Buying a Handheld VHF.......which one?

[Seafever]

Thinking about getting a handheld VHF radio........

Preferably:- shirt-pocket size,not too expensive, water-proof ( I don't know if they make one that floats but that would be a plus).........

If you were me what would you buy and where would you buy it?
Do I need a license?
Do I need to take any kind of course?

Mostly it would be used on ECVI........

 

[Saxe Point]

I would spend the money and get the VHF with digital distress. Standard Horizon HX851 is the one I have ...its 100 more than the standard VHF but worth the money. Its waterproof, floats, has GPS/including waypoint storage and has DSC. As for as licenses you need a ROC for your radio. Without your card it can be a big ticket. I have never been checked but you never know...

Course for radio is short a few classes, and is put on by your local power squadron.

I agree with HF. I have the exact same radio and the measure of safety afforded by the fact that the radio floats and is capable of sending out DSC distress signals with GPS position makes the extra $100 almost meaningless, especially given the other costs associated with boating and fishing. I have one as a backup to my fixed VHF but if your only VHF is a handheld, a floater with DSC and built in GPS like the Standard Horizon HX 851 is a must in my opinion.

I also agree that getting the proper radio operators certificate is a very good idea. I found the preparation very interesting and useful (I challenged the exam) and the the exam wasn't difficult.

 

[Sculpin]

I agree with HF. I have the exact same radio and the measure of safety afforded by the fact that the radio floats and is capable of sending out DSC distress signals with GPS position makes the extra $100 almost meaningless, especially given the other costs associated with boating and fishing. I have one as a backup to my fixed VHF but if your only VHF is a handheld, a floater with DSC and built in GPS like the Standard Horizon HX 851 is a must in my opinion.

X3. Same radio here.

 

[Kildonan]

I've been looking for a decent rig, this one looks good at 245 bucks. Cheap insurance to get you out of trouble if needed.

 

[beemer]

X3. Same radio here.

I like cheap and cheerful for a couple of reasons . West marine has a small and light handheld for 90.00. works great and I believe all the guts are standard horizon.
I have one permanently attached to my floater coat and several others around the boat for general use.

I am not a big believer in the DSC system. I listen to the VHF radio 18 hours a days as part of my job and I have NEVER heard of a search started because of a DSC alert that has been received by the Coast Guard. Most of the alerts are false alarms and by the time it takes for everyone to jump through all the hoops to get a boat on the water and start searching you are crab bait.

The last EPIRB alert that went off in our area was 4 miles off the actual location. The guy was washing his boat at the marina. Don't rely on DSC technology , it is not truly reliable.

beemer

 

[Saxe Point]

I am not a big believer in the DSC system. I listen to the VHF radio 18 hours a days as part of my job and I have NEVER heard of a search started because of a DSC alert that has been received by the Coast Guard. Most of the alerts are false alarms and by the time it takes for everyone to jump through all the hoops to get a boat on the water and start searching you are crab bait.

beemer

I believe that because I have never heard a distress DSC call, but have heard a few voice distress calls. I still think that DSC is a critical and essential safety feature. One button to push sends the distress signal, with GPS coordinates, and keeps sending until acknowledged. It just doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Charlie]

I like cheap and cheerful for a couple of reasons . West marine has a small and light handheld for 90.00. works great and I believe all the guts are standard horizon.
I have one permanently attached to my floater coat and several others around the boat for general use.

I am not a big believer in the DSC system. I listen to the VHF radio 18 hours a days as part of my job and I have NEVER heard of a search started because of a DSC alert that has been received by the Coast Guard. Most of the alerts are false alarms and by the time it takes for everyone to jump through all the hoops to get a boat on the water and start searching you are crab bait.

The last EPIRB alert that went off in our area was 4 miles off the actual location. The guy was washing his boat at the marina. Don't rely on DSC technology , it is not truly reliable.

beemer

i actually like cheap, also! I am also in favor of carrying portable handheld radios, even usually have one or two laying around and/or cliped to my belt; however, I would and will NOT EVER rely on any DSC, EPIRB, May Day call, or anything else to save my life - nor will I ever rely on any other aid!

If you rely on anything other than what is at hand, meaning another boat close by, your crew, and yourself (and do think PFDs, life rafts, and how to get some one out of that water). As, if you believe you only have to send a signal to anyone and they will come rushing to your rescue... you will probably just find yourself ending up DEAD!

When you do hear a DSC alert come accross the radio, it will diffently get your attention. First time you hear it, you will find yourself asking what the hell is that. It reminds me of a very loud engine alarm going off. I have actually heard several DSC alerts over the years. ALL that I have heard only created "pan pan" calls from the CG, who advised they had recieved a DSC alert and asking anyone and everyone for any additional information pertaining to the DSC alert. Everyone that I have heard, to my knowledge was considered a "false alarm" by the CG, and not one to my knowledge resulted in a SAR mission being launched.

