BIG.SMOKE
Active Member
Can someone please advise me on the best radio around the £50-£60 Handheld if possible as I will need to charge away from the boat.
Cheers,
B.
Cheers,
B.
What budget VHF radio?
- Thread starter BIG.SMOKE
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
If you're really going for minimum cost, I suspect it'll be a case of taking whatever's going cheap on the day. I reckon most middling to cheaper VHFs are much of a muchness anyway. You'll probably end up with Cobra; they're OK.
Pete
Pete
BIG.SMOKE
Active Member
In whcih case, maybe I'll go for a unit for a bit more £100?. Any particular brand I should look out for on ebay? Horizon?
prv
Well-Known Member
Dunno, I bought the cheap one 
Pete
Pete
jwilson
Well-Known Member
At about £90 each, I have two Cobras, one now five years old, the other bought last year. These are not the £50 ones, which are lower powered. The Cobra ones at £90 approx have all the channels and 1/6 watt power, and both work very well.
The newer Cobra was to replace a Silva M298 cheapie, that was complete rubbish.
Gumpy
Well-Known Member
Two radios I have used that are both sub £100 if you shop around
Midland Neptune 100
http://www.force4.co.uk/7542/Midland-Neptune-100-DSC-VHF-radio.html
Cobra f55
http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/Na...ed-/Cobra-F55-Fixed-Waterproof-DSC-VHF-Radio/
Cobra has slightly better audio, Midland has ATIS
Ripster
Well-Known Member
Why not stretch a few quid more and get a decent Icom.
prv
Well-Known Member
Let's turn the question round. Why stretch a few more quid and buy an Icom?
(OP is clearly on a budget, but I'm also somewhat curious as to whether it really is worth paying more for a well-respected brand or whether VHF radios have become commodity items. On Top Gear a while ago they opined that you cannot buy a bad (new) car these days, merely some that are better than others. I suspect VHFs may be the same.)
Pete
Fire99
Well-Known Member
Standard Horizon HX280e. You can pick them up for around 80 quid and to be honest, I can't think you'd want much more in a VHF Handheld.
I have an older 270 and it's brilliant.
I have an older 270 and it's brilliant.
sjoukje
Member
+1
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Me too, at the price you cannot beat them.
aluijten
Well-Known Member
And to put some more discussion in the group. I bought a brand new Icom M505 and it seems the receiving part of the VHF is not working properly. Reception of any transmitter more then 200 mtr. away is not possible.
Then again, the local distributor in Holland is helping me in every way to resolve the matter. The unit is at their place for repair at present.
I know, I know, it's an isolated occurrence as I bought several things from Icom the past years and all of them worked flawlessly...
Then again, the local distributor in Holland is helping me in every way to resolve the matter. The unit is at their place for repair at present.
I know, I know, it's an isolated occurrence as I bought several things from Icom the past years and all of them worked flawlessly...
pvb
Well-Known Member
At that price, your best bet is the Standard Horizon 280e at about £99 (whoever suggested it's about £80 has been looking at ex-VAT prices!). The 280e is waterproof and has a Li-Ion battery, both important features in a handheld.
Black Sheep
Well-Known Member
I had a Midland Neptune - hated it for a number of reasons (most of which I've forgotten now, though I recall it being a real pain whenever there was any kind of DSC alert). But it stopped working when I most needed it; I think because of a small amount of moisture.
Handheld Cobra excellent, but of course doesn't have the range of a fixed set with mast-top antenna.
Vara
Well-Known Member
If you have to take the radio off the boat to charge, then I would get one with an AA battery tray as well as the rechargeable tray, so that you always have backup.
I have a Cobra with this facility and it has proved to be an excellent little set.
(I thought I'd already replied to this post, cracking up).
I have a Cobra with this facility and it has proved to be an excellent little set.
(I thought I'd already replied to this post, cracking up).
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
For ambitious coastal cruising in very little boats, I'm supposing that both full-waterproofing and ability to float, are basic essentials...I don't want a lesser model in a ziplock bag, or a bigger, bolt-on unit in areas exposed to impacts. Does reliability/integrity of floatation/waterproofing greatly increase cost, in handhelds from decent manufacturers?
prv
Well-Known Member
Waterproofing, certainly, but I've never been that convinced by the floating idea.
If I drop a handheld over the side (which doesn't seem all that likely in the first place) I doubt I'm going to be able to retrieve it even if it is floating. We talk about an MOB's head being hard to keep in sight, but it's a hell of a lot bigger and more visible than a small black box floating awash - you'd lose that within yards unless it was flat calm. And if you do get back to it - ever tried picking a radio up with a boathook?
Possibly useful around tenders and pontoons, but I wouldn't expect to be using a radio there in the first place (others might).
Buoyancy also makes a radio bulkier.
If you want one in a dinghy that might capsize, better off with some kind of cradle/clip or at least a lanyard.
Pete
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Haven't-a-Clue
Well-Known Member
Seajet
...
I made a HUGE mistake buying my waterproof handheld; I didn't try it first. I cannot overstate how important this is, I have a Silva S12 which is so user-unfriendly it's just about useless - the switchology is more important than ultimate power etc, the squelch on this thing is either loud roar or everything off !
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Bought a SH270 for £50 new. Inc battery tray for AA cells. Hardly use it, but no probs. West Marine (where I got it ) suggest that few are actually water proof, even if they suggest that they are. So if dinghy sailing or other wet situation. Best get a pouch as well.
Caveat: I bought it in the US at 2$/£ (those were the days..) I had looked at the Midland kit. But it felt a bit cheap, despite its good rep in CB field. The SH stuff feels solid and the controls good, even if it is a bit menu lead.
Seajet, hope you are better, need more A 22 exposure on here..
Caveat: I bought it in the US at 2$/£ (those were the days..) I had looked at the Midland kit. But it felt a bit cheap, despite its good rep in CB field. The SH stuff feels solid and the controls good, even if it is a bit menu lead.
Seajet, hope you are better, need more A 22 exposure on here..
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