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Random Quote: If you tell me it's gonna rain every day, one day you'll be right. Until then, you're a jackass in a rain coat on a sunny day.
the least expensive standard or icom you can find that takes alkaline batteries. Actually, the lowest priced standard beat out all the others in a test last year of range.
If this radio is truly for emergencies then you don't want a rechargeable battery (of any type) because it will be discharged when you need it because you forgot to charge it. use ALKALINES.
__________________ The views and/or opinions stated by the author in this post are only the views and opinions of the author
Good Point, because most are sold as rechargeable, and yes, when they sit a long time, go dead. If you forget to keep charging them regularly you'd be screwed.....you know what they say..."out of sight, out of mind!"
__________________ 1974 Formula F-233-C
Original Mercruiser Ford 302/TR Outdrive
do a search on this forum (or maybe someone knows the URL) to find the reference to the real ife testing of handheld VHF radios. You will find that their power output may all spec out the same, but there are VERY big differences in how well they work when you need them.
The top rated standard HX-260s is available for under $100 ($97.99 and probably lower...I spent all of 1 minute finding that price online)....why would you buy some other brand or model?
The link to the "real world test" didn't work any longer. At least not the last time I tried it. The HX260S was the clear "winner" in that test. $98 bucs for that radio is one heck of a deal. At that price and proven performance, why would one buy another brand or model???
* Ultra compact, JIS-7 grade waterproof transceiver
* MIL spec. Meets MIL-STD810
* Powerful 5 watts of talk power
* Lithium Ion battery
* Extra large LCD with alphanumeric indications
* Flexible battery charging
* Fast scanning functions
Model Net M1V01R
Icom has bench tested and repacked each and every unit all in like new condition. 3 Year warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
* Ultra compact, JIS-7 grade waterproof transceiver
* MIL spec. Meets MIL-STD810
* Powerful 5 watts of talk power
* Lithium Ion battery
* Extra large LCD with alphanumeric indications
* Flexible battery charging
* Fast scanning functions
Model Net M1V01R
Icom has bench tested and repacked each and every unit all in like new condition. 3 Year warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
After a lousy experience with the Apelco/Ratheon I purchased the ICOM M1V mainly because of the Lithium Ion Battery. I have owned this unit about two years now and have only charaged the battery once. I mainly listen to weather reports before going out but I have had it on for at least 30 hours and the battery indicator still reads full. I have no idea how it would perform after being submerged. ByOwnerElectronics.COM carries the Icom and a bunch of others.
Bootom line of the Powerboats.com test in the link above.
Conclusion
Waterproof handheld VHF radios have come a long way in the past several years. Eventually, we expect all but the least expensive VHFs to be fully submersible. Not tested this time but still available on the market is the Navico Axis 200, a good but expensive radio that we don’t think has much appeal in the consumer market.
It is especially pleasing to see both increased competition and product quality in the waterproof handheld VHF radio market.
We can't recommend the Garmin or the Icom M1+ because each failed our submersion tests. We'd go with the Standard simply because it was the best all-around performer; the Raytheon radios performed well, too, and they're in the same price range as the Standard. They're our runners-up. The small Uniden works effectively, but its limited 1-watt transmitting power shouldn't be relied upon for transmitting emergency messages, the most important duty of a VHF radio.
Contacts— Garmin, 1200 E. 151st St., Olathe, KS 66062; 913/397-8200. Icom, 2380 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004; 425/454-8155. Raytheon Marine, 676 Island Pond Rd., Manchester, NH 03109; 603/647-7530. Standard Communications, Box 92151, Los Angeles, CA 90009; 310/532-5300. Uniden America, 4700 Amon Carter Blvd., Ft. Worth, TX 76155; 800/586-0409.
I have been using the Uniden Voyager for two seasons and I am pleased with its' performance. It only takes a rechargeable lithium ion battery which is exactly the reason I bought it. If it is your nature that you can't remember to at least recharge your wife's cell phone from time to time, then buy something that also takes the non-rechargeables.
Cabela's www.cabelas.com has about*a dozen models including one as low as $70 (weather resistant), to $350 (submergible with weather channels and FRS as well, and other bells and whistles too).
__________________ I'm not a boat expert, I just read THT!
I've had an Icom M1V for four years now. I bought it as a primary radio for my 14' boat when fishing close to shore. It is a fine radio. It will run all day on standby and still have plenty of power to transmit.
My gripe is with the battery. The original crapped out just after the one year warrantee expired. I wrote a letter to Icom expressing my displeasure and they sent me a new one after I shipped back the bad one at no charge. Three years later, the replacement has gone dead also. A replacement will cost around $90.
I recommend this radio if it will get heavy use. The expensive battery will pay for itself. If it is a backup, get a radio powered by alkalines.
JMHO
That's the first time I've ever herd of an M1V battery failure...*** Mines now 4 year old, original battery and it REALLY hard to kill the battery.* And I mean REALLY hard.* I use the thing all season long, and never need to charge it, really amazes me.*
??Best Hand Held VHF under $199?? 
What is the best hand held VHF under $199.?
