what handhelf VHF have you got and what would you recommend please?

rbmatthews said:
We have the HX851E also. Very pleased with it; the only complaint is that the screen is easily scratched - ours was inadvertantly left upside down on the GRP, bounced up and down for a bit, and ended up with so many scratches on the screen that the lower part of the display is now unreadable. Its probably best to leave the protective film on or make sure that it always is screen side up.
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Some screen protectors claim to mask scratches, might be worth a try? buy one and cut it down to size...

Google also has some fixes for scratched screens...
 
Standard Horizon HX851E for me. I have gone through a lot of reviews on Net and found this is the best one IMO. Having a VHF/GPS, waterproof and easy to use is a great feeling you are secure when dinghing to your mooring by a spring tide :cool:

I saw some complains about the short battery life but I have NEVER seen the low battery sign on screen. I use it for day sailing, about 6-8 of use a day, volume at level 3 and I have never had any problem with the battery. It takes about 4-5 hours to recharge.

I highly suggest anyone having this radio to buy a second charging cradle with 12v cigarette plug (to charge on your boat, just in case), plus a spare AAA batteries case. This cost you an extra £50 but gives you a huge security improvement. Total cost would be about £240.

By the way, this radio has some very efficient power saving setups, like switching off the screen lighting (set ON by default), low power, no bips on keypad etc. This will improve your battery life a lot. Really recommend this VHF.

Cheers
 
i use an Entel HT series 1 now superseeded by the series 2, awesome little vhf, charge lasts for a very long time.
 
(of course I would have to be different) Although there were many Humminbird VHF Radios fitted as standard equipment in Power Boats, For reasons unknown I seem to be the only person in the UK with a Hand Held "Humminbird" VHF. I bought it from a UK Boat Show from the stand which were the UK Agents about 15 years ago. And it was the only one they had. Brilliant radio, good reception and transmission. The battery packed up when it was 12 years old and I sent the battery case away to have a "New Lithium" Battery fitted inside it. Still works perfectly, although the top of the aerial has started to crumble. I wish they still imported to the UK.
 
rbmatthews said:
Today I tried the one using bicarbonate of soda mixed with a little bit of water to make a thick paste, then rubbed in with a microfibre cloth. It worked pretty well - has got rid of most of the scratches so at least the screen is readable again. Thanks for the pointer.
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Brasso is your friend for removing scratches from most clear plastics, I worked for a few years on a passenger vessel which at the time had perspex or polycarb windows in the wheelhouse, some of the scratches were quite deep which no amount of polishing out will cure but all the finer marks from cleaning etc buffed out perfectly, which improved the from inside night time vision, which is why I started to experiment with it at the time, it will clear up most stuff such as polycarb car headlights to CD's which have become un-playable due to surface scratching. Try it n see on something thats unimportant first before you do the RT display just for piece of mind ... works a treat Hope this helps.
 
Tim D said:
Brasso is your friend for removing scratches from most clear plastics.
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Well, yes, I have to say that Brasso works a treat. A £2.50 tin from Tesco and gentle rubbing with a microfibre cloth seems to have got rid of most of the scratches now. Better than buying a replacement screen from Standard Horizon for £24! Thanks for the tip.
 
I have a Cobra HH125 and am very impressed by its performance. The display is excellent so is the reception and it fits easily in your pocket.
 
Magic Star said:
I saw some complaints about the short battery life but I have NEVER seen the low battery sign on screen. ...
Cheers
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I think it doesn't have the same sophisticated battery monitor as a mobile phone. It just monitors the battery voltage. So I find if I haven't used it for a while it will show a full battery when switched on but the meter will drop when you press transmit on full power. I take it home every Winter and fully cycle the battery a couple of times. Fixes the problem for the year.
Great radio though. I like to use the handheld to talk to marinas as the signal doesn't spam the whole Solent. I leave the screen light on so I can find it at night. Why do they make them black?!
 
jwilson said:
Have two Cobras, one HH300 now 9 years old, still OK, one HH325 three years old. Not the toytown HH125 models though. Both work well and have proper knob-adjust squelch and volume, and easy access to M1/M2. Also they come with all the extras.

The Silva I had was rubbish, glad when it got dropped into a wet RIB floor and died. Have also used a Raymarine h/h and did not like it.

Icom and SH are the premium brands though there really does not to me seem much wrong with Cobras.
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A follow-up on my own post: the 9 year old Cobra Hh300 did once give briefly reception problems last year, but since then has been fine - till yesterday when I had the same "transmits but intermittent reception" problem. This time I WILL buy another radio - but looking at what is around still tempted by another newer Cobra, mainly because they have proper knobs for volume and squelch.
 
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