| Author | Message | ||
     Dick Bagley Intermediate Member Username: Dickb Post Number: 16 Registered: 03-2003 |
Toni, Practical Sailor did a comparison of several handheld's in your price range (Practical Sailor Vol. 28 Num. 9, May 1, 2002). Their top pick was the ICOM IC-M1V. | ||
| Toni Rawlins Member Username: Capntoni Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2003 |
Thank you for all of the feedback! Wow! I think my $200 price tag was ambitious for all of the features that I presumably need... water tight...battery flexibility...et. al.. Now I get to go shopping...my favorite hobby! | ||
| David Sheriff Board Administrator Username: David Post Number: 140 Registered: 10-2002 |
Lithium-ion batteries would be OK. But I would stay away from nickel-metal hydride. Lithium-ion batteries are pretty expensive. Nickel-metal hydride batteries self-discharge at a fairly rapid rate and are pretty much worthless 45 to 60 days after charging. I think that is why radio manufacturers are still using nickel cadmium batteries. The self discharge rate is much lower than for nickel-metal hydride. You can pick up your radio after it sits on the shelf for four months and it will still work. | ||
| Kendall Bailey Senior Member Username: Bucky Post Number: 49 Registered: 03-2003 |
Toni, My next handheld will contain NMH or Lithium Ion batteries. These do not have the same memory effect problems as NiCad batteries do. Both Icom and Standard Horizon have reputations for being very rugged. Icom was first to come out with a water resistant imersable radio. Now Standard Horizon and others produce same. Other desirable features are batery power indicator and being able to use AA batteries in a pinch. | ||
| David Sheriff Board Administrator Username: David Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have both an ICOM M3A (water resistant) and M2A (waterproof). Both are fine radios. I bought the M3A first and then realized that the M2A fit my risk profile better. The M2A saved Steve and me from much hardship (gross understatement) when I was able to hit CG LA from a dinghy on the backside of Santa Barbara Island (within a mile of Sutil Island) and Toni and Marc came to our rescue just before dark one day two summers ago. Thanks again. Among many things I learned from that experience was to vacuum-pack spare batteries in my PFD. By the time you reached me, the radio had automatically reduced to low power because the batteries were almost discharged. I have used the spare battery pack on one occasion. It was not urgent, but it was very nice to be able to continue to communicate. Not that the radio's normal batteries do not last, but that you tend to do a lot of talking when the Coast Guard is relaying your urgent traffic and trying to find your shipmates so they can come save your butt. Oh, and it would have been much easier if I had my GPS with me. A lot of radio time with the CG was trying to explain where we were in the water around SBI. I will never forget the name of Sutil Island again. Or will I forget Marc or Toni. A Safety at Sea instructor told me last year that I am unlikely to be able to stop coughing long enough to call for help if I actually ever fall overboard. I still clip the radio to my PFD. You never know. | ||
| Marc Hughston Moderator Username: Hughston Post Number: 148 Registered: 03-2003 |
My Standard Horizon is about 6 years old, and I'd say it's bullet-proof. I like a squelch knob rather than the new push button adjustment which is hard to find in the dark, but my next one will be a Standard Horizon also. That's the one I'd go with. Marc | ||
| Susie Campbell Senior Member Username: Susie Post Number: 70 Registered: 10-2002 |
Captain Toni Rawlins; I have the Standard Horizon HX260S hand held. I've had it for 3 years and have had no probelms. It has two different battery packs. The aa pack and the nikad pack. It can monitor 2 channels at the same time. What I really wish I had for it was a nice stand. When it's laying down or hanging off something, the buttons sometimes get pushed or the volume knob gets turned down. I think Jeff Johnson also has the same radio. | ||
| Antonietta Rawlins Member Username: Capntoni Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2003 |
It sure was QUIET this weekend on the discussion board. Trust the saddleback cruise went well! I would like to post a question regarding hand held marine radios... I purchased a west marine hand held about three years ago...it has not performed very well at all! in fact...if you asked me in private, I would say that it is a piece of &%($. So...needless to say..i need a new hand held and am looking for feedback on brands, models that have performed well.. in the $100-$200 price range. Thanks! |
