I believe that most modern gadgets from digital watches to cell phones
suffer from poor design so that they are not intuitive in their use.
The only people who can easily operate them are people like kids who
have the time to go through all the menus. Unfortunately, this
tendency has now come to the handheld VHF world.
I had two Uniden "Atlantis" VHF units and each broke in exactly the
same way. They were dropped and the volume/power knob broke off.
Other than that, I liked them as they were simple and intuitive. When
looking at new models, I avoided any units that had vulnerable knobs.
I found the WEST Marine model 55 that has no knobs and bought it.
Unfortunately, its operation is modelled after cell phones with an "up/
down" toggle that serves for volume, squelch level, channel selection,
etc depending on what other button is pressed. BAD DESIGN. This
counterintuitive design will cause problems for people who are trying
to use it under adverse conditions. I will probably return it to West
Marine and continue looking.
I wish Uniden or others would simply re-design the knobs on their
units to be protected by the case as this would really solve the
problems.

wrote:
I believe that most modern gadgets from digital watches to cell phones
suffer from poor design so that they are not intuitive in their use.
The only people who can easily operate them are people like kids who
have the time to go through all the menus. Unfortunately, this
tendency has now come to the handheld VHF world.
I had two Uniden "Atlantis" VHF units and each broke in exactly the
same way. They were dropped and the volume/power knob broke off.
Other than that, I liked them as they were simple and intuitive. When
looking at new models, I avoided any units that had vulnerable knobs.
I found the WEST Marine model 55 that has no knobs and bought it.
Unfortunately, its operation is modelled after cell phones with an "up/
down" toggle that serves for volume, squelch level, channel selection,
etc depending on what other button is pressed. BAD DESIGN. This
counterintuitive design will cause problems for people who are trying
to use it under adverse conditions. I will probably return it to West
Marine and continue looking.
I wish Uniden or others would simply re-design the knobs on their
units to be protected by the case as this would really solve the
problems.


I own 3 ICOMs and love them (2 marine band, 1 aviation band) The
aviation band has an elect squelch with up-down buttons... hate that one
feature... The marine band units are analog... much better. One of the
marine band units spent 5 years in a plastic box bouncing around in the
bilge (only storage available) in a 12' Jet inflatable. The only issue
was a broken (but still working) antenna. Icom replaced it for $7.

I am sold on Icom.

I've had a Standard HX150S for 10-12 years. All buttons and no knobs
so it's one handed operation leaving the other hand completely free at
all times. Mine's led a rough life and I've bought other radios since
I've owned this one that haven't lasted. I've dropped it on occasion
and it just goes "clunk" but so far it's still working fine. Most of
the time when I drop something on a boat, instead of going "clunk"....
it goes "Kersploosh!". And this radio will not float. It operates
under water though ;-)
Another feature I like: if the Standard rechargable Ni-Cad battery
goes Kaput, the battery tray will hold AA batteries. Works with either
alkaline or NiMH rechargable AAs just fine.

Here's a link to a description:
http://www.comline.com.sg/standardhorizon/hx150s.htm

Rick

On Sat, 16 Feb 08, ohara5.0 wrote:
I believe that most modern gadgets from digital watches to cell phones
suffer from poor design so that they are not intuitive in their use.
The only people who can easily operate them are people like kids who
have the time to go through all the menus. Unfortunately, this
tendency has now come to the handheld VHF world.
I had two Uniden "Atlantis" VHF units and each broke in exactly the
same way. They were dropped and the volume/power knob broke off.
Other than that, I liked them as they were simple and intuitive. When
looking at new models, I avoided any units that had vulnerable knobs.
I found the WEST Marine model 55 that has no knobs and bought it.
Unfortunately, its operation is modelled after cell phones with an "up/
down" toggle that serves for volume, squelch level, channel selection,
etc depending on what other button is pressed. BAD DESIGN. This
counterintuitive design will cause problems for people who are trying
to use it under adverse conditions. I will probably return it to West
Marine and continue looking.
I wish Uniden or others would simply re-design the knobs on their
units to be protected by the case as this would really solve the
problems.

ooops... damn.... no longer in production.
Never mind..... :-(

Rick

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:25:21 -0500, lid wrote:
I've had a Standard HX150S for 10-12 years. All buttons and no knobs
so it's one handed operation leaving the other hand completely free at
all times. Mine's led a rough life and I've bought other radios since
I've owned this one that haven't lasted. I've dropped it on occasion
and it just goes "clunk" but so far it's still working fine. Most of
the time when I drop something on a boat, instead of going "clunk"....
it goes "Kersploosh!". And this radio will not float. It operates
under water though ;-)
Another feature I like: if the Standard rechargable Ni-Cad battery
goes Kaput, the battery tray will hold AA batteries. Works with either
alkaline or NiMH rechargable AAs just fine.

Here's a link to a description:
http://www.comline.com.sg/standardhorizon/hx150s.htm

Rick

On Sat, 16 Feb 08, ohara5.0 wrote:
I believe that most modern gadgets from digital watches to cell phones
suffer from poor design so that they are not intuitive in their use.
The only people who can easily operate them are people like kids who
have the time to go through all the menus. Unfortunately, this
tendency has now come to the handheld VHF world.
I had two Uniden "Atlantis" VHF units and each broke in exactly the
same way. They were dropped and the volume/power knob broke off.
Other than that, I liked them as they were simple and intuitive. When
looking at new models, I avoided any units that had vulnerable knobs.
I found the WEST Marine model 55 that has no knobs and bought it.
Unfortunately, its operation is modelled after cell phones with an "up/
down" toggle that serves for volume, squelch level, channel selection,
etc depending on what other button is pressed. BAD DESIGN. This
counterintuitive design will cause problems for people who are trying
to use it under adverse conditions. I will probably return it to West
Marine and continue looking.
I wish Uniden or others would simply re-design the knobs on their
units to be protected by the case as this would really solve the
problems.