Handheld VHF

Capt Jack · May 14, 2016

Thinking about adding a handheld VHF to the list of equipment and looking around gets very confusing :banghead:

We have a dinghy and primarily operate in Florida waters near shore - usually within site of land. The handheld would be used on the flybridge and on the dinghy, as well as be readily available for grabbing along with the ditch bag if needed.

Not trying to start an anchor type argument thread here :hide:

, but... What makes/models do you use and how do you like them?

Thanks for the input.

John

Drake · May 14, 2016

Standard Horizon HX 870. Floats, strobe, gps, dot matrix display.

Codger2 · May 14, 2016

I have a Uniden that I've had for years & I keep it on the fly bridge for the same reasons you've already mentioned. It's so old & I can't remember the model number but it works extremely well! It charges from a 12volt receptacle and has never failed me.

IRENE · May 15, 2016

Standard Horizon HX870

We are on our second Standard Horizon handheld with GPS. Someone decided they needed the first one more than I did.

I have used many radios over the years, including SMC, Icom, Motorola, Uniden, and maybe others. I also have an Icom and Motorola at present. We really didn't need another radio, BUT...

We like having the safety of the GPS in case of distress. One touch and our position is transmitted with the DSC distress call. It's also easy to use. Standard Horizon was pleasant to deal with when we switched boats and needed to reprogram the MMSI...the service was free and they even shipped it back to me without charge.

There are likely other brands with the GPS embedded that are just as good. Please strongly consider this technology from a safety perspective before going without it.

Good Luck

tcpip95 · May 15, 2016

Standard Horizon HX851

Have had it for a few years now. I like having the built-in GPS capability as both a backup to my primary system as well as the ability to send coordinates in an emergency.

I believe it's been replaced by the HX870.

Capt Jack · May 15, 2016

Thanks for the info to all - on the HX870, any issues with battery life? Some of the reviews I read say battery life is awesome and some say it stinks. Such is the nature of reviews.

GPS sounds like a very good item to have in a device for potential use in a ditch bag.

Thanks again for the input.

John

mbevins · May 15, 2016

I personally prefer ICOM but whatever you choose ensure the battery is LiOn and not the older NiCd .

IRENE · May 15, 2016

Capt Jack said:
any issues with battery life?

Last weekend mine fired right up as I grabbed it to take paddling. Before I turned it on, I was sure it would be toast as it sat a couple of weeks. The battery indicator was still up in the upper half.

That said, I don't talk on mine much - I just want it on in case I need help - and transmitting will use the battery the fastest.

mbevins · May 15, 2016

IRENE said:
Last weekend mine fired right up as I grabbed it to take paddling. Before I turned it on, I was sure it would be toast as it sat a couple of weeks. The battery indicator was still up in the upper half.

That said, I don't talk on mine much - I just want it on in case I need help - and transmitting will use the battery the fastest.

My ICOMS can sit for months (maybe longer ) and not lose any noticeable charge on the meter.

tcpip95 · May 15, 2016

I do a radio check on mine every time we leave the dock, and also do a DSC test.

I also take mine when I go scuba diving. I built a PVC cannister that is watertight that I strap to my BCD. Inside I have my radio and also my PLB..... just in case there's no dive boat when I come back up

Capt Jack · May 16, 2016

mbevins said:
My ICOMS can sit for months (maybe longer ) and not lose any noticeable charge on the meter.

What model ICOM do you have?

John

Capt Jack · May 16, 2016

tcpip95 said:
I do a radio check on mine every time we leave the dock, and also do a DSC test.

I also take mine when I go scuba diving. I built a PVC cannister that is watertight that I strap to my BCD. Inside I have my radio and also my PLB..... just in case there's no dive boat when I come back up

That is a great idea - I am always mindful of that when we dive. Want to share the details on your PVC canister construction and how deep you have been with it?

Thanks

John

Pgitug · May 18, 2016

mbevins said:
I personally prefer ICOM but whatever you choose ensure the battery is LiOn and not the older NiCd .

This is a MUST. LiOn will keep a full charge for over a year with radio kept in ditch bag. NiCd is just bad news.

koliver · May 18, 2016

I am on only my second handheld in about 30 years. The first had NiCad batteries and I eventually tossed it to get the present one with Lithium Ion batteries (both Icom). I don't recall how old the present one is, but when I tried it about 3 weeks ago, when I returned to my boat after being away for almost 6 months, it was still charged.

MYTraveler · May 18, 2016

Drake said:
Standard Horizon HX 870. Floats, strobe, gps, dot matrix display.

I have the 871, which I think is the current designation, but includes DSC calling. We use it (actually, we like and use it so much, we have three of them) to communicate with our jet skis, dinghy, and (where legal) people on shore. Oftentimes the user has little familiarity with boats and radios, so the DSC feature makes it real easy to hail them -- no need for anyone to monitor 16.

