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Posts: 358
| I am thinking about adding a VHF radio to my boat. Any comments or suggestions regarding handheld verses hardmount units using a whip antenna? Do the handheld units work as well? What brands do you folks favor? Any help is appreciated, thanks!
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Posts: 294
Location: Suspended | Go with the hard wired unit, they have more power (=more distance) and you don't have to deal with replacing batteries. I have both because I started out with a handheld for portability and I used it on my two boats but found that you burn through batteries. Also, people couldn't hear me but I could hear them when they were farther away than a few miles. I have the Hummingbird VH5 (don't think it's made anymore) and two rechargeable batteries which is 5 watts and my hard wired is 25 watts. POWER, more is better! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | If you are planning to use it on big bodies of water dont skimp on your antenna either. We had guys on a trip to Quebec who could hear us but couldn't transmit back because of the distance. We had the long fiberglass antenna and they only had a short stainless settl whip. If longer distances are not needed then you can stick with the smaller less obtrusive one.
Remember the hard mount ones almost always have a lower watt, harbour, setting and the high power 25 watt setting for open water. If you key up the mic in the harbour on 25 watts you will get yelled at from other people because the wattage is too high for that close. Permanant sure is nice if you have a spot for it. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | For handhleds I like the Motorola. Get one that is both FRS and GMRS. You technically need a fcc license for the gmrs stuff. The range seems pretty good on the one I have(gmrs is about 5-7 miles).. Of course being on the water is a bit different then what I have used mine for |
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