replacing VHF advice

[Reggie]

Hi
I've had two Garmin 100i fixed DCS VHF's now in my RIB. One came with the boat and the second was a replacement from Garmin. The main issue is they fog up and with the location on the helm is quite hard to access the menu whilst underway.
In rough conditions this weekend i also lost comms. i can hear traffic but no one can hear me - i resorted to my very old faithful, non DSC, handheld.
Does anyone have any suggestions of replacements that will fit in the same cut-out ideally.
Or am i better investing in a good DSC handheld which i can then have clipped to me making menu access et much easier 0 if so nay thoughts on model and is thie Standard Horizon HX870E Floating Class D DSC Handheld VHF Wi any good?

Thanks very much

[beamishken]

A handheld will have reduced transmit power compared to a fixed unit
If I were you I'd go for a fixed unit from Icom or standard horizon they seem to be accepted as the best out there I've got one of each and happy with both

[Poly]

Originally Posted by beamishken

A handheld will have reduced transmit power compared to a fixed unit

although from a rib line of sight means 5-6W will normally reach anyone who might be in range. The downsides are height matters, Antenna gain helps, you have to charge them, and if you've fallen over the side with the h/held your crew can't press red. So I remain a fan of fixed but not for pure power reasons.

However OP, if you can hear them but they can't hear you usually this points to a problem with the antennae rather than the set itself - check your coax for breaks/bad joins.