Speaking of ditch bags, get a battery pack and seal up some alkaline batteries so you never have to worry about running out of juice in an emergency.

tcpip95 · May 18, 2016

Capt Jack said:
That is a great idea - I am always mindful of that when we dive. Want to share the details on your PVC canister construction and how deep you have been with it?

Thanks

John

Sorry, been travelling. I built it out of 3" x 18" PVC pipe used in plumbing. Capped the one end with pipe glue, and the other end is threaded. I have a threaded end cap, and use teflon tape on the threads to seal it up. I put a channel locks in my BCD in the event I have to open it. To make it slightly positive buoyant I add 2 lbs of weight (bean bag) to the cannister. That way if I lose it, it's going to the surface. I painted it bright florescent orange to spot it easier on the surface if it did get loose. I bought two black nylon dog collars (one on each end of the housing) and I hook it on to my BCD alongside the tank. I've been down to 100' with it. I leave it sealed until the completion of the trip, then open it up at home until next trip.

When I get home I'll post some pictures of it.

Blissboat · May 19, 2016

My battered old Standard Horizon HX-250, still on its original battery, is going on twenty-two years of intermittently hard use and thoughtless abuse. Been dropped, wet, baked in a closed car in the Florida sun for days, and schlepped between dozens of boats. Still holds a charge and works like new. That said, I don't think anyone could go wrong with either S.H. or ICOM, though the latter are more expensive.

mbevins · May 19, 2016

Capt Jack said:
What model ICOM do you have?

John

I've got an IC-M1V it's a small thing.
I had it for about 6 years. Just to it off the shelf to check the model number. I think it's been about a year since I last charged it. Still full.
Gotta love it.

Poach · May 19, 2016

Standard Horizon--had it 20 years and no battery problems.

windled · May 19, 2016

I have a Standard Horizoni bought for $99 at West Marine. Sorry I can't remember the model... I live in Canada and keep it at our condo in Florida for use when I go out on charters and occasional deliveries in Florida during the winter. It amazes me. I charge it, use for a couple of days, store it sometimes for 6 months, turned off, then use it again in and off for 10-12 days, store it again for a month or two... And on... and on... And for almost two years, I turn it on and it fully charged. I charge it when I head off on a delivery, or a longish trip, etc. But it usually doesn't need it. It is amazing!

CaptTom · May 20, 2016

Much as I like Standard Horizon and iCom brands, I ended up with a pair of Uniden Atlantis 290's.

The big draw here was they also have FRS channels. Perfect for when I take the dog ashore or go exploring in the dinghy. We can chit-chat without worrying about using a regular VHF channel that way.

Capt Jack · May 21, 2016

Thanks for all the information. I ended up ordering a Standard Horizon HX870.

Appreciate all the replies and information.

John

tcpip95 · Jun 7, 2016

Capt Jack said:
That is a great idea - I am always mindful of that when we dive. Want to share the details on your PVC canister construction and how deep you have been with it?

Thanks

John

Finally got around to taking the pictures.

It's 3" ID PVC that I cut to length to fit my radio, PLB, and 2 lb bean bag weight. I cemented a round end cap on one end, and a threaded one on the other end.

The first picture shows a 2 lb bean bag weight, the HX870, and the PLB. I put the bean bag in first, followed by the HX870. I drop the radio in so that the rubber ducky antenna is oriented up towards the opening. After that I drop the PLB in so that it fits right alongside the rubber ducky antenna. Finally, I give it a few wraps of teflon tape and seal it up nice and tight. I then use two black nylon dog collars to attach it to my BCD back alongside my tank.

The second photo shows the configuration inside the cannister.

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The 2 lb weight leaves it slightly positively buoyant so that if for some reason I were to lose it, it'll go up to the surface. I then painted it florescent orange to make it easier to see on the surface.

I also added my phone number to the outside of it, just in case someone were to find it, they'd at least know who it came from. I also wrote the contents of it in case someone found it and didn't know what was in it.

On my SAR card that I filled out with NOAA for my PLB, I added the comment "Survivor has portable VHF radio and will be monitoring CH 16".

Shoalwaters · Jun 8, 2016

tcpip95 said:
It's 3" ID PVC . . . . threaded on the other end.

I find threaded PVC tends to bind and requires a wrench to unscrew. Any problems like that?

psneeld · Jun 8, 2016

Shoalwaters said:
tcpip95 said:

It's 3" ID PVC . . . . threaded on the other end.

I find threaded PVC tends to bind and requires a wrench to unscrew. Any problems like that?

Click to expand...

While true, if you need your radio or PLB when surfacing from a dive, adrenaline may help your grip...

tcpip95 · Jun 8, 2016

I put a pair of Channel Locks in my BCD pocket precisely for that reason. Yes, it is a PITA to open up, but like you said, when you need it, trust me, you'll get it open.

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