VHF handheld considerations
 

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?

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
easolutions...
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?

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


If I were you I'd get the largest, most powerful one. Preferably the one
with 10X the range. It seems like you'd like that one better.

Wilbur Hubbard

VHF handheld considerations
 

On Dec 5, 1:33*pm, "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?

--
"j" ganz



Get the one that FLOATS and is water proof to at least 20'
Tie it to your Mustang Suit (Type V PFD)
Icom has some good ones.
Bob

VHF handheld considerations
 

"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Dec 5, 1:33 pm, "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?

--
"j" ganz



| Get the one that FLOATS and is water proof to at least 20'
| Tie it to your Mustang Suit (Type V PFD)
| Icom has some good ones.
| Bob


Are you implying he's likely to sink or perhaps go by the boards?

Good thinking, Bob. Very insightful.


Wilbur Hubbard

VHF handheld considerations
 

"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Dec 5, 1:33 pm, "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?


Get the one that FLOATS and is water proof to at least 20'
Tie it to your Mustang Suit (Type V PFD)
Icom has some good ones.
Bob


Don't really need one that floats. I believe the 350 is "water proof" but
even if it's just water resistant, that's adequate for my needs. If it
actually goes over the side, I wouldn't be able to retrieve it.

My house system is an Icom.. old one, but I don't see a clear reason to
switch handheld brands.

The small one I have, I carry in a foulie pocket, jacket is underneath my
PFD.

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

"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?

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

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

VHF handheld considerations
 

Marty wrote:

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
Seconded.

Been using an Icon IC-M1EuroV for the last seven years. Its *NEVER* let
me down and the original battery is still good and holds its charge well
in storage.

The only issues a

The power in socket on the charger cradle is slightly fragile and if
handled roughly, may need its connection to the circuit board
resoldered. An easy job for anyone with a soldering iron.

Also the charging contacts on the back of the battery can corrode if its
left lying in a puddle of seawater. Cleaning with a fibreglass abrasive
pencil and a tiny dab of silicone electrical grease has permenantly
cured that problem.


I used it for about 4 years dingy cruising as the main radio with a fist
mike and a masthead aerial so I *KNOW* it stands up to rough use and
lots of water.