Which Budget DSC VHF ?

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dickandjill

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Hello
Want a budget DSC VHF radio and can't decide between a Cobra MR F55 DSC VHF (Sailing Today best budget buy) or a Silva S10 (PBO best budget buy)
Both around £100.
Has any one any recommendations please?
Thanks
 
What sort of boat is it for? Silva is ok, but I wouldn't put it anywhere where it might get wet, ie. on a boat!

On a serious note; its ok in a dry cabin, but not waterproof enough to go on rib or near cockpit - despite what it says on the box.

Standard horizon are extremely reliable and rugged, or icom

No proper experiance of cobra. I would be interested to read comments by anyone who has bought one
 
Re: Neither...

I second the Icom 421. Quality

Check out the audio at high volume and then decide. The time when you need a good vhf transmitter receiver is when the volume is really up!

also check the volume of the dsc alarm (the Icom increases alarm volume )

the dsc number can be entered twice

The mike is noise blanking for better audio transmission

I find volume and squelch knobs much easier than multi function push buttons.

Concider spending a little more now and get the set that really is best for you.
 
Must go along with Icom, I have a 401 euro, (not dsc though) and find it to be a really good radio, am considering changing to the 421 in the near future, so can connect it to my Furuno gps.
 
SX may be recently discontinued .. but still available. It connects to GPS easily. Just about anything you buy these days seems to be discontinued within the space of a few months. NASA have really helpful people in the UK.
I bow to the experts here, I'm no vhf expert ....
 
Re: Neither...

Second the Navman 7100 unit recommendation - I am pleased with the one I have, and no problems to date (2 years). Integrated easily with Garmin GPS.
 
so, there you go dickandjill
it seems like we all like the unit we have, but who really knows .... but it does appear that Cobra and Silva generally gets the thumbs down.
take care
m
 
I have a cobra on the bridge and have no major complaints as a bridge radio. But I would not want it as a main set, Its acceptance of possition from the GPS is sometimes intermittent, there can be distortion when very close to a transmitter. But you get what you pay for and it is worth the money as a second set. Down below I have an ICOM I would recommend.
 
Wait until the New Year (Boat Show?) and have a look at the new Standard Horizon GX1500E, which will sell for £179 ... less in some places. This is Yaesu equipment under a different badge. Yaesu have always had the reputation for good radios to military and licenced radio amateur specifications. The spec for the 1500 looks very good and the build quality as expected.
 
GX1500 already here...

The Standard Horizon GX1500 is on offer for £189 inc UK shipping from JG Technologies. Standard Horizon is a good quality brand, but I wouldn't think there's much practical difference between the GX1500 and the Icom 421, except the Standard has the ability to add a second-station mic.

I think it's a bit misleading to describe Standard Horizon as "Yaesu equipment under a different badge". Both Yaesu and Standard Horizon are brands of Vertex Standard; Yaesu is used for amateur radio, Standard Horizon is used for marine radio.
 
DickandJill

AALways worth the wait till London Boatshow if there is no rush.

New products and discounted prices.

There is a great review in Dec's PBO.
Whilst it concerns second Station Command Mic's it actually reviews a nuber of radio's.

Whilst all are above £100 most are well under £200.

The Standard Horizon kit comes out top.
We have 2 new radio's coming out at London.

With all that in mind it might be worth a wait.
First for the review second for the show.

Best of luck and if I can be of any further help please feel free to call me.

Best regards
 
I've had the Cobra MRF75 for over a year and I have had no problems with it. I chose it over the 55 because of the triple watch, the large digits and a better panel layout than the 55. It is linked to a Garmin GPS 176 plotter and they get along quite well together: there are no problems with talking to each other. Cobra is a very well known USA brand.
Some people say that you get what you pay for. True. But it is also true in the sense that sometimes it is the name that you are paying for, and not much else.
 
Thanks for all your advice
I think it will be either the Navman 7100 or the Icom M421 depending on how far the cash will stretch.Although the M-Tech MT500 seems worth a look.On no I thought I'd decided!!!
 
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