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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Want new VHF - good value for money

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5408 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/28/2008 : 23:00:51

I'd like to replace my VHF radio, as it is missing a few, er, features and channels.

I'd like one with DSC capabilities, and all the usual channels.

I've seen several in the $200+ range, but aside from a bunch of complicated options, I think I'm looking for good receiver sensitivity, clear transmission, high efficiency and full features for digital selective calling. I'm hoping to stay below $140 (?)

Does anybody have recent experience purchasing a new radio in this price range? I'd appreciate all your comments.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2008 : 23:44:34

I bought a SeaRanger on a clearance table at West Marine last winter for $100. I looks and specs like the 650 but with WHAM mic compatibility like the 550 that they now carry - no longer SeaRanger. I added a WHAM this year, so I now have full functionality including DSC, speaker, and hailer control (if I add a horn) hanging from my backstay. I made and laminated a card with DSC (and manual) distress instructions so now any guest can flip the cover and press the button from the cockpit or below. It is an excellent performer; it is to bad you can't have a WHAM or wired remote mic with the 650 or the more complete DSC feature set on the 550 (unless the have upgraded the 550). The 650 is $140, 550 is $120, and a WHAM Mic is 130, but a wired remote mike is less. The cord on the hard wired mic is long enough to use in the cockpit, but like most included mics, it doesn't give you the complete control of a Remote Access Mic.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2008 : 07:34:45

If your searanger is a portable type, then [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/37219/377%20710/0/sea%20ranger%20vhf/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=sea%20ranger%20vhf&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=sea%20ranger%20vhf&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=3&subdeptNum=null&classNum=0"]just $0.11[/url]

Paul

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2008 : 10:06:56

I have an [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/268653/377%20710%201397%204294966654/69/Global%20Positioning%20Systems/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710%201397%204294966654&Ne=69&Ntt=Global%20Positioning%20Systems&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=iCom&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=657"]iCom 304[/url] which meets all of your criteria. It is $160 at West Marine. Mine is hooked up to my Garmin GPS Chartplotter for DSC. I like the fact that it is full featured and yet compact in size.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/29/2008 10:08:25

mhartong
Navigator

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152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2008 : 12:16:57

Ditto on the iCom 304

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2008 : 14:49:44

Nope, fixed mount. All of the major brands including WM and and Uniden have very similar performance, but the ergonomics and features vary. Check them out and pick the one best suited to you. With similar features there probably isn't more than $40 price variation between brands.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2008 : 10:56:21

Whatever you get, get one with the remote mike. It'll be one of the top purchases you'll ever make for your boat.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5408 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2008 : 22:37:38

Thanks to all for the advice.

It's great to be able to cut to the chase when deciding on what the really critical features are. I would not have given much thought to the remote mike until after I'd gotten fully involved.

And Randy, compact is good, thanks.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2008 : 23:12:52

FWIW we purchased a Uniden 525 with the WHAMx4 microphone. I think total coat was around $240? You can find pretty good deals online for them, and don't forget WM will match anyone's price if you ask them to, that way you've got a store to go to if there are problems. We've yet to have our new radio on the water for various reasons this season, but I'm looking forward to using the new VHF. I know for a fact that it receives well, I've picked up the USCG from over 100 miles away on it, and I can occasionally hear people talking down in the Seattle area (we're about 20+ miles inland).

The DSC wasn't too hard to hook up, once I got the instructions straight in my head, and I know that you can use an older GPS to provide your position to it, that's what my friend does on his 43' Polaris. I think he's using a Garmin 12. I picked one of those up in a pawn shop a while back for $55.

I think the WHAM is going to be a good addition even though we have a handheld VHF as well. I like that I can control my main radio with the WHAM from a distance, as well as use it as an intercom for ship to shore or whatever. I'll be interested to see what it's range is. It's essentially a 2.4GHz telephone in intercom mode.

Let us know what you decide on. I agree with the other guys about Icom, they make great stuff, I chose the Uniden because the microphone is wireless whereas the Icom is wired. Plus the Uniden is a bit less expensive. I think if I were going offshore, I'd go with Icom.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2008 : 23:39:02

David,
The WHAMx4 looked great, but I wasn't sure if it would be compatible with my radio that pre-dates it. Even the basic WHAM was a great idea. As I said, I hang it from the backstay and couldn't imagine going back. I probably should have bought the x4 and tried it - that's what they suggested at WM since I could bring it back. I decided that I was spending enough without creating an excuse for buying a second x4 to really reap the benefit of the intercom.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2008 : 08:48:57

Have been looking also for a replacment radio. West has their own model (made by Standard Horizon?) on-sale in your price range with DSC. Icom is a better radio and will cost @$200.00 for their lowest end radio with DSC. I have not checked Defender yet. You can go crazy with electronics but if you can wait until the end of season some really good deals crop up at West and Defender.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4311 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2009 : 16:34:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 FWIW we purchased a Uniden 525 with the WHAMx4 microphone. I think total coat was around $240? You can find pretty good deals online for them, and don't forget WM will match anyone's price if you ask them to, that way you've got a store to go to if there are problems. We've yet to have our new radio on the water for various reasons this season, but I'm looking forward to using the new VHF. I know for a fact that it receives well, I've picked up the USCG from over 100 miles away on it, and I can occasionally hear people talking down in the Seattle area (we're about 20+ miles inland).

The DSC wasn't too hard to hook up, once I got the instructions straight in my head, and I know that you can use an older GPS to provide your position to it, that's what my friend does on his 43' Polaris. I think he's using a Garmin 12. I picked one of those up in a pawn shop a while back for $55.

I think the WHAM is going to be a good addition even though we have a handheld VHF as well. I like that I can control my main radio with the WHAM from a distance, as well as use it as an intercom for ship to shore or whatever. I'll be interested to see what it's range is. It's essentially a 2.4GHz telephone in intercom mode.

Let us know what you decide on. I agree with the other guys about Icom, they make great stuff, I chose the Uniden because the microphone is wireless whereas the Icom is wired. Plus the Uniden is a bit less expensive. I think if I were going offshore, I'd go with Icom.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

David,

How do you like your Uniden after having it for awhile? How do you like the WHAMx4? Have you had any problems with either the radio or remote? What's your opinion on the range of transmit and receive?

Thanks in advance!

Edited by - GaryB on 06/20/2009 16:34:44

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2009 : 17:15:19

Gary,
I really like the radio, especially the ability to scan through a number of channels which is important to me. I scan through about five of them to listen to Seattle traffic, ferries, bridge operators, USCG, etc. so I can stay on top of what's going on around me. I'll even turn it on if I'm just sitting in the slip to listen to what's going on.

The WHAM is great, although I've found that it'll drain it's batteries about 4-5 hours into a sail. This isn't a major problem, since I carry a back up handheld VHF as well.

Getting it hooked up to my GPS was a bit of a trick, but I finally figured it out, so now I have DSC capability.

Thus far I've exactly zero problems with the radio, and would highly recommend it.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5408 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2009 : 20:31:56

I finally purchased the:
Eclipse DSC GX1000S Fixed Mount VHF Radio, White 9457409 GX1000S WHITE Only $99.99 USD

It has a wired mike (which is mounted close to the companionway), an extension speaker, favorite channel scan and DSC. I sent away for an MMSI address for the radio and connected my Garmin 72 to the NMEA 0183 input to transmit my GPS coordinates.

Nothing particularly special, but has all the features I need.

Edited by - on

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