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Hand Held Radios

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/31/2010 : 16:56:06

On the spur of the moment and with no research I purchased a Standard Horizon HX851 Hand Held VHF radio this afternoon at Bass Pro Shops. Unit has GPS, DSC, 6 watt output, etc...

Anyone own one of these or have a recommendation on one that might be better? It's still charging and I can still return if anyone has a better suggestion.

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2010 : 19:09:54

Thanks for posting, we have been looking at handhelds and that looks to be a really nice unit.

Have you seen this [url="http://www.thegpsstore.com/Standard-Horizon-Alkaline-Battery-Tray-P2013.aspx"]Battery Tray[/url]

Paul

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2010 : 19:17:42

Gary,
Good luck with the new handheld.
I don't have that handheld, but I really like my Cobra HH125 unit and use it all the time.
The NAVAS group in SF Bay recommend the radio.
It even has glow-in-the-dark gaskets in case you drop it in the water at night.
Since it includes a GPS, you can program it for DSC. You need to obtain an MMSI from BoatUS to program it. PROGRAM IT.
Hope it works great.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2010 : 21:07:25

Looks like a very nice unit. I very strongly recommend a handheld on every boat--if something really goes wrong (electrical fire, lightning strike, capsize...), your wired-in radio might not be of much use. I prefer one that uses alkaline batteries over a rechargeable--much longer life when lying unused in my ditch bag, and there might times when I can replace batteries more expeditiously than recharge. DSC with GPS is a plus--my S-H handheld is a little longer-in-the-tooth.

Bruce, put it in your letter to Santa...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/31/2010 21:11:29

Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2010 : 07:17:06

I have the HX851, I was impressed with the reviews, power, DSC and GPS functions, but I have not had an opportunity to use it. I bought it in May and haven't been on the water yet.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2010 : 07:23:59

Got one, love it!

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2010 : 13:35:26

It's like "which PFD is best for me?" The one you wear!!! In your case, a bird in the hand...

Most VHF radios these days are very good. The only ones I've had difficulty with were the Unidens 'cuz their speakers weren't powerful enough to hear when it got too windy.

We have a Standard Horizon HX270, which works just fine, not a whole of of bells and whistles. The triple watch is even more than we need, I just scan three or four stations on a regular basis. Most of the features are a tad too much, but they come with the chipsets built-in.

Get an MMSI # for free from www.boatus.com.

We use the rechargeables since we have a cig lighter plug and while I'm getting the boat ready to go we charge it up, works all day. We do have the alkaline battery tray option, and it's loaded and ready to go anytime.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 08/01/2010 13:38:56

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2010 : 16:18:50

That looks like an excellent radio. With a Li-ion battery it should give very good life on standby and good transmit power. I did not see what type of antenna connector it has but I would try get an adapter to a PL-259 so you can connect it to a mast head antenna when the need arises. You will be amazed a the range.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2010 : 20:11:57

Sorry I haven't posted again til now. Decided to go down to the boat at 9 last night. Had a pretty decent sail this morning until the wind died and the blast furnace kicked into overdrive. Wasn't too bad til I got back to my slip. I thought I was going to die in 20 minutes. No wind and 98 degress. It was 104 on the freeway on the way home.

Anyway, radio is really nice. I was hearing the Coast Guard from Corpus Christi, TX, New Orleans and one call from somehwere on the Mississippi near Memphis. I'm assuming they are simulcasting or whatever they call it. Did hear several people talking from the Galveston area (20-25 miles away). With my old Midland handheld I didn't hear much of anything. The GPS locks on pretty quick and seems very accurate.

I did get a MMSI from BoatUs last night before I left and programmed it in.

The unit floats and has the glow in the dark gaskets along with a very intense white "strobe" which can be used as a steady light like a flashlight or programmed to flash S.O.S or a couple of other things. It is very, very bright.

Worst part of the day was after I drove an hour to get home I'm taking a shower getting ready to go pick my wife up at the airport and I remembered I left my new radio clipped to the strap under the bimini. Had to haul an hour back down to the boat and retrieve the radio (took 10 seconds) and then haul 35 minutes back across town to the airport to pick up my wife. Man it really p#$#@s me off when I do that!

Btw, the guy I spoke to at Bass Pro Shops has the HX751 and he says he goes about four trips offshore before he has to recharge.

Edited by - GaryB on 08/01/2010 20:23:32

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 07:08:43

The more I read, the more I wish I needed a new handheld! ...but my 15+YO HX350 works great. (Transmits, receives... sinks like a rock... that's about it.) I don't think they had Li-ion batteries back then.

Yes, the USCG has big towers along coastlines, with high-powered transmitters, and as part of the new "Rescue 21" system, very sensitive directional receivers. They can pick up a 5W signal from something like 50 miles out and triangulate on it to get a pretty good position. I hear their transmissions from Sandy Hook, NJ, (125 miles away) perhaps from repeaters on Long Island. The days of illegal shoreside transmitters might be coming to an end--the Coasties will be able to put the cross-hairs on your house.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5895 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 08:22:21

I have two ICOMs, both with Li-ion batteries. One was pricey and the other was mid-range in price, and both are excellent radios. Battery life is incredible. Both have been in a rainy cockpit all day without harm. My only fear is that one will go over the side and sink to the bottom of the Bay. (I don't know if they'll float. Afraid to test them.)

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 08:35:48

I have the Icom M34 VHF Floating Hand Held Radio with li-ion Battery. It does great for me, much better than my friend's hand held from WM. I paid about $130 for it on sale.

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djdurrett
Navigator

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124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 09:03:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 I have the Icom M34 VHF Floating Hand Held Radio with li-ion Battery. It does great for me, much better than my friend's hand held from WM. I paid about $130 for it on sale.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Either mine (Cobra) sucks or yours doesn't work because every time I call you on it you don't answer! LOL

BTW, GREAT WIND SATURDAY NIGHT!

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 09:21:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djdurrett
 
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 I have the Icom M34 VHF Floating Hand Held Radio with li-ion Battery. It does great for me, much better than my friend's hand held from WM. I paid about $130 for it on sale.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Either mine (Cobra) sucks or yours doesn't work because every time I call you on it you don't answer! LOL

BTW, GREAT WIND SATURDAY NIGHT!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I keep bringing it and forgetting to turn it on, I'll make sure to do so from now on. Yes, Saturday night was sweeeeet!

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 10:33:38

Send some wind down to the coast. We're cooking.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 12:07:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Send some wind down to the coast. We're cooking.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sorry to hear that, normally it's like that up here this time of year but so far this year has been great.

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