Standard Horizon HX850S Handheld VHF

[SomeSailor]

I just got a stack of West Marine points and figured I'd buy a new gadget.

I got my 15% off plus $40 worth of coupons so it was a pretty sweet deal.

Really a neat little radio.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/landfallnav_2005_30070229

I've programmed in Doug's MMSI and played with all the cool features. Really a LOT of radio for around $200.

Volume & Squelch indication on display DSC (SC-101) functions include: Distress call with position
All ships. Urgency, Safety
Individual and Group call
Position Request/Position Send
NMEA output on cradle of DSC, DSE, GLL. RMC. GSA, GSV and GGA
Channel names on display
All USA/International and Canadian Marine Channels
NOAA Weather Channels
SOS Strobe light
Speaker Mic Jack
700mW internal speaker audio
Selectable Power Output 6/5/2/1 Watt
1150 mAh Rechargeable Li-Ion battery (9 hour battery life)
110VAC and 12VDC Chargers included
3 Year Waterproof Warranty
Weight - 2.16 lbs

[tolly28]

I have a few Standard Horiizon products and have been very happy. They seem to offer a lot for the price.

[Play N Hookie II]

Thanks for coming down Sat Mike. It is nice to know the DSC works now we just have to figure out how to use it the rest of the way. I got a couple calls from you while we were out but still couldn't figure out how to answer properly. I will read the book and get it figured out.

[SomeSailor]

Yeah. That last time I called I was down at John's on Broadway. I could hear ya pretty well, but I wasn't getting a signal back to ya.

That radio puts out 6W, but that little antenna wasn't up for it. :)

Probably about 2-3 miles away as that crow flies?

[Randygh]

I have a Standard Horizon Omni GX2341S. I've misplaced the original owner's manual, (couldn't find it where I store all my owner manual and product info), so I downloaded the manual from the Std Hor website. According to the manual, even though the transceiver has a DSC button, in order for it to be functional I need to purchase and install another part in the unit. Has anyone done this in a Standard Horizon radio?

We're only in salt water several times a year so I don't think it's worth it to install the additional component and hook it to my GPS. Any thoughts?

[Nehalennia]

The owner of Clubsearay.com also has a website boemarine.com (http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/home.php) which is where I bought my GPS and VHF for great prices.
He just e-mailed me an ad for handheld VHF's for $99. I thought I'd share with you guys in case you've been looking for one.
Mike, delete this if it's not appropriate,
STANDARD HX600-LI BLACK VHF HANDHELD RADIO (http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/product.php?productid=22606&cat=0&page=1)
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/image.php?type=T&id=22606.jpg

[Eagle Lady]

Alrighty, another boat toy for the Christmas list!! Haven't checked or looked around for these (yet), is $99 a good price? If so, may have to order one from boemarine dot com... or wait till the boat show?

Other than using it when abandoning ship and for those of you with them, what are the advantages of having a handheld? So far we've only used GPS on the boat, and my phone GPS when traveling by car, geo-caching?

[SomeSailor]

get the one with DSC and GPS if you can. It's nice as you can get position request automatically. If the radio is out in a dinghy, you can use your plotter to keep track of where they're at.

Plus... you ever did need to leave the boat in an emergency, they'd have a fix on YOU, rather than where the boat was last.

Could make a big difference if the tides are running.

[bradvo]

Alrighty, another boat toy for the Christmas list!! Haven't checked or looked around for these (yet), is $99 a good price? If so, may have to order one from boemarine dot com... or wait till the boat show?

Other than using it when abandoning ship and for those of you with them, what are the advantages of having a handheld? So far we've only used GPS on the boat, and my phone GPS when traveling by car, geo-caching?



One advantage of having one is if your in a long wait for a slip and your on a breakwater tie up , such as the one in Friday harbor you can walk the docks and still be listening for the habormaster .

Beats sitting on the boat waiting for the call to come in.

[Nehalennia]

get the one with DSC and GPS if you can. It's nice as you can get position request automatically. If the radio is out in a dinghy, you can use your plotter to keep track of where they're at.

Plus... you ever did need to leave the boat in an emergency, they'd have a fix on YOU, rather than where the boat was last.

Could make a big difference if the tides are running.

He has the one you have for STANDARD HX850S VHF HAND HELD DSC WITH GPS for $188 (http://www.byownerelectronics.com/store/product.php?productid=71599&cat=0&page=1)

[Tedster]

Just always remember that a hard wired boat VHF sends out 25 watts, and a portable hand held VHF sends out only 5 watts. So if your intended party is nearby the h/h VHF is great but no replacement for a properly installed VHF if an emergency occurs. And remember the quality of the signal received or sent has way more to do with the quality/price of the antenna than the quality/price of the radio.

[SomeSailor]

Just always remember that a hard wired boat VHF sends out 25 watts, and a portable hand held VHF sends out only 5 watts. So if your intended party is nearby the h/h VHF is great but no replacement for a properly installed VHF if an emergency occurs.

The handheld I have is 6 Watts rather than 5 on most, and my "intended party" is the USCG if I'm over the side. :)

Hence the DSC, GPS fix AT the radio, and floating handheld. It's a great safety aspect for the dinghy too. With an auto-inflating pfd, they're guarateed to at least find a body. :)

[bradvo]

I'm still using the same hand held I bought back in 1994, don't think the company is even in business any longer or was bought out by Raytheon. I think it was autohelm or something like that, I'll have to take a look now. Has a rechargable battery and just continues working for me.