HandHeld VHF

[tompaddock]

Doing a lot of Rescue/Mark Laying work (seems to involve hopping from RIB to RIB far too much for my liking!)

Looking for a decent handheld VHF, must be waterproof (ie "jump into the water to save a small child and still be able to use the radio afterwards" waterproof, rather than "resists a few gentle trickles" waterproof)
Not bothered about DSC.
Would prefer an illuminating screen, but not particularly bothered.
MUST have a belt clip (i know it's a weird one, but I prefer things clipped to bouyancy aid - never round my neck :shudder)
Would prefer it to be around the £100 mark (preferably the right side of £100 - i'm a student!)

Any advice on where to start looking?
Thanks in advance,
Tom

[kerny]

I recomend the Icom m71 6watts and it has all you asked for exept the price maybe an extra £50-60 quid but worth it .

[Poly]

Originally Posted by tompaddock

Doing a lot of Rescue/Mark Laying work (seems to involve hopping from RIB to RIB far too much for my liking!)

Looking for a decent handheld VHF, must be waterproof (ie "jump into the water to save a small child and still be able to use the radio afterwards" waterproof, rather than "resists a few gentle trickles" waterproof)
Not bothered about DSC.
Would prefer an illuminating screen, but not particularly bothered.
MUST have a belt clip (i know it's a weird one, but I prefer things clipped to bouyancy aid - never round my neck :shudder)
Would prefer it to be around the £100 mark (preferably the right side of £100 - i'm a student!)

Any advice on where to start looking?
Thanks in advance,
Tom

The entry level standard horizon HX280 should be absolutely fine for what you've asked for. That said if you are genuinely leaping around alot then I'd suggest that belt clips can, and do, fail and I'd want a floating unit (something like the HX751) but beware the floating units generally have a shorter battery life.

The equivalent ICOMs are also generally well regarded. Apart from Entel (which is likely outside your budget) I'd probably avoid most other makes for what you require.

[ashbypower]

2nd vote for the M71 had our 2 years now been soaked a few times and they are still going strong!! also have a good bettery life too

[actions]

[QUOTE=Polwart;375738] The entry level standard horizon HX280 should be absolutely fine for what you've asked for.



Roughly how far out will this be useful for? 5 - 6miles? Also am i right in thinking we only need a licence from ofcom or do i need a certificate too, would only be for emergencies? Thanks

[kerny]

I think its law to hold a short range certificate for any vhf radio being transmitted, and 6 watts is roughly 6 miles .

[actions]

Originally Posted by kerny

I think its law to hold a short range certificate for any vhf radio being transmitted, and 6 watts is roughly 6 miles .

Ok thats perfect for me too then, just need to sort out a certficate then. Thanks.

[Pikey Dave]

can't fault the M71, we have one in the grab bag.
Yes, you still need a short range cert "technically"

[actions]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

can't fault the M71, we have one in the grab bag.
Yes, you still need a short range cert "technically"

I take it the technically bit would be, only use it in an emergency and then you probably wont get prosecuted as its a genuine emergency, but to be safe better off having one????

[ashbypower]

Originally Posted by kerny

I think its law to hold a short range certificate for any vhf radio being transmitted, and 6 watts is roughly 6 miles .

2 Licences are required, the SRC operators licence (for the operator) and a Maritime Mobile portable licence which will be issued with a "T" prefix call sign. The range well this depends on Ariel hight, you will not get six miles if you're in the water using it, however standin in a RiB with our M71's on 6w 6 -9 miles is not uncommon.

[actions]

Originally Posted by ashbypower

2 Licences are required, the SRC operators licence (for the operator) and a Maritime Mobile portable licence which will be issued with a "T" prefix call sign. The range well this depends on Ariel hight, you will not get six miles if you're in the water using it, however standin in a RiB with our M71's on 6w 6 -9 miles is not uncommon.

Super, i'm looking at going out about 6 to 7 miles to the world war forts off Herne Bay but didnt want to risk just relying on a mobile so wanted to get a vhf ready for next season to go out there.

Will look into the licences and where to get the training from one. Thanks.

[tompaddock]

Thanks so much for everything!

