Best VHF to buy??
Submitted by AaronC on Fri, 2013-09-06 12:19
Hi Guys
Need to upgrade my old 27mg to a new VHF.
Whats the range out there like at the moment. I have seen the GME ones for the $200 mark. Are they ok or spend a few more $$$$
I know you get what you pay for but is a radio a radio??? Thoughts of what you guys have would be great.
Cheers,
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Lowrance
I just installed a Lowrance Link 5 with a Scalar aussie made antenna.
Very happy with the set up.
You can get them all from Chivers. They were very heplfull and know he products well.
Use The Force
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Icom
Icom
carnarvonite
Posts: 8692
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Icoms
Have 2 Icoms in our rescue boat and not happy with one of them, had it down for checking out, replaced antenna and lead twice so it becomes a standby.
I have a Cobra one and haven't had a problem with it, used GME and Electrophone and found them ok as well.
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
I have had icoms for several
I have had icoms for several years, both personally and in rescue craft without problems. What were the symptoms of the fault you had with yours?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8692
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Range
Couldn't get any sort of range with it, 10nm was about its maximum and yes it was on 25watts not the low setting.
All the other sets can reach from outside the islands to base [over 30nm] but this one isn't in the race. Taylor marine had a look at it and found nothing, two antenna changes and it still the same so just added another two radios to cover 73 and the repeater on 81
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Down on receive or transmit
Down on receive or transmit range? Down on both can point to antenna system problems but a fried PA/front end in the radio will cause it as well.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8692
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Antennas
Read in earlier post, have replaced antenna and lead twice!
silly
Posts: 382
Date Joined: 02/01/09
Whitworths have a midland
Whitworths have a midland "Neptune" VHF on special for $199.
Ive been using it for the past year or so and haven't had any issues with it. Had a gme before that bit didn't rate it.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
gme
I have a gme vhf , its been fine , also have a gme am/fm radio that I have had a few dramas with
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
Icom IC-M412 if you don't
Icom IC-M412 if you don't mind spend around $300-$400, i hightly rate the Icom range myself having fitted a few to FRC's over the years, handle the elements really well
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
Gme have had them on a number
Gme have had them on a number of boats both enclosed and centre console and not had a single drama
Nathan
markj
Posts: 163
Date Joined: 23/12/08
Icom
Had issues with GME 27mhz but went to Icom when upgraded to VHF and very pleased with performance.
Skull
Posts: 630
Date Joined: 03/01/12
GME
I have two GME's on my boat and rate them both as crap, will be changing during the close of season.
Skull
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
I like the iComs and
I like the iComs and Raymarine VHF units, have had both and they worked great for many years while I had the boats they were installed in.
dodgy
Posts: 4588
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I have a Raymarine 54E in my
I have a Raymarine 54E in my personal boat and have had 0 issues. Love it.
Rescue boat has Icoms and our new vessel has all Icom as well.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?