pcatterall
Well-known member
Looks like our old Midland Neptune 100 VHF has breathed its last! Any advice on a budget replacement.
What budget VHF please?
- Thread starter pcatterall
- Start date
KeelsonGraham
Well-known member
Standard Horizon stuff is good and not too pricey. But then again it all Depends on what you would deem as pricey!
Tranona
Well-known member
Standard Horizon GX14000
snowbird30ds
Well-known member
Forget budget vhf it's the first line of defense, standard horizon or icom every time, I've had an unreliable vhf and it puts you off going cheap for life.
Stemar
Well-known member
That's what I got. It works and is relatively inexpensive.
No need to spend more unless you need a remote mike.
pcatterall
Well-known member
Agree with the safety sentiment! Budget, to me, really meant a simple basic radio without unnecessary bells and whistles which I don't want to integrate into other devices.
pcatterall
Well-known member
Thanks all. The Standard horizon GX 1400 looks fine (and in budget!) I am seeing it at Force 4 for £178 which is the best price that I can see at the moment! Or marine Super Store £170
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seumask
Well-known member
If your buying on line Cactus Marine are good too, based in Plymouth and usually less than the main online Chandlers. Currently £ 161.95 for the Standard horizon GX 1400. I installed the next one up the GX 1800 with a remote mic at the start of this year. Really usefull the remote mic in the cockpit.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
2nd mic in the cockpit is definitely worth having in most cases.
ylop
Well-known member
Interesting question would be if you connect to the existing GPS (to give you position for the DSC) or if you get one with an integrated GPS which is less wiring. To me the ability to see the location of an incoming distress call on your plotter is a very sensible "integration" but obviously that requires the plotter and radio to both support that. Replacement is on my project list this winter because I want remote mike in the cockpit. I currently use a h/h for those duties (calling marinas, VTS, etc) but i'd prefer the h/h was a genuine backup.
Tranona
Well-known member
The one recommended does have an in built GPS which is one of the reasons I chose it. What it lacks is NMAE2000 and 2nd mic facility, but the OP does not want integration and as he has a motorsailor probably has the radio in the wheelhouse.
pcatterall
Well-known member
Spot on! though dog house not wheel house!
Tranona
Well-known member
Hope your dog enjoys having his or her own house. Ours has to share with us.
KeelsonGraham
Well-known member
As well as a decent unit like the GX1400 the next most important thing is a good aerial, with good cable connections, and mounted as high as you can get it.
Gsailor
...
Have you considered buying a handheld and using the masthead antenna (with an adapter to replace the rubber duck stubby antenna)?
I only mention this in case cost is of prime importance. A handheld with its antenna has a very limited range, but use the mast head antenna and it is better. Of course you may not get 25 watts out of a handheld (5 watts used to be the standard - but antenna height made up for a lot).
I had a basic icom ship radio and two Horizon handhelds (with the emergency antenna and adapter ready for ship radio and handheld - that used the Nicklebased battery OR AA batteries - I like built in redundancy) - I obviously splashed out ( although icom was second hand).
I only mention this in case cost is of prime importance. A handheld with its antenna has a very limited range, but use the mast head antenna and it is better. Of course you may not get 25 watts out of a handheld (5 watts used to be the standard - but antenna height made up for a lot).
I had a basic icom ship radio and two Horizon handhelds (with the emergency antenna and adapter ready for ship radio and handheld - that used the Nicklebased battery OR AA batteries - I like built in redundancy) - I obviously splashed out ( although icom was second hand).
Gsailor
...
Marine super store used to have a bad reputation- going back many years, so could have been sorted by now.
IT IS LIKELY THAT I AM MISTAKEN ABOUT THE REPUTATION OF MARINE SUPER STORE - see a few posts below.
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Adrian62
Member
Try Catus navigation £161.95
Gsailor
...
One of my Horizon handhelds played up - customer service was excellent (surprisingly) and they fixed the radio free of charge.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
I suspect you are mistaken, Marine Mega Store was the one with the bad reputation.
