced view....
I have had my S15 for a year. It is a little quirky in the Navtex Menu, but OK to use and reception has been good.
It did not want to show the GPS info at first, but a call to the helpful people at the call centre had a powered cable in my hand free within 2 days. A doddle to fit.
The operation of the main set is easy, but the DSC alarms are EFFING loud, as they should be I spose. Choose to wire an external speaker with an on/off switch, and choose external at night, and switch it off. This means you get uninterrupted Navtex all night without the potential of a screech.
You will get used to the fistmike operation, because the keyboard is on it. Promise.

Summing up: Its quirky but it works.
I also have a JRC Radar, so I do quirky quite well.

All in all very well featured set including Navtex for 229 quid. Must be a bargain."

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[ QUOTE ]
what, like this? :

"In the interests of a balanced view....

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[/ QUOTE ]

With all due respect thats what I was trying to do.

I try very hard to make that happen.

All the best
 
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