Need a good handheld marine band radio

  • Wadsworth
    Posts: 255
    July 8, 2003 at 4:25 am #1232198

    I’m looking for a good handheld marine band radio, I need one that I can call another radio from about 5 miles away across the water, anybody know of a good handheld, or am I going to have to resort to a permanent radio to mount in my boat?

    bill_cadwell
    Rochester, Minnesota
    Posts: 12607
    July 8, 2003 at 8:01 pm #270168

    I don’t have one but have checked into them as I will someday buy one. I have heard that the Humminbird Hand Held ones are pretty good. On page 123 of the Cabelas Spring 2003 Catalog they are listed for 79.99 and 89.99 and Uniden has a hand held one pictured also for 99.99 on that page. On page 122 there are some Uniden mounting ones for 89.99 and 99.99 and 139.99 also. If you buy one of those from Cabelas they will sell you 39.99 antenna with ratchet for 19.99 so that saves you some money too. Good luck on making your discision and let us know which one you get and how you like it. Thanks, Bill

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    July 8, 2003 at 8:25 pm #270169

    I have a Humminbird VH-5 and give it a “Pretty Darn Good” rating for a handheld. Especially for $79 bucks. If you get one, order the cigarette lighter adapter as they chew through the batteries. (They all do) It is a full feature radio with scan and weather stations. It is not waterproof. However, I have got mine wet many times.

    On a good day, I have got 6 miles back to an 8 foot antenna fix- mounted radio. Expect 3 miles for a handheld to handheld.

    Unidens are junk. Save your money there.

    If I were to go buy another handheld today, I’d take a serious look at the ICOM series of handheld radios. More money, but I think they are worth it. See this link for more info:

    Click on the ICOM logo, then click on “Handhelds”

    ICOM Hand Held VHF Radios

    Good luck on your search.

    Jon J.

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    July 8, 2003 at 10:50 pm #270172

    ICOM’s the best in the biz. They sell on ebay used for pretty good prices but be careful of some ebay sellers. I’m not sure what the rules are on here and I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes but I retail marine electronics and to my knowledge these are good units. ICOM has won several awards in the business for their handheld units. I think Jon might be right about the Uniden’s but that is from second hand information I’ve heard. Good luck!

    Bob Carlson
    Mille Lacs Lake (eastside), Mn.
    Posts: 2936
    July 9, 2003 at 12:31 am #270177

    FYI….I have a Shakespear SE700 handheld. This is my second Shakespear, the first one had battery failure. This new one is a real dandy. Check them out in Cabela’s
    They sell for around $175.00
    I use it in the winter on the ice fishing trips.

    Wadsworth
    Posts: 255
    July 9, 2003 at 8:53 pm #270254

    Thanks guys, I think I’m going to mount one permanently in my boat, otherwise there is a 86% chance that I’ll lose it and not be able to find it again.

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