Navico RT-650 MOB

[SPR]

Just read about this VHF radio, seems to be pretty good idea:

http://www.myboatsgear.com/mbg/product.asp?prodID=2014

Anybody has thoughts on this?

S.

[willk]

I like the AIS function - the MOB is obviously nice but I'd want to see a price! It's probably a big investment to ditch/do without if a backlight fails. I like being able to bin a VHF if it gets naughty.

I like the idea of VHF/AIS receiver in one unit (if not to pricey) - it's a handy way of rigging the boat with AIS, someone on here has a Radio Ocean RO4800 which is made by Furuno and isn't too dear.

[SPR]

Only price i found is € 375 from a french company, including wireless handset and 1 MOB.

S.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by SPR

Only price i found is € 375 from a french company, including wireless handset and 1 MOB.

S.

That model has not yet appeared on the UK Distributor's price list.

If the 375 Euros is for the AIS version then that is a great price!

[Channel Ribs]

I have just heard back from them...

RT-650 Mob VHF DSC radio with built in AIS receiver, wireless remote & MOB wrist transmitter is 407.66

Additional MOB wrist transmitters are 85.06 each.

[Cookee]

As I understand it the problem with shared AIS VHF is that they both use the same antenna but in turn rather than at the same time therefore reducing the time either are "listening" resulting in missed VHF calls - would this get round this problem or still suffer from it?

[9D280]

That will depend on the electronics inside. If it has twin recievers then you get 24/7 on both. Some of the high end RDS car stereos used to have 2 recievers - one would look for the next stongest signal, and then it would switch when the one you were listening to started to get worse than the next one it had found. Only really worked to any great effect on the Beeb national stations tho'........

Having said that, remebring the VHF is the prime safety thing, I would imagine the switch rate is quite high, and will switch to VHF as soon as it detects something.

I also like the idea of the whole lot in one box, but it also has the disadvantage that if / when it breaks down, you've lost the lot.