Recommendation for a hand-held VHF radio?
 

A friend of mine has the small white handheld by cobra they sell up here.
It seems to work great. Not sure what other options there are though.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Friend with a new inshore fishing boat wants to buy a handheld VHF radio.
I don't follow VHF radio technology at all, so I don't know what's really
good in the latest units.

Any recommendations as to makes and models?

--
- - -
George W. Bush, our hero!

"It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly
devastating on the ground."

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Friend with a new inshore fishing boat wants to buy a handheld VHF radio.
I don't follow VHF radio technology at all, so I don't know what's really
good in the latest units.

Any recommendations as to makes and models?


If Icom's hand-helds are as good as their mounted models, they are worth a
look.


--
Peter Aitken

Harry Krause wrote:
Friend with a new inshore fishing boat wants to buy a handheld VHF
radio. I don't follow VHF radio technology at all, so I don't know
what's really good in the latest units.

Any recommendations as to makes and models?

--
- - -
George W. Bush, our hero!

"It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly
devastating on the ground."

It is often said that the basic internal circuitry on VHF radios is
virtually identical from one brand to the next.

Should be easy to pick the right radio by comparing price and desired
features. Many people would consider spending more on a hand-held VHF
if it is the only radio aboard, others might spend less and settle for
a model wtihout extra bells and whistles if it is strictly used as a
backup for a fixed mount radio.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.

Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958

*JimH* wrote:
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.


Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958


I bought the Standard Horizon HX460S a few years ago at our boat show.
The ratings were good at the time, but I've had problems with two switches.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Friend with a new inshore fishing boat wants to buy a handheld VHF radio.
I don't follow VHF radio technology at all, so I don't know what's really
good in the latest units.

Any recommendations as to makes and models?

--
- - -
George W. Bush, our hero!

"It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly
devastating on the ground."

I've got a Raytheon that's terrific, and built (apparently) to be thrown
against a brick wall or driven over. I think they only make one hand held
model. Take a look at www.raymarine.com.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:17:40 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.

Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim
with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958

No, yours is submersible, not water proof.

"Engineered for unparalleled reliability, the HORIZON HX260S exceeds
submersions of 3' for 30 minutes."


Did you miss this? ;-)

http://www.standardhorizon.com/Produ...erproof_sm.gif

Anyway, who is going to submerge their handheld at 3 feet for 30 minutes.
If you dropped it and could not find it at that depth within 30 minutes you
are never going to find it.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:17:40 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.

Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim
with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958

No, yours is submersible, not water proof.

"Engineered for unparalleled reliability, the HORIZON HX260S exceeds
submersions of 3' for 30 minutes."

Tell you what - I'll take your word for it. Tie a string on it, hold
it under water at 2' for fifteen minutes, then get back to me.

I'll bet it doesn't work.


I think it would be a better idea to look for a model with a serious, useful
wrist strap. Then, this discussion would not be necessary.

My HX260S stayed submersed in a broken bottle of suntan oil in my wife's
beach bag for about 2 weeks and still works - if that helps :). Buttons
work smooooth now !

jim bailey

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:17:40 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.

Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim
with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958

No, yours is submersible, not water proof.

"Engineered for unparalleled reliability, the HORIZON HX260S exceeds
submersions of 3' for 30 minutes."

Tell you what - I'll take your word for it. Tie a string on it, hold
it under water at 2' for fifteen minutes, then get back to me.

I'll bet it doesn't work.

And your radio will never get a sunburn now. ;-)

"Jim Bailey" wrote in message
...
My HX260S stayed submersed in a broken bottle of suntan oil in my wife's
beach bag for about 2 weeks and still works - if that helps :). Buttons
work smooooth now !

jim bailey

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:17:40 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:04:34 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

It would be helpful for him to read some test results of the latest
handheld VHF models, but, of course, this is boating, and legitimate
test information is virtually impossible to get.

Chuck has it exactly right - you can take a Icom apart and put it side
by side with a Uniden and you'd be hard placed to tell them apart from
a technical standpoint. There are only so many ways, and so many
chips, to put these things together.

As to weather resistance - again, unless you are looking for some kind
of military standard unit, you aren't going to get water proof.
Resistant yes, proof, no. Drop it in the live well and the chances
are you are going to have to buy a new radio.

Ahem...........mine is waterproof and the manufacturer backs that claim
with
a 3 year *water proof* guarantee:

http://tinyurl.com/3v958

No, yours is submersible, not water proof.

"Engineered for unparalleled reliability, the HORIZON HX260S exceeds
submersions of 3' for 30 minutes."

Tell you what - I'll take your word for it. Tie a string on it, hold
it under water at 2' for fifteen minutes, then get back to me.

I'll bet it doesn't work.