"Marty" wrote in message
news
Capt. JG wrote:
"Marty" wrote in message
...
Capt. JG wrote:
I'm thinking about Christmas :-) and am contemplating a new handheld.
I've owned Standard Horizon radios, currently the HZ350S and a smaller
one, both of which have impressive range and battery life. I'm thinking
about the GPS/DSC enabled SH 850S. Someone have experience with it or
can recommend another, similarly featured VHF?


Jon, I have an ICOM IC-MIV, it's been very good, waterproof, good range
, exceptional battery life, (manufacturer claims 16 hrs, but I get about
24 and that's with the thing scanning about 20 channels continuously),
small, good audio output,,, just my 2 cents...

Cheers
Martin


Thanks. Does it have GPS/DSC?



No, I don't even know if it's still in production, just that I like it, a
plug for ICOM I guess. I've also got a Uniden Atlantis 250, nowhere near
as good, bigger, shorter battery life, doesn't seem to have the same
range, and lower sound quality. Also the ICOM scans about 5 times faster.

One other thing about the ICOM, it monitors the WX channels without being
told to and immediately goes there if NOAA issues a weather warning.

Cheers
Martin


The WX feature is nice...


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Thanks for the review! I have yet to hold one in my hand, so that's the next
step after digging out my WM gift card.

"Auspicious" wrote in message
...
On Dec 5, 4:33 pm, "Capt. JG" wrote:
I'm thinking about the
GPS/DSC enabled SH 850S. Someone have experience with it or can recommend
another, similarly featured VHF?

To my knowledge the Standard Horizon 850S is the only handheld/GPS/DSC
radio in production. I vaguely recall a large bulky radio from someone
else that even had a small chart plotter in it - if you search Panbo
you can probably find a direct reference - but is not out of
production.

I have had a SH 850S for several months. I like it very much. It's
principal role for me is as a dinghy radio where waterproof is a boon.
I also use it as a dock-walking radio where positive floatation gives
me a chance to recover it if it does pop off my belt. The DSC
circuitry works as it should, including the important feature of not
getting "confused" if sending or receiving a DSC call with its own
MMSI. The latter is relevant to calls between the dinghy and mother
boat. My Icom M601 fixed VHF does not switch channels properly when
receiving an 'own-MMSI' DSC call; the SH 850S does.

Incidentally, I previously had an Icom M1V handheld. Unfortunately in
drowned when splashed in the dinghy. I now have an Icom M3 that has
been much more robust but is now consigned to back-up/ditch-bag
service on my sailboat.

sail fast, dave



--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On 6-Dec-2008, Auspicious wrote:

the Standard Horizon 850S is the only handheld/GPS/DSC
radio in production

not for long.


Lowrance LHR-80 Handheld VHF GPS Radio
Product ID: LO1122-25 MFG ID: 000-0022-17
Lowrance LHR-80 Handheld VHF GPS Marine Radio. Advanced and affordable 5/1W
waterproof VHF handheld features DSC, built-in 12 channel GPS receiver,
trackplotter, Great Circle navigation, and more. Plus it floats!

Availability: Accepting Pre-Orders expected by Feb 10

List Price $219.00

Our Price

$184.95

wrote in message
...
On 6-Dec-2008, Auspicious wrote:

the Standard Horizon 850S is the only handheld/GPS/DSC
radio in production

not for long.


Lowrance LHR-80 Handheld VHF GPS Radio
Product ID: LO1122-25 MFG ID: 000-0022-17
Lowrance LHR-80 Handheld VHF GPS Marine Radio. Advanced and affordable
5/1W
waterproof VHF handheld features DSC, built-in 12 channel GPS receiver,
trackplotter, Great Circle navigation, and more. Plus it floats!

Availability: Accepting Pre-Orders expected by Feb 10

List Price $219.00

Our Price

$184.95


I like the price and the trackplotter. It's 5W vs. 6W for the SH though.
Both float.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com