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

ChattingLil

ChattingLil

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I have a seven year old Standard Horizon hh and it's recently stopped functioning properly. It produces a really annoying buzzing/squelchy noise all the time that it is in standby. Noise stops when transmitting or receiving.

Anyway, I can't think why it does it and it was only a 'make do' quick purchase the time anyway, so maybe we need to think about something new. I want waterproof so it can be left in cockpit, but not necessarily floating.

Recommendations please? Or all they all much of a muchness?
 
Probably the leading brands of radio are SH and Icom, they rate as the best two makes in all the tests I've ever seen. For myself, I've had Icoms - probably cowardice, just like they say "No-one gets fired for buying IBM." I expect you can get your present hh repaired and it will once again give you good service, though.

Rob.
 
We also have an SH but its waterproof and floaty. Can't say it really leapt out above the others except for the waterproof thing. Which seems like a necessity rather than a luxury give the environment they are used in
 
ChattingLil said:
I have a seven year old Standard Horizon hh and it's recently stopped functioning properly. It produces a really annoying buzzing/squelchy noise all the time that it is in standby. Noise stops when transmitting or receiving.

Anyway, I can't think why it does it and it was only a 'make do' quick purchase the time anyway, so maybe we need to think about something new. I want waterproof so it can be left in cockpit, but not necessarily floating.

Recommendations please? Or all they all much of a muchness?
Click to expand...

Icom or SH, choose the model with the features you want really. There is no point in bothering to look at others, Lowrance, Ray etc they are all rubbish.
Icom IC-M 71 is my favourite, I used it as a hammer once and it was fine.
I have an SH 280 just now, very good value indeed.
Both of them have very good customer service, ie a helpful English expert on the phone.
Hope that helps Jerry
 
I've got a Midland one, but it just sits in the grab bag with the batteries out.

At our sailing club, they swear by ICOM sets.
 
I recently bought the Standard Horizon HX851E... Purely based on the fact it was Standard Horizon and it had built in GPS/DSC..

Happy with it.. clear sound.. floats.. but eeish, it's big for little hands! (oh and the 12v charging lead for the supplied cradle is usually an optional extra)
 
Martin_J said:
I recently bought the Standard Horizon HX851E... Purely based on the fact it was Standard Horizon and it had built in GPS/DSC..

Happy with it.. clear sound.. floats.. but eeish, it's big for little hands! (oh and the 12v charging lead for the supplied cradle is usually an optional extra)
Click to expand...

+1 best one IMO for features and price. All works fine. Good value for money.
 
Martin_J said:
I recently bought the Standard Horizon HX851E... Purely based on the fact it was Standard Horizon and it had built in GPS/DSC..

Happy with it.. clear sound.. floats.. but eeish, it's big for little hands! (oh and the 12v charging lead for the supplied cradle is usually an optional extra)
Click to expand...
This is going to be my replacement HH when my ICOM dies.
 
Martin_J said:
I recently bought the Standard Horizon HX851E... Purely based on the fact it was Standard Horizon and it had built in GPS/DSC..

Happy with it.. clear sound.. floats.. but eeish, it's big for little hands! (oh and the 12v charging lead for the supplied cradle is usually an optional extra)
Click to expand...

I've got the 280 which is very good on my own boat but wish I had the 851 now as I sail on a number of different boats and the Distress button might come in handy.
 
I have the Standard Horizon HX300E and froth about it regularly to others...

The Key Selling Point for me is - It's the only Handheld currently available that comes with a USB charger instead of forcing a 230v wall charger on you with the *aftermarket accessory* of a 12v charger! The box includes a wallplug that the USB cable can go into for 230v charging, or you can charge off a laptop, car radio, emergency power stick, and so on....

it has a Mini-USB charging point protected by a sealed spring-loaded door - this means the charging point is genuinely waterproof as opposed to the rear contact style adopted by many models. Floats, Waterproof to IPX7 and has a Flashing Red LED when it touches water.

I upgraded to this one from the HX290 and wow, what a difference, the sound is crisp and clear, much more than the 290 was, it's light, compact, and fits in the hand really nicely, making it comfortable and easy to operate.

I'd recommend this model to anyone, and often do!!! :o
 
I can tell you what NOT to buy ! I made the mistake of ordering a waterproof, non floaty Silva S12 then not using it for a while ( ie guarantee to return ) - it's useless, squelch is in digital steps; at one step roaring static, next down everything silenced !
 
FishyInverness said:
The Key Selling Point for me is - It's the only Handheld currently available that comes with a USB charger instead of forcing a 230v wall charger on you with the *aftermarket accessory* of a 12v charger!
Click to expand...

I'm not bothered about USB charging, but I'm surprised an included 12v charger is so rare. My Cobra handheld came with one in the box.

Pete
 
ChattingLil said:
I have a seven year old Standard Horizon hh and it's recently stopped functioning properly. It produces a really annoying buzzing/squelchy noise all the time that it is in standby. Noise stops when transmitting or receiving.

Anyway, I can't think why it does it and it was only a 'make do' quick purchase the time anyway, so maybe we need to think about something new. I want waterproof so it can be left in cockpit, but not necessarily floating.

Recommendations please? Or all they all much of a muchness?
Click to expand...

Sounds like your Squelch needs backing off. Have you tried that?
 
prv said:
I'm not bothered about USB charging, but I'm surprised an included 12v charger is so rare. My Cobra handheld came with one in the box.

Pete
Click to expand...

Yeah, i'm with you there Pete, I'm really surprised that Cobra, not known for the best quality electronics, throw in all the bits the high quality brands call accessories as standard in the box, ie : 12v charger and Alkaline Battery tray. S/H (aside from the HX300e) and ICOM charge for the 12v lead as "an accessory"

Have to say that I love the flexibility of that USB charger, it means that my VHF can get plugged straight into my car radio on the way back from a kayak session and is nicely topped up ready for the next one ;)
 
I've got an Icon - the?M35?. Does what it says on the tin, but next time I would go for the 71, as being nice and small.
 
I've got a Cobra handheld, 5 years now and no problems, as mentioned all the charging bits come as standard.
internal battery life is very good, but have the AA battery tray loaded for grab bag.
Feature I particularly like is the rewind so that you can replay broadcasts.
Significantly cheaper than the Icom offering.
 
Also SH HX851E. Seems very easy to use once you have played around with the menus. Can use it to check that fixed Dsc is actually working. Had to buy 12v charging lead for £10. Battery life seems good and GPS fix is quick. Quite large but waterproof and floating means it is a good emergency aid.

Richard
 
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