Bargain priced VHF ?????

[matiboy]

see the attached link to online sales

http://www.uniden.com/docs/store/ite...rodcatselect=7

Just before Christmas in a rush of blood I bunged my credit card in the puter and a parcel promtly arrived in the post not long later containing a white model mc1020

cost me aprox 70 quid including postage

These are yank returned new units, they look excellent on the mantlepiece and the kids love playing with it

as I'll probably never get around to fitting it for 6 months I cannot report on wether this was a good idea or not, perhaps I should have gone for one of the handhelds which do look a bargain ?

I'm sure the white colour will match my console superbly if they ever get to meet each other

Incidently, came straight through the post no mention of customs duty ?

Oh I now need an arial, but as these cost in the Uk almost what I payed for this unit I'll wait until i can pick up a better price than 50 quid at the chandlers

Please all note my wanted ad for arial in ads section,

anybody totally bored and fancies fitting a vhf into my rib in Fareham area please feel free to help yourself

[matiboy]

Oh and please some clever clogs dont tell me it wont work in the UK or something else trivual like that ! LOL

That would totally destroy me and I would become the latest Ribnet laughing stock

[Manos]

Great site. Has very good bargains and already placed an order. Much much cheeper than LBS

CHEERS

[matiboy]

better looking than mine and costs 45 quid !

As supplied by Trotters independent traders !

[Scotty]

This may seem a very stupid question but as someone who is just about to order a VHF for the rib....... Are all vhf's weatherproof if you leave them behind on the boat in a marina situation......... you know what I mean.

Answers on a postcard etc.....

[wavelength]

MATIBOY
Excellent site - thanks for the tip!!!

[Jelly]

Greetings Matiboy
The American arm of the company I used to work for (just been RIF'd )used the Uniden and Hummingbird radios in the work boats and FRC's offshore.
From memory the Uniden lasted a reasonable length of time.
The Hummingbird has a great warrentee if in the USA, they die after a while but if you call them up there's a replacement at the dock waiting for you!! Any where else in the world float test it with a sinker they are not a great radio in the quality RF sence, but you can't beat the price and service.
Have you looked at the Standard.
Both are weatherproof not waterproof, as with all equipment don't let water sit on the unit as atmospheric changes can suck it past the seals. Unless you've visited DS Developments or the like.
Most will go to international settings instead of USA/CAN using a button press combination.
Have fun, I'll stick to the Icom
Jelly

[John Kennett]

Matiboy

Do make sure that it has an option to switch to International channels as the VHF channels used in the US are not quite the same. They are, however, close enough to fool you into thinking it is working -- right up until you need to transmit!


Scotty

Not all VHFs are weatherproof. Don't assume that it will be unless is specifically says so! Most weatherproof units (and even some "waterproof" ones) are only ptotected on the front so make sure it's mounted into a console where it will be reasonably dry.

Until a few years ago the Humminbird used to be the only real choice for RIBs as there were no other reasonably priced waterproof VHFs. The weatherproofing on them is OK, but the receive and transmit quality is pretty dire. I wouldn't buy one again. The Navico/Simrad VHFs look good, although pricy.


John

[matiboy]

with this sort of unit it will be quickly detachable from its mounting which was also supplied, with plugs for wire detachment

clearly you would need to detach the unit when leaving boat, for both theft reasons and no it will not be waterproof / condensation proof

I always detach all the console electronics and bung into the lockable console, cant see the point of having phone, vhf, fish finder and gps knicked when you go for a spot of lunch !


but hopefully a bit of a bargain

JK

I emailed company prior to ordering and they assured me it could be used in the uk, si time will tell ?

[whitingiom]

Seeing as I've just passed my VHF licence course, I'd better think about a fixed set (I had a handheld from my sailing days).

Are these £70 sets worth a punt? I bought my GPS from a dealer in Alabama a couple of years ago and that's great.

Could anyone who tests one of these Unidens or Solaras put a test report on the site.

Cheers