I put an antenna on the mast and ran down a coax cable. I can plug in a hand held (with a bnc adapter) to thehigh antenna. Dash mounted ones use more quiescent power than hand held ones in standby. - On Friday, December 3, 2021, 10:42:36 PM PST, Paul Baker <avalonjazz@gmail.com> wrote: I am planning on buying a marine radio for my Montgomery 15. I know dash mounted ones can be 25 watts, which a much further range than handheld, but require a marine battery which I don't have. If I install a battery, I have to have a way of charging it. Any information or suggestions on this decision I must make would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Paul Baker On Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 9:51 PM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I have a Standard Horizon HX280S.
https://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85...
Got it used some years ago for $50 (including 120V AC and 12V DC chargers and Li-ion battery, but not the alkaline battery holder) from someone I knew in Hilo sailing club who was clearing out assorted used gear. Submersible, reasonably compact. Relatively large capacity battery. 5 watt max not 6, also has 1 watt setting for power saving when range is short. Similar stuff is on eBay in similar price range.
I just wanted to have a decent enough VHF in case I needed one, for sailing or paddling on ocean. Used very little so far as mostly I've been lake boating.
I did think about dropping ~$200 on a new one with GPS and DSC. But after thinking about the GPS part, I realized I'd rather have a separate GPS if I have one at all. Several reasons, including separate user interface for each, separate battery run time, display size & quality, and safety. If I have just the one VHF/GPS device and it breaks or goes overboard I have neither any more. If I need the GPS a bunch I'm also using up my VHF battery, and vice versa. VHF GPS displays are limited compared to dedicated handheld GPS. Seemed more versatile with separate devices. When I saw this one on my friend's list of used gear I looked it up and it looked good enough so that's what I have.
cheers, John
On 12/3/21 6:46 PM, Jim Sadler wrote:
What are you skippers using for handheld vhf? Merry Christmas skippers ? Capt Jim SV Pelican M 15
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com