Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?

I've got a Uniden MHS 350 that seems to work well, is easy to use, and
it's around $160 or so at West Marine

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.

On 8 Dec 2005 08:11:16 -0800, wrote:

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.

Are there any with a headset like celll phones? And please don't tell
us to wear our tin-foil hats.

BTW, tin-foil hats only work when you line them with chicken salad...

--
Q

wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.


Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum. Need a waterproof
floater (it'll get wet if I'm floating about in my pfd while I wait for a
ride). Don't know what bells and whistles I could need.

"Bryan" wrote in message
et...

wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.


Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum.

Sorry but you will not get that with a handheld. 5 miles is tops.

" *JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Bryan" wrote in message
et...

wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.


Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum.

Sorry but you will not get that with a handheld. 5 miles is tops.




BTW: I have the Standard Horizon HX260S and have been happy with it. I
have seen them going for $100 on Ebay.....in fact I think I posted a link
for you on that auction.

The new model is the HX270S

http://tinyurl.com/bl3ll

Bryan wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.


Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum.

Won't happen without an external antenna.

Kevin,
With the low wattage output of a handheld you will not be able to come close
to 30 nm.
even with an external antenna.



wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?


The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.


Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum.

Won't happen without an external antenna.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Bryan wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Bryan wrote:
Any handheld VHF recommendations?

Looking for quality, functionality, affordability, ...

Which and why? And best recent price you've seen?

The internal electronics are all about the same, regardless of brand
name.

That changes the equation a bit.

Almost any major brand will be built well enough to withstand normal
use and even some abuse, so you're down to deciding how many, and
which, bells and whistles you want and which models are the most
ergonomically usable for you as an individual. Range and the degree of
water-resistance will also be major considerations.

My thoughts: Is this handheld going into a ditch bag, or intended for
use merely as a backup to a hard-wired system? In that case, the fewer
the gizmos, gadgets, fancy tricks,
and electro magics built in- the better. You wouldn't want to be
without a radio in an emergency because some peripheral, non-essential
toy feature crapped out and took another circuit down in the process.

If the handheld is going to be the primary radio aboard the boat, you
might want to opt for
some of the fancier features.......but the previous paragraph could
also apply just as
easily in that case.

Primary and ditch. Need dependable 30 NM range maximum.

Won't happen without an external antenna.


You won't get a "dependable" 30 nautical mile range with a handheld,
period.



The CG should be able to talk with a handheld 30 miles away. Their antennas
are tall and they have more power available. It is amazing at times how far
away from the CG transmitter, you get reception. North of the Golden Gate,
you get CG Monterey transmissions. You do not hear the boat, but the CG is
loud and clear. And that is at least 60 miles distant.