calacowboy - 3-7-2005 at 08:36 AM
I am looking for a Hand held VHF radio. I did a search on the web and found a few basic facts: range about 5 miles....get a water proof model....any
other options to look for? Any recomedations for manufacturers or models from Nomads. TIA
calacocowboy
Bruce R Leech - 3-7-2005 at 08:39 AM
the Icom is a real nice set.
calacocowboy....
Anonymous - 3-7-2005 at 11:25 AM
I don't know what sporting goods stores you have around where you are..is it Calabasas, Ca.? Anyway, check those closest or you can order online from
West Marine or Dave's Electronics...both good companies and prices. I have Icom and Standard. I like the $150 Standard handheld for that
price/quality..comes with charger, etc. The power of these units in 5-20 watts on a selector and the range is very good. I have transmitted/received
20 miles with mine. Icom is good, too..but maybe not on sale as often as the Standard. Keep it fully charged. Bueno suerte.
Anonymous - 3-7-2005 at 11:41 AM
I really like my standard handheld and it doubles as a "telephone" when I'm in my car down south. I've never had a problem w/it. Got it on sale at
WestMarine.
bajalou - 3-7-2005 at 11:50 AM
A 20 watt handheld? Havent seen them mine are all 1 -5 watts. The base units are 5- 25 watts. When you say "VHF radio" just what do you mean? I
suspect you are talking of the Marine type with the Marine channels programed in. Is that correct. The VHF spectrun covers a whole world of radio
types other than just Marine.
The West Marine brand units that I have purchased in the past have been manufactured by Uniden. A good mfgr with great warranty and repair. A out of
warranty base unit - fully repaired for about $50.
I now use only ICOM tho.
[Edited on 3-7-2005 by bajalou]
tim40 - 3-7-2005 at 05:39 PM
Really, 20 Watt? I have never heard of a hand held with this power. I would turn in my trackmaster in a heart beat if this were so...Now, mine is
for racing use, but can not imagine a difference other than the channel programming.
bajalou - 3-7-2005 at 06:04 PM
A linear is pretty clumbersome and battery hungry for a handheld.
Bruce R Leech - 3-7-2005 at 06:16 PM
20 watt hand held . I don't think so .I searched the web and found nothing. the trouble is if you had one the battery would be so large it wouldn't be
a hand held.
bufeo - 3-7-2005 at 06:32 PM
calacowboy,
We have four hand-helds. Icon, Raytheon, Apelco (also Raytheon, and Uniden-they're all good. Line of sight xmn. Good communication units. All the
sources listed above are good starting points with Boater's World added.
You have West Marine north of you in Ventura and there's a good marine store (I forget the name) near you in Calabasas as well.
I would discount Anon's 20-watt version. I suspect she/he was aluding to the base units which have, as pointed out, 1-, 5-, and 25-watt capability.
My favorite 2-M
cristobal - 3-7-2005 at 06:43 PM
There is a very nice hand-held VHF radio put out by YAESU.
It is the VX-150 .... but this one only has 5 WATTS.
The nicest feature on this model is the ...
VOLTAGE readout ....
you can punch in a code and read the VOLTAGE left in your battery ....
I have never seen this feature on any other 2-M radio. The fishermen like this feature ... it lets them know when it is time to charge ..... or change
batteries.
The new ones are for sale on E-BAY today for $139.00 + $10.00 S&H
The used ones are a bit less ....
3 were selling a half-hour ago for...
$71.00
$81.00
$96.51
handheld
BajaDanD - 3-7-2005 at 07:25 PM
I use a Standard horizon HX260S its Submersable I use ti for Kayakfishing and boating range is around Five miles Mainly because of Line of sight. If
Im high up on a hill overlooking water I can recieve and transmit much farther. on the water its 5 miles Max.
bajalou - 3-7-2005 at 07:57 PM
A couple years ago, Wornout was on the beach at Puerto Penasco and talked to me and others here in San Felipe. I'm at a 500ft alt here using a Uniden
base unit with a 6ft marine antenna. Wornout was using a Icom? hand held at 5 w power. Just like next door. Also on a desert trip just north of
here and not up on a hill talked to fishermen just out of puert Penasco - Fisherman using a handheld and me using hand held here. So line of sight
is sometimes bent a little. Talk from homne to buggies in Valle Chico regularly and to Percebu daily.
Standard or ICOM, you cant go wrong....
Hook - 3-7-2005 at 09:09 PM
.....just be sure and get one that comes with nickel metal halide or lithium ion rechargeable battery packs AND make sure it comes with a secondary
battery tray that will hold alkaline batteries. NO NICADS! In an emergency, it is nice to pop in a fresh set of pilas alcalinas when you discover your
rechargeables are kaput.
Also look for models that come with a cigarette lighter charger.
Also, if you ever might want to use your HH radio as a receiver in a base station setup, you might consider a HH that has a BNC antenna connector. A
HH will receive signals as good as a base station if you put a basic 6 foot antenna up.
calacowboy - 3-7-2005 at 09:57 PM
Thanks for everyones input. I saw a Uniden atlantis 250bk for $93 +10 shipping on e-bay.....The ICOMs look real nice too, just a little more than I
want to spend, as I won't be using it too much.....on the other hand it might be worth it to spend a little more for a good one......
I'll check out the Standard's and Yaesu's tonite.
Hand Helds
Bedman - 3-8-2005 at 01:28 AM
HOOK has the right idea !!
If your going to be using it in Baja, get a set that comes with a secondary battery tray that will hold alkaline batteries. Charging HH's without 110
ain't easy and if your on the water it's all but Impossible.
BEDMAN
Uniden Atlantis
MrBillM - 3-8-2005 at 02:25 PM
I've used (2) of the Uniden Atlantis for a couple of years now. Can't beat the price. They're waterproof, come with an Nimh battery, a spare battery
pack for AA cells and both a AC and 12 VDC charger. The downside is that they are larger than the others, but that's not a consideration for me.
I also use a Uniden Base unit. Again, you can't beat the price, but it's downside is that it doesn't have a channel scan feature (the handhelds do).
calacowboy - 3-9-2005 at 09:45 AM
Well, I ended up getting the ICOM M1V
Thanks againn for everyone's advice.