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#1
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vhf handheld options
Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. -- Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock I'd explain it all to you, but your brain would explode. |
#2
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"Jim Richardson" wrote in message ... Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. Don't know about the 260 but the 460S button switches have been troublesome on mine. |
#3
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On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 17:16:32 -0800, Jim Richardson
wrote: Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. -- Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock I'd explain it all to you, but your brain would explode. I had one. It had very short battery life. Then I got an Icom M1V and it lasts forever between charges and is quite a bit smaller. I will never get a NiCad powered HT again. Joe |
#4
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Don White wrote:
"Jim Richardson" wrote in message ... Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. Don't know about the 260 but the 460S button switches have been troublesome on mine. Interesting. I've been using two 460S' since they were first introduced. To date, trouble free, though I've had to replace the headset, once. otn |
#5
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"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net... Interesting. I've been using two 460S' since they were first introduced. To date, trouble free, though I've had to replace the headset, once. otn First button to pack it in was the 'lamp' one...now it's the 'return' button. I talked to a rep at the local boat show...good news is they can be repaired in Canada now...no more shipping defective units stateside. |
#6
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Are there any vhf handhelds that use standard AA or AAA batteries?
Padeen |
#7
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joe_323 wrote:
On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 17:16:32 -0800, Jim Richardson wrote: Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. -- Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock I'd explain it all to you, but your brain would explode. I had one. It had very short battery life. Then I got an Icom M1V and it lasts forever between charges and is quite a bit smaller. I will never get a NiCad powered HT again. Joe I second the reccomendation for a Icom M1V. Its a real battery miser and is easy to operate. Keep a smear of silicone grease on the charging contacts on the battery pack or you will get some corrosion if it gets immersed for any significant amount of time. -- Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED) ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL: 'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy. |
#8
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Padeen wrote:
Are there any vhf handhelds that use standard AA or AAA batteries? Icom have some models that have that option, Supplied with a NiMH pack but you can clip the AA alkaline pack on instead. Some even come with both packs. -- Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED) ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL: 'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy. |
#9
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"Padeen" wrote in
news Are there any vhf handhelds that use standard AA or AAA batteries? Padeen My Garmin 725 5W vhf walkie came with crappy Ni-Cds because they are cheap and a battery holder for alkalines, which is a MUCH better idea if you are going to only use the walkie intermittently because all rechargable batteries naturally discharge themselves over time, while Alkaline cells can sit 10 years or more! The Garmin cells have all been replaced with Ni-metal hydride monsters, 2500 maH commercials by taking the Garmin battery pack to be rebuilt by Batteries Plus, here. 2.5AH is a LOT of power for a walkie.....The original Ni-Cds were only 700 maH. It takes the cheap Garmin charger a day to recharge them....but, hey, I'm ashore for that... http://www.batteriesplus.com/ |
#10
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On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 17:16:32 -0800, Jim Richardson
wrote: Looking at getting a new vhf handheld, the old one is, well, old, and cranky. Looks like the Standard Horizon's HX260 is on closeout for $100 in several places, any one have any experience with this handheld? the price is right for a waterproof/submersible, and SH makes mostly decent kit, in a chevy not a caddy sort of way. I've had one on the Great Lakes for about four years. I've found it dependable, decent range and sturdy. While I have the alkaline back-up battery pack, I've never used it, as the ni-cad pack on the 260S holds enough charge for a couple of weeks for me (95% monitoring at the tiller, and 5% XMIT). I charge it overnight about six times a year. It has been dropped in a wet bilge, thrown around in a planing Zodiac, and spent a lot of time in a crash box marinating...still works well. Practically, I've been able to contact my boat at dock (a standard Metz antenna at around 45 feet off the water) from sitting in a Zodiac five to six miles distant over two intervening low pieces of land. That was about the limit, though. Also practically: it's neither small nor light compared to some of the "card deck"-sized models of late, but it's rugged, soakable and lasts sufficiently long. I use it pretty constantly in the Zodiac and by the tiller, as the ICOM at the nav station is of little use when I'm single-handing. $100 is a stealf for this unit if you are a weekend, coastal sailor. Hope this helps. R. |
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