What’s a good VHF?

  • smackem
    Iowa Marshall Co
    Posts: 956
    June 16, 2011 at 5:57 pm #1238513

    I just as well get one so which ones should I be looking at? I don’t plan on fishing the great lakes

    Thanks

    Mark

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 16, 2011 at 6:09 pm #973839

    Well I can’t pass up this post.

    I bought a Standard Horizon radio from JollyAnn Marine a few year back. It was about a year old when the speaker in the mic started failing. I didn’t have time to check out if it was me or the unit until (what I thought was a 1 year warrenty) was up. So I waited another year before I pulled it out of the boat in the winter thinking I would get some odds and ends fixed up in the off season.

    Well when I was looking up the contact info I found that SH Radios have a 2 year warrenty and mine was a couple three month out now that I waited so long.

    Contacted SH and recieved a prompt RGA # that instructed me to send it in.

    Did that and it came back with a new mic….No Charge!

    Since then I’ve talked via email a couple times to the tech and he was there to help each time. Good companies value and keep good employees.

    Obviously I’m a Standard Horizon cheerleader.

    stuwest
    Elmwood, WI
    Posts: 2254
    June 16, 2011 at 6:14 pm #973842

    I’ve got 2-3 boats that i use VHF in so i stick with one manufacturer, e.g. pull the unit, the power, ant and hail connectors are all identical.

    I use Icom and have been very satisfied with their quality over the last two decades.

    One thing that I will stress tho, is to get a model that has a hail speaker connector to it so that you can contact other boats underway. While we are trolling, this has saved SEVERAL rigs, especially planning boards…

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 16, 2011 at 6:34 pm #973852

    Features I like?

    A channel scan.
    The DSC feature.
    25 watts (I’ve used the low power feature a couple times)
    Speaker in the mic is nice for hearing while moving.

    I’m not into all the bells and whistles…and that keeps the price down.

    Good Radio for $129.<<

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 16, 2011 at 6:36 pm #973853

    Quote:

    get a model that has a hail speaker connector

    Makes sense, didn’t think they came without that any longer.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18617
    June 16, 2011 at 6:42 pm #973858

    Quote:

    Features I like?
    Speaker in the mic is nice for hearing while moving.

    I dont see that feature listed?

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 16, 2011 at 6:49 pm #973863

    Standard Horizon or ICOM. Both good choices.

    -J.

    stuwest
    Elmwood, WI
    Posts: 2254
    June 16, 2011 at 7:06 pm #973868

    while the circuitry is there for speakers on nearly all, it’s nice to have designated connectors and capability to hail with out switching, which doesn’t come will all.

    the big differences in quality have pretty much disappeared. the main problem a couple of decades ago was waterproofing as the units were designed to go inside cars/trucks. now, with sprayed boards there is very little problem as long as you are not expecting to run them submerged… hey, i’ve seen guys complain about not being able to do that…

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 16, 2011 at 7:26 pm #973877

    No reason to pick on Jon Jordan in this post.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 16, 2011 at 7:38 pm #973879

    A radio sold as “Submersable” should work after being under water.

    I would not count on that being the case with any radio out there under $250.

    That said, a VHF is a novalty item in my boat. I rely on my cell phone. If that don’t work, well I’m screwed!

    -J.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 16, 2011 at 7:59 pm #973885

    Was your cell advertised as “submersible”.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 16, 2011 at 8:19 pm #973893

    No. Portable. Grab that sucker and hold ‘er high!!!

    -J.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    June 17, 2011 at 2:45 am #973964

    Quote:

    What channels do catfish monitor?

    Catfish don’t have radios silly.

    mojogunter
    Posts: 3301
    June 18, 2011 at 9:14 pm #974257

    Just stay away from Ray marine Radios. I have had three that have come in new boats that I have purchased, and all three I had to replace.

    Quote:

    I just as well get one so which ones should I be looking at? I don’t plan on fishing the great lakes

    Thanks
    Mark

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