VHF Fixed radio - Page 3

Jon Brooks · 17 June 2004, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by roohairy

Have to hold my hand up and admit to having a little laugh at that too last night!

I've used Icoms a lot in the past and think they're great, just a little miffed at the difference in price here in the states. You can see why people would want to import them! I can buy a DSC 502 and bring it back inside the personal import exemption.

Have to say I will definitely buy an Icom though.

Roo

You could but your set would not work properly, channels missing, DSC wrong etc.
You would not get to deal with all the nice people here like me

Oh yeah and you would be breaking the law!

Regards

Biggles · 17 June 2004, 10:42

Well after listening to all the advice from everyone, I now have to make a choice.

My initial feelings were to go for the Icom 401 on price and good name and dismiss the DSC sets as being inferior.

However I would like the DSC as, The Powers that be have decided this is the future, and it does have some good points.

Jon has openly admitted that Icom have a product missing in their line up at the moment, namely a cheap DSC unit.

Therefore because I am only going to keep my boat for another two years I have decided to go for the Navmarine 7100 DSC unit. According to the Navmarine web site it has a 2 year warranty so that should keep it going.

Any other advice prior to me ordering the set would be most appreciated.

And once again Many thanks.

Nick R

Jon Brooks · 17 June 2004, 11:01

this is with my radio head on and not my Icom head,

Navman have a good name for instruments.
The radio is all a bit new for any faults to have shown up.
With 2 year warranty it should be a good buy.
If not get on to Mark Larkin at Navman UK and tell him I sent you

Regards

chrisallse · 17 June 2004, 11:57

Dont forget the 601 although more expensive does have fog horn and loudhailer as added value.

Biggles · 17 June 2004, 11:59

Cheers Jon,

Thanks for the info.

I would have liked to buy Icom and would dearly like the 601 but I've only got a small boat that I intend to keep for a couple of years then trade up. Then it will be all the best kit and the 601 fits that bill.

Unfortunately you don't seem to have a piece of kit that fits my present needs.

Many Thanks.

Nick R.

Rogue Wave · 17 June 2004, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisallse

Dont forget the 601 although more expensive does have fog horn and loudhailer as added value.

Chris I think the bloke wants to buy a HVF, this model sounds more like a wife

Louise · 17 June 2004, 12:08

On behalf of Britt & all wives everywhere...

Nick Hearne · 17 June 2004, 12:18

R W should that be a VHF NOT A HVF?

Jon Brooks · 17 June 2004, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Cheers Jon,

Thanks for the info.

I would have liked to buy Icom and would dearly like the 601 but I've only got a small boat that I intend to keep for a couple of years then trade up. Then it will be all the best kit and the 601 fits that bill.

Unfortunately you don't seem to have a piece of kit that fits my present needs.

Many Thanks.

Nick R.

Nick

No worries, I understand your problem and it is one I am keen to get resolved but it wont happen in time to help you.

Good luck and happy ribbing

Regards

gingercoastie · 17 June 2004, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

R W should that be a VHF NOT A HVF?

I think HVF was correct actualy - High Volume Female

Louise · 17 June 2004, 13:33

I've gone right off you!!

chrisallse · 17 June 2004, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Chris I think the bloke wants to buy a HVF, this model sounds more like a wife

Except it costs less

Rogue Wave · 17 June 2004, 14:51

Good point! O'ill have two.

HVF tee hee (it was originallty a tribute to the great gArfish The dyslexic dynamo from bOatmad)

Jon Brooks · 17 June 2004, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Good point! O'ill have two.

Blimey Rouge!!! 2 wives a gluten for punishment me thinks.

As someone once said to me "why have your own wife when you can have someone elses"

Regards

Nick Hearne · 17 June 2004, 15:35

Or to put it anther way
I did not know that happiness was till I got married!
But by then it was too late!

crmitch · 21 June 2004, 22:26

I bought an Icom 401 2 seasons ago, and mounted it on top of my Dory console (that's right, Dory...) and it worked fine. At the end of last year I bought an old 5.5m Tornado RIB (ah, that's alright then I hear you say...) and have now mounted it flush in the console.

Its a great radio and I've had no problems with it. Personally I wouldn't bother with DSC on a small boat.

Biggles · 24 June 2004, 09:58

Well I got my hands on a Navman 7100 DSC radio and managed to cram it into my small and now very overcrowded cockpit.

Many thanks for all your advice on Radio choice only time will tell if this set is up to the job.

When I came to wiring the Navman to the Garmin thats when I got a little bit stuck, the manual for each instrument talked about the wires in different terms and they were'nt even the same colour.

In the end I phoned Navman on their UK number and got put through to Plastimo. I ended up speaking to a chap called Paul David who gave me bags of assistance via E Mail and on the phone. I must say that without his assistance I would never have been able to wire both units together.

For the purposes of reference in case someone else has the same setup below is the basic wiring diagram to get these two little beauty's working:-

Navman 7100 DSC Radio to GarminGPS 126.

Navman 7100 wiring:-

Pin Wire Function (From Manual)

1 Red Not Used. (No Connection)
2 Orange NMEA OUT (+) (Not Used)
3 White Program or clone select (Not Used)
4 Yellow NMEA IN (+) (From GPS) Goes to the BLUE on the Garmin 126
5 Green NMEA IN (-) (From GPS) Goes to the Negative Supply or Buzz Bar. 6 Black NMEA OUT (-) (Ground, not used)
7 Blue NAVBUS (not used on 7000 or 7100)
8 Grey NAVBUS (not used on 7000 or 7100)

Garmin GPS 126 wiring:-

Pin Colour Function

1 Red 10 - 40 volts DC
2 Black Ground
3 Blue NMEA Out Goes to Yellow on the Navman 7100 this is the only cable you need to connect to the radio.4 Brown NMEA in
5 White No connection
6 Green No Connection
7 Yellow Alarm Low

Well I hope that is of use to somebody.

Biggles · 24 June 2004, 10:00

Now its all up and running does anyone know why channel 16 where I live (Near Basingstoke) seems to have permanent interference on it. I can't even squelch it out.

Pete7 · 24 June 2004, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Now its all up and running does anyone know why channel 16 where I live (Near Basingstoke) seems to have permanent interference on it. I can't even squelch it out.

Noticed this too on Sunday. Coastguard was having real problems and blaming the French (quite right too) but couldn't monitor 16 very easily. Since it affected both handheld and fixed VHF I was fairly confident it wasn't my radios constantly transmitting, always a worry.

Pete

gingercoastie · 24 June 2004, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Noticed this too on Sunday. Coastguard was having real problems and blaming the French (quite right too) but couldn't monitor 16 very easily. Since it affected both handheld and fixed VHF I was fairly confident it wasn't my radios constantly transmitting, always a worry.

Now if only every one had DSC we wouldn't need to listen to channel 16.