VHF with built in GPS

[Drascomber]

I have been putting off getting getting a fixed VHF due to the dreaded DSC. Presumably I need another course which with course fees and petrol for a trip from Thames valley to the South Coast will double the cost of the radio.

Anyhow, the time has come. It seems to me that the main user benefit of DSC is the red button. If that is so, then I am surprised that the radios don't come with GPS built in. I don't want to interface my hand held GPS to the radio and the only fixed VHF I can find with GPS is an ICOM model which as an extra comes with a small external GPS antenna.

Are there any alternative 25w solutions?

 

[rogerthebodger]

The only VHF I found with GPS is here but I see it is now discontinued but it is not a fixed set but HH

 

[nimbusgb]

The only trouble with a built in GPS is that it would need a GPS antenna and would add £30 to £50 at least to the cost of a radio.

 

[Skyva_2]

You ought to be able to find a VHF course closer than the South Coast.

Look at the RYA training centre web pages.

http://www.rya.org.uk/getonthewater/Pages/FindAFacility.aspx?facility=Training

(I don't run them!)

 

[elton]

Just buy an old, cheap, unfashionable 2nd hand GPS (such as a Garmin GPS45) and hard wire it to the radio (thus saving the cost of the cable too). You could probably get a GPS45 for less than a tenner. It can be powered directly from the boat battery.
That's what I did.

 

[Otter]

PBO did a mini review of a great integrated unit a couple of months ago but I can't find the details. It was a fixed 25W VHF with inbuilt GPS and the ability to store waypoints with a go to function (a simple course to steer number, not a graphical interface). Looked a really nice unit - but I can't remember the make.

 

[planteater]

For DSC training I would recommend the National Sea Training School at Dartford college. Ass well as being closer they tend to be cheaper than commercial trainers.

 

[William_H]

I tend to agree with your reasoning Drascomber. VHF radios and electronics tend to be fairly reliable until you get to the input output cables. A GPS wired to the VHF would be far less reliable than a VHF with built in GPS. That is without consideration of compatability and language difficulties.
A GPS engine is quite cheap to a manufacturer. So I would go for VHF with GPS and a Survival beacon also with GPS built in again for reliability and stand alone ness. olewill

 

[minquiers]

standard horizon do one, but it is not available in the uk, i looked at this last year, it is available in america, but i put a post on here,and was told it could not be used legally in the uk, have a look at standards site

 

[timbartlett]

Despite all the propaganda, you do *not* have to have DSC. Assuming you are not a commercial vessel, the only requirement is that manufacturers are not allowed to sell anything that is not capable of being connected to a DSC controller.
There are still a few perfectly legitimate non-DSC radios available. The one that springs to mind is the Icom ICM401.
And if you decide to do the course, there are several establishments much closer to you than the south coast (Bisham Abbey, near Marlow?). It's not too onerous, and many old hands who do it just to "upgrade" find that it is a useful refresher.
All the best