Trojan Boat Forum

Looking to add a vhf (every boat needs 3 right ?) I am looking at Icom (504) (or the 602/604 )and Std Horizon 2100 with VIS

Input ?

I am an Icom guy. I am a HAM radio operator and have had several different brands of radio gear over the many years I have enjoyed the hobby including Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Standard, and Alinco. In my opinion Icom is far and away the best radio on the market. The audio quality is unparalleled and their radios are pretty much bullet proof.

I have the new Icom m422 marine radio and love it. I also have an Icom HF radio onboard which gives me the capability to talk anywhere in the world. I like my chances better when many miles off shore with the HF when compared to the VHF marine radio if a serious problem were to occur.

I don't use mine enough to know the differences between "brands".

I do know that having a portable, battery operated radio is a tremendous asset.

Recently when out with friends, they discovered the microphone had failed on thier permanently mounted VHF.

We handed them our portable and our trip continued uninterrupted.

The portable sits in it/s cradle/charger, mounted in the cabin.

RWS

Uniden since 2004 on flybridge. Still works great

I do carry 2 hand held both are in ditch bag 1 comes out when needed ( on the dock or dingy use ) but they are not a good back up as their limited range . thats why I am adding a second station up top . I do have one at the lower helm to listen for calls down below when not under way ( I never run from below ) . so I will end up with 3 fixed mounts . 2 up top one below.

May add a SSB at a later time but thats some big bucks

Do you run a seperate antenna for each one?

RWS

Yes I would not use a splitter and the system would not be independent of one other .

I have 2 Icom's, a RayMarine, 2 old clunkers and a Uniden Mystic handheld GPS/Chartplotter.

The ICOMs (IC-M402 & IC-M502) are great - totally bulletproof, and easy to use, with NMEA interfaces, DSC, etc.

The IC-M402's speaker is louder than the 502, bu the 502 has more features.

Haven't owned a Std Horizon ...

The IC-M404 is the successor to my the IC-M402 ... and now offers a voice scrambler option so you can talk the little lady without everyone else listening

My 502 is a lot louder then my 402

odd - my 402 is much loader than my 502 ... but it works out, because I use the 402 up on the bridge in the wind, and the 502 inside.

Thats funny as my 502 is on the brige and the 402 is inside

I figure in an emergency, I want my better radio connected to my 19' antenna inside where I can ride the storm out.

I agree that why best is up top and I want a 2nd raido up there . We think alike just upside down .

Yes, you have Eisenglass up top - mine is open.

I agree with you guys about having a backup handheld VHF.
-Someone can take it ashore to the beach etc and call the boat.
-Great to have in the ditching bag.
-Makes a backup to your 25 watt built in VHF if you add one critical part: A handheld has such limited range mainly because of it's rubber antennae.
Get yourself an adapter so you can uncoil the excess antennae wire from behind the built in VHF and using the new adapter you now have, plug your 8 ' fiberglass into the handheld, select 5 watt setting and it will increase range tremendously. Of course a 12V power cord completes the package.