Handheld Icom VHF vs. fixed mount 25 watt?

[ConchRepublic]

Okay, still trying to spend that Yamaha rebate effectively, as it applies to dealer goods/services and prices. Dealer charges 325 or so for an installed VHF and antenna atop the t-top. On the opposite end is an Icom 6-watt handheld, submersible and waterproof. We're Gulf boaters, north and south along the coast and always within 5-7 miles of shore. A local captain said save your $, and go with the handheld, as we'll "always be able to get someone on it in the event of emergency. " The dealer says nonsense, you need that 25 miles of range and an 8-footer atop the t-top...

Given our needs (hell, the cellphone works all the time where we travel) what would you choose? 185 vs. $325? Portable vs. fixed? Thoughts?
Thanks

[Lazy_Iguana]

I have both. I have the Icom M-72. Great radio. I got it before the Icom floating radio was out. If I had to buy a new radio today I would not get another M-72. I would get the Standard Horizon HX850S or the floating Icom.

There is no difference in a 6 watt hand held and a 5 watt hand held. I like radios that can use AA alkaline batteries - the ones (like the M-72) that only use rechargeable battery packs are great till the battery pack dies - and then it is expensive to replace.

What radio is the dealer going to sell you for that $325? Look it up on the internet to find out how much you can buy it for. Figure about $75 for an antenna (more or less what the average cost is - some are less some are more). The rest is the installation fee. It is not difficult to install a radio, but if you want a professional job there is nothing wrong with that.

Anyhow I like having both a hand held and fixed radio. Both have their use. You get far more range from a fixed mount. The hand held works even if your boat electrical system fails.

Anyhow I would find out what radio is included in that $325 deal. Start there.

[Carjunkie]

Is it worth getting a handheld that can be plugged into a taller fixed antenna? You won't have the power but the antenna will be higher, other than the line of sight what other benefit would this provide if any?

[sandyda]

One word: DSC
With it, anyone on the boat can push the red button and get help when the skipper is laid out. Without it one casualty turns into "Family missing on small boat, news at eleven.."

A handheld is way down the list of safety equipment; a fixed mount VHF connected to a GPS comes right after the fire extinguisher. Assuming you already have a GPS, a simple Uniden radio, $99. Antenna and mounting bracket, $45. Insert 10 screws and connect four wires, 30 minutes. Knowing how to do it in thirty minutes, $150.

[ConchRepublic]

Thanks -- DSC is something I was blindly overlooking. I'm looking at an Icom fixed mount now. Does anyone know what kind of cable/ports are required on the GPS to connect to a VHF? I know the VHF is GPS compatible... Are smaller portable GPS's like the Garmin handhelds capable of providing the data to the VHF?

[Lazy_Iguana]

A hand held GPS can send position data to a fixed mount VHF. But I have heard that this violated FCC rules. Word on the street is you are supposed to use a fixed mount GPS.

I did not question this too much, as I have a fixed mount GPS and it is connected to my radio. I just said "OK whatever you say" and left it at that.

But in reality, no matter what the FCC may or may not have said on this subject, yea a hand held GPS is just as accurate as any other GPS. Assuming it can get a reliable signal where it is located.

I would say just get the fixed mount GPS. The screen is larger and you can load marine chart data into them. I have a hand held GPS that I carry on the boat, but it is a backup. The last time I remember using my hand held was while on my kayak at the Columbus Day madness that happens in South Florida. Finding your boat among close to 1,000 other boats all anchored in a small area is a lot easier if you have a waypoint to follow.

Connection is easy. Your radio will come with connection wires. So will the GPS. Connect them together and that is about all there is to it. Just remember that the data out on the GPS goes to the data in on the radio.

The dealer who you are paying to do the radio install should connect your GPS to the radio for you. It will take them all of 30 seconds to do this. There should not be any additional cost to you for this. Heck if you ask me the install should be free, you are buying a new boat and new electronics from them as it is.

When you get into DSC there are two types of radios. There is Class-D and SC-101. The cheaper radios are (mostly) SC-101. What this means is they are constantly scanning channel 70. If you are listening to channel 70 the radio will switch back and froth from 16 to 70. If you are receiving a transmission on 16 (or any other channel) then the scanning function pauses - meaning you can miss a DSC call.

Class-D radios have a separate receiver always tuned to channel 70. The only way you can miss a DSC call is if you are talking on the radio at the time the call is sent.

I like the Class-D radios. I actually use DSC. I have some friends MMSI numbers programmed into my radio and when I am on the water I send a group call. I also have the Sea Smart VHF thing going so I do not get constant phone calls asking me where I am. Nosy people can log into the account, send a DSC call, and my position shows on a map.

NOTE - I am not so sure Sea Smart was a good idea. I still get calls. I can't win no matter what I do.

The lowest price Class-D radio I know of is the Standard Horizon Quest-X. You can get it online for around $120 - $130.

I am a huge fan of DSC When I take non-boating friends I just tell them that if anything happens and they have to do is press the distress button. Thats it. So far nothing has happened that would require messing with the distress button

[Curmudgeon]

Word on the street is you are supposed to use a fixed mount GPS.

I think the street is blowing smoke out a man hole. The radio (and FCC) could care less where the geo-coords come from ...

[sickcat]

Ditto the thoughts on getting a fixed mount first and knowing what the dealer wants to install. A quality antenna is important as is antenna height.

[ConchRepublic]

Thanks all, a wealth of information boiled down to simple, understandable points. I did a lot of reading on DSC based on your recommendations, and it sounds like a great safety net for the boating I do. I'm always the one running the show, with my wife, and guests who often don't spend that much time on the water. I'm planning to go through with the fixed mount option, and the GPS shopping has begun. If you have any specific units you recommend for a simple interface, I'd appreciate suggestions. Thanks again.

[franksauto]

Get both. You can never be too safe on the ocean. I have a handheld Icom m72 (I love it) and a fixed mounted Icom 304. $325 professionally installed sounds like a pretty good deal depending what he's using for equipment. Icom 304 approx $150, Shakesphere Galaxy series antenna $100 to $200, Stainless ratchet rail mount $45, plus install. Sounds like a good deal. If you go with a handheld you will really like the M72. The battery holds a long charge, It can transmit in low, med & high 6 watts. It is submirsable and it has a ton of features.
Good luck on your choice

[LI32]

Electronics are one of the few anomalies in life, spending a bunch more doesn't really get you better quality, just more features - the only caveat is antennas, where the Shakespeare Galaxy's and Digital's are better than their cheap counterparts. I would get a decent entry level DSC VHF - Standard Eclipse or Uniden Solara for $100; or the cheap Class D DSC's - Ray 49 or Standard Quest ($150) - Icom's 304 is not a class D unit, a Galaxy antenna with SS mount and an inexpensive handheld vhf Standard HX270S - $85. The spend the rest on a decent fixed mount chartplotter - Garmin 520c ($575); Lowrance 520c ($580) or Northstar 650 ($550). DSC is a two wire hook-up to the chartplotters NMEA 0183 output port.