My club uses these:
http://www.force4.co.uk/5150/Cobra--...eld-Radio.html

Anyone know if you can get a belt clip for them?
T

[Poly]

[quote=actions;375740]

Originally Posted by Polwart

The entry level standard horizon HX280 should be absolutely fine for what you've asked for. Roughly how far out will this be useful for? 5 - 6miles?

Essentially the range is going to be determined by the height of the "other" station. If you are talking to another handheld on a RIB then you'll probably not get as far as 6 miles reliably. If you're talking to a yacht with an aerial at the top of their mast you should manage OK. You should manage 6 miles to a coastguard mast - assuming there are no headlands/hills etc in the way.

Also am i right in thinking we only need a licence from ofcom or do i need a certificate too, would only be for emergencies? Thanks

You need two bits of paper.

(1) a license for the boat/radio.

As I understand it if the boat has a valid license for a fixed radio then you can carry a handheld on that vessel without a further license. This would still cover you if you got off the main vessel onto a second boat (e.g. off a safety boat onto a dinghy) provided the main boat was still in the viscinity. If the main vessel doesn't have a fixed radio you need your own license - its free from Ofcom so no great issue.

(2) a license for the operator.

You'll need to do the RYA course. Technically if you are only ever transmitting in an emergency you might not, but you want to make sure you know how to use your radio properly before you find yourself trying to do it in the water! So it makes sense to use if sooner anyway - do you not discuss mark positions or safety boat instructions anyway?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by tompaddock

Thanks so much for everything!

My club uses these:
http://www.force4.co.uk/5150/Cobra--...eld-Radio.html

Anyone know if you can get a belt clip for them?
T

tom, it looks like a belt clip in that picture above the charger? not sure if you can buy separately - if they are like the other Cobra radios I've had the misfortune to encounter they probably don't usually last long enough to need replacement clips!

[actions]

[QUOTE=Polwart;375751]

Originally Posted by actions

You need two bits of paper.

(1) a license for the boat/radio.

As I understand it if the boat has a valid license for a fixed radio then you can carry a handheld on that vessel without a further license. This would still cover you if you got off the main vessel onto a second boat (e.g. off a safety boat onto a dinghy) provided the main boat was still in the viscinity. If the main vessel doesn't have a fixed radio you need your own license - its free from Ofcom so no great issue.

(2) a license for the operator.

You'll need to do the RYA course. Technically if you are only ever transmitting in an emergency you might not, but you want to make sure you know how to use your radio properly before you find yourself trying to do it in the water! So it makes sense to use if sooner anyway - do you not discuss mark positions or safety boat instructions anyway?

Super, thanks for this. I'm fairly new to boating, well at any distance from shore anyway. So am just trying to establish exactly what i need and this helps no end. Will get a VHF licence sorted before buying one.

[tompaddock]

Originally Posted by Polwart

if they are like the other Cobra radios I've had the misfortune to encounter they probably don't usually last long enough to need replacement clips!

thank you, Polwart: yes I think so :slightlyembarrassedsmile

May I ask why you don't find the Cobras durable?
T

[Poly]

Originally Posted by tompaddock

May I ask why you don't find the Cobras durable?
T

My first handheld was a cheap cobra. Its rubbish! If you hold the casing tightly in the wrong place or bend the ariel slightly it starts transmitting (i.e. press the case and the ptt button gets activated even though you are not pressing it). I've also got experience of a fixed unit which was just out warranty when the screen became unreadable due to moisture ingress.

The Standard Horizon is the same price as your Cobras - but is much more robust, and by all accounts SH have a much better warranty support if required.

[tompaddock]

Thank you: I must say I'd never considered the SH.
T

[tompaddock]

Have just come across this: looks perfect.
It's from the USA, but I still reckon it'd be cheaper than buying it in the UK.
It's 2nd hand, but is there something else I'm missing here?
http://www.sailsmarine.com/ItemDetail.aspx?c=10996
Thanks so much,
Tom

[kerny]

I'm not calling the makes mentioned but just to let you know that the battery life on the m71 is excellent and seems to last for ages before needing to be recharged .