Pro's & Con's of fixed vs handheld dfc/vhf radio's

[qcamel]

I am booked onto my operators course in early October thanks to all the great advice gleaned from the members of this site. My next question is which radio to choose? Everybody advices obtaining a dfc/vhf but do I go handheld for added security and extended use or a radio fixed to my consule? Also any guidance as to which models to look at? I know there is a radio manufacturer represented on this site, he always talks sense and so I am initially drawn to that product range.

Any thoughts and guidance most welcome.

[Louise]

If you can, I would go for one of each. The fixed set will have a greater range than the handheld as you can mount a full size aerial on the a-frame but for safety it is wise to have a handheld too as a back up. My other half wears his handheld round his neck so that if the worst happened and he/we ended up in the water, he can get help without having to try to get back into the boat (which could be on fire or overturned...).

HTH

If budget doesn't allow both straightaway, maybe start with a handheld. If your cruising tends to be close to harbours, the range will probably be fine.

[slimtim]

I've been debating this myself. Handheld or fixed? The things I've come up with so far are:

Handheld
- easier to take home at the end of the day
- less console space taken up
- cheaper?
- use it anywhere on the boat
- limited battery life
- No additional wiring needed

Fixed
- longer range
- longer battery life
- not so easy to take home
- takes up console space
- more pricey?

So I'm no where nearer to a decision either! Some points to consider though.

Tim

[Scary Des]

I think that when you weigh up all the pros and cons the real difference is that fixed gives you that little bit more range than handheld.

The real question is do you really want DSC? Why not buy a good (cheap) VHF that will give you 5 years of reliable service while DSC set get cheaper and more useful
Des

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by Louise

....... My other half wears his handheld round his neck so that if the worst happened and he/we ended up in the water, he can get help without having to try to get back into the boat............

Hi Louise
Have you any experience of the range you get with a hand held at sea level, not trying to start an argument just curious

Des

[Louise]

Hi Des - can't remember off hand. Will get Richard to post when he gets home - he usually has a better memory for these things than I do!

[pmorgan]

Don’t know if this helps... On an RYA sailing course we were give a rule of thumb that a fixed mount vhf on low power (1W) would give an effective range of 1 nm where as on high power (25 W), 15+ nm, handhelds are normally 5W on maximum power.

Don’t forget the fixed aerial on yacht is at the top of the mast and this will increase the range. So I do not expect the handhelds effective range to be much better than a fixed one on low power. I have only experienced handheld to handheld range on RIBS on RYA courses, they worked OK but we were with in easy sight of each – maybe 1km apart.

[UKPOWERBOAT]

Hi qcamel,

I had a Simrad RD68 fixed DSC radio on my rib, also bought a handheld ICOM M1V DSC radio. The Simrad used to give me grief and shortly before I sold my Rib the screen was starting to go and if you check another Forum you will find quite a few other members have had problems with their Simrads RD68's and getting no usefull advice backup from Simrad themselves.

Found the relevant links for you:
Simrad RD68-My Experience

Simrad Rd68

The ICOM M1V I have is excelent, although I do not know what range it has as yet, have been round IOW and still retained coverage althought that is the extent I have relied on it. The battery lasts a long time and it is easy to use.

Hopefully this will be of some use to you. Good luck

[Simon Hawkins]

Both are useful and effective. Handhelds will only transmit at a maximum of 5 watt whereas a fixed set will transmit at 25 watt, which will give you greater range. Look at what purpose you are going to use the VHF. If you are going to doing alot of cruising then a fixed set, however if you are to do your boating where you are in close proximity of other vessells then a handheld should suffice. If you go for the fixed set then please bear in mind the higher the arial the better the signal will be and also try and buy a handhled as a backup as radios do fail.

With regards to DSC as of next year the coastguard will not monitor channell 16 on their headsets but will instead have it coming through a speaker in the ops room, therefore the chances of them picking up a distress call will be reduced. In 2007 channell 16 will be obsolete so thereforte I would say go for a DSC unit Silva do a nice one for about £200-00.

Hope this is of use to you

Simon

[qcamel]

Thats great guys, thanks for the advice and help. The dealer was pointing me towards the Simrad range, so very pleased I read the posts... Looks like ICOM are about to get some of my folding money...

Ollie