The problem isn't with the DSC system. It is actually a good system and is reliable. The problem, and I take directly from http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtDsc is the:

" approximately 90% of VHF DSC distress alerts received by the Coast Guard do not contain position information, and approximately 60% do not contain a registered identity. The Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a DSC distress alert sent from such a radio. As a result, search and rescue efforts may normally be suspended when:

• no communications with the distressed vessel can be established;
• no further information or means of contacting the vessel can be obtained from other sources; and,
• no position information is known.

I am here to tell you, unless you want to be considered just another "false alarm" and if you really want the DSC system to work for you when you need it; I would highly suggest you do your part to reduce those above percentages.

At least, take the time to properly register those DSC radios, and provide the correct information! That just MIGHT even help and "aid" in the saving your life some day?

 

[Saxe Point]

i actually like cheap, also! I am also in favor of carrying portable handheld radios, even usually have one or two laying around and/or cliped to my belt; however, I would and will NOT EVER rely on any DSC, EPIRB, May Day call, or anything else to save my life - nor will I ever rely on any other aid!

If you rely on anything other than what is at hand, meaning another boat close by, your crew, and yourself (and do think PFDs, life rafts, and how to get some one out of that water). As, if you believe you only have to send a signal to anyone and they will come rushing to your rescue... you will probably just find yourself ending up DEAD!

When you do hear a DSC alert come accross the radio, it will diffently get your attention. First time you hear it, you will find yourself asking what the hell is that. It reminds me of a very loud engine alarm going off. I have actually heard several DSC alerts over the years. ALL that I have heard only created "pan pan" calls from the CG, who advised they had recieved a DSC alert and asking anyone and everyone for any additional information pertaining to the DSC alert. Everyone that I have heard, to my knowledge was considered a "false alarm" by the CG, and not one to my knowledge resulted in a SAR mission being launched.

The problem isn't with the DSC system. It is actually a good system and is reliable. The problem, and I take directly from http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtDsc is the:

" approximately 90% of VHF DSC distress alerts received by the Coast Guard do not contain position information, and approximately 60% do not contain a registered identity. The Coast Guard cannot effectively respond to a DSC distress alert sent from such a radio. As a result, search and rescue efforts may normally be suspended when:

• no communications with the distressed vessel can be established;
• no further information or means of contacting the vessel can be obtained from other sources; and,
• no position information is known.

I am here to tell you, unless you want to be considered just another "false alarm" and if you really want the DSC system to work for you when you need it; I would highly suggest you do your part to reduce those above percentages.

At least, take the time to properly register those DSC radios, and provide the correct information! That just MIGHT even help and "aid" in the saving your life some day?

Of course you are absolutely right Charlie. It is foolhardy to rely on one safety aid at the expense of another. And I also read that statistic that suggests that hardly anyone connects their DSC radios to GPS or gets an MMSI. Given that those two things tell the CG who and where you are (and therefore allows them to broadcast that info to every other boater with a radio on), I am baffled why people won't take those two elementary steps when they are free and easy and so important.

I agree that any time it takes to scramble SAR might be too long for survivability if your are in the water. But even so, I am almost always near other boats and if the CG knows the name and description of my boat AND it's last GPS position, it will hail for assistance from nearby boats, which are probably your best chance. That is why I've got my radio and GPS connected and my MMSI. My boat is small so a life raft is not feasible.

 

[Theb55]

Furthermore, once you push that distress button with MMSI, your position is continuously updated and you don't have to sit on the radio. You are free to other things, like maybe try and deal with an emergency.

 

[reelfast]

since the beginning of this calendar year, i have had the DSC alarm go off half a dozen times. conversations with the USCG followed along with me listenning. in two of those instances, the CG asked for any boats in the area to provide assistance. in virtually all cases, the first responder is going to be another boat you or me. don't ignore these alerts and respond if you are close enough. your turn may be next.

 

[scott craven]

Anybody using the Standard Horizon HX290 hand held ?
looks like a good little unit, water proof and floats

 

[Seafever]

Well.....after the responses:- Standard Horizon seemed to be the way to go.

I was in the shipwright's in Coombs picking up some nylon bushings for my lake rowboat when I noticed they had the HX290 VHF Standard Horizon in there for 139 bucks, regularly 175 bucks.

Since I will not be hooking it up to GPS,DPIS, or MMSI.....I would be just using it the way it is, as an added aid in an emergency situation (and.......catch the marine weather forecasts......although I noticed that they use Environment Canada Marine as a reference). My boat isn't big enough for all the fancy marine electronics. All I have is:- fishfinder,cell-phone, portable GPS, electric downriggers.

This model seems to fit the bill for me. (and for my significant other...whom, if I fell in the chuck or had an issue of some kind, she would be the one using the radio....she is a tad challenged with anything that has more than 3 buttons on it, so I have to keep it as simple as I can.)

Thanks for all the input.....cheers...

 

[scott craven]

Seafever, check West Marine $129 less $20 mail in rebate

 

[Seafever]

Will do...thanks....

 

[fshnfnatic]

I bought a HX290 about 2 months ago for 119.00. Great little radio!! Sent the $20.00 rebate in and had the check in my
hands in just over a month. Great deal for a $100.00.