Marine Electronics Forum - Want to buy: cheap VHF radio

Looking for a used, inexpensive VHF radio, either handheld or bulkhead mount.

It will be used for shore-side receiving, for the stay-at-homes to monitor what's going on in the boat...

Strongly prefer Icom or Standard Horizon...my eBay bids have been going nowhere...

thanks-

Karl

Looking for a used, inexpensive VHF radio, either handheld or bulkhead mount.

It will be used for shore-side receiving, for the stay-at-homes to monitor what's going on in the boat...

Strongly prefer Icom or Standard Horizon...my eBay bids have been going nowhere...

thanks-

Karl

Sent you a PM.

Since it's only for receiving, just program the frequencies into one of your 2 Meter radios.

Since it's only for receiving, just program the frequencies into one of your 2 Meter radios.

I'm "between" two meter radios, like I am "between" jobs...not even a scanner in the house at this point.

Don’t mean to hijack...just similar question

I am also looking at getting a cheaper VHF radio. The boat I bought has the antenna installed already just no radio...suggestions? Don’t want to spend a lot of money and most of the boats that I fish around don’t have a VHF so should I get a handheld to leave at the camp? I always leave with at least 2 phones in the boat and I usually just fish inshore marsh so service isn’t usually a problem, but you never know.

Any suggestions would be helpful

I have a used SH Intrepid VHF (no mounting bracket - was flush mounted) that can be had for $25 shipped

Looking for a used, inexpensive VHF radio, either handheld or bulkhead mount.

It will be used for shore-side receiving, for the stay-at-homes to monitor what's going on in the boat...

Strongly prefer Icom or Standard Horizon...my eBay bids have been going nowhere...

thanks-

Karl


From another thread, I did just make a decision yesterday and ordered a new Standard Horizon, handheld, HX370S from Defender for $129...and have since managed to download the programming software to allow that radio to function (legally) on the 2 meter ham band for which I'm licensed (and many other other freqs. if your're licensed to transmit on them. For receive only, the sky's the limit...)

I'm finding that the land mobile radio (LMR) options will also allow programming for local state police freqs. and USCG freqs. outside the Marine band...I will use restraint and limit those freqs. to receive only...duh! A good option for USCG aux. members perhaps, with proprietary freqs. outside the standard marine channels.

Besides the software, a specialized cable is needed, $15 from hong kong via eBay.

For those of us being VHF boaters and 2-meter hams, hard to beat the price, and the necessity to carry two hand-helds...

Unfortunately, although being waterproof, the HX370S does not appear to have positive buoyancy...in other words, it will sink, so must be tethered to PFD or whatever.
I cannot confirm that statement until I actually get delivery of the HX370S next week...
and will probably not have the interface cable for two weeks or so...

BTW, the HX370S is gradually being replaced by the newer HX400S, for about $75 more money, but there does not seem to be any free (bootlegged?) programming software for it yet, and the '370 "CE68" application won't work with the 400S.

This has been my education in the last 10 days...if any corrections are appropriate, please chime in.

Stay tuned...

Looking for a used, inexpensive VHF radio, either handheld or bulkhead mount.

It will be used for shore-side receiving, for the stay-at-homes to monitor what's going on in the boat...

Strongly prefer Icom or Standard Horizon...my eBay bids have been going nowhere...

thanks-

Karl


From another thread, I did just make a decision yesterday and bought a new Standard Horizon, handheld, HX370S from Defender for $129...and have since managed to download the programming software to allow that radio to function (legally) on the 2 meter ham band for which I'm licensed.

I'm finding that the land mobile radio (LMR) options will also allow programming for local state police freqs. and USCG freqs. outside the Marine band...I will use restraint and limit those freqs. to receive only...duh!

Besides the software, a specialized cable was needed, $15 from hong kong via eBay.

For those of us being VHF boaters and 2-meter hams, hard to beat the price.

Unfortunately, although being waterproof, the HX370S does not have positive flotation...in other words, it will sink, so must be tethered to PFD or whatever.