Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

[Expidia]

I was looking at FM radios maybe with a CD and a plug for my ipod . . .

I run inland waters but on some very big lakes (not much cell phone coverage) so I'd like a marine radio for an emergency, to have one that can break in with an impending weather alert and to listen to the chatter of the charter boat captains telling each other where the fish are hitting!

Anyone know of a combo unit that might fill those needs since space is so very limited on my 14' 9" Lund.

Thx

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

sorry, no such animal. buy your vhf & antenna, mount on one side of boat, am/fm/cd/ipod mount on other, so no interference.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

sorry, no such animal. buy your vhf & antenna, mount on one side of boat, am/fm/cd/ipod mount on other, so no interference.

Thx for your response, although of course not what I what I wanted to hear!

I don't really want a stereo on the boat anyway because that's why I'm on the boat in the first place to enjoy the serenity of nature and to hear the purr of the outboard when I'm underway.

But the fam likes the tunes somtimes and I like to drown out noisy people when I'm anchored in a bay eating lunch. Or drown out the jetskiers. I figured the combo would have satisfied all my needs.

Thx for the tip on keeping the units separated. I would not have thought about that one until after I installed both radios if I went that route.

The marine band is more important to me, so I'll buy the marine one for now.

Any recommendations on a decent unit. I don't know what $150 will buy, but that seems to be the range from what I see listed on the web. There are so many choices. Would like to steer clear of the cheap stuff though.

Anything I should look for like sensitivity etc . . . I don't know much about them. Would like to be pointed to a review site if possible or a recommended unit.

How about an antenna? Do they make short ones so I don't turn my boat into looking like those guys who chase the fire trucks around. Would like it to be as inconspicuous as possible, yet still give me enough range.

Now that I think of it my brother-in-law always uses a small portable handheld when he takes his tender, a whaler out on the ocean. This might be a solution for me.

I could then install a stereo in the boat and mount a portable marine band (I forgot about these units) onto a gimble off my dash.

What are your feeling as too one or the other for a small boat? Are the handhelds sufficient?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

hand helds are sufficent, if there is a reciever close enough. as another boat. also terrain has a lot to do with reception, and transmitting. they don't go thru mountains. it's a straight signal. they make short antennas, and the 8 foot gives you the best range. i have both on my boat, hand held, in a baggy, in life jacket pocket for when i boat alone, and the hard mount with an 8 foot antenna. i rarely raise the antenna, except for when i go to the Fl Keys.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

I use a handheld as well. I boat on a river so there is always a commercial boat, lock, or weekend boater around. I have never had a problem raising anyone, however the range is limited. I still want an in dash unit though. We make trips up river to a game reserve in the winter. During that time of year commercial traffic is still around but not as close and the weekenders are in dry storage by then. A good 25 watt radio would help in those cases. Plus I can get weather reports on either the handheld or an in dash unit. I highly recommend the weather band feature. It has pulled my fanny out of the fire many times. (or at least kept me drier)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

definately weather band.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

Ya, the weather alert band is my main desire for having a VHF on board. I'm not a big fan of oncoming lightening storms in a small "aluminum" boats. Seems many of the lakes in the Adirondack mountains tend to be surrounded by high mountains that block your sight of the oncoming storms until they are all of a suuden right over you! I'd rather be off the water watching them from the bar!!!

I went for the portable today for now. 5 watts and it's true that it won't go over mountains, but it will go over water far enough hopefully to reach another boater in an emergency. And as it was said by the other poster the range can be increased by hooking it up to an auxiliary boat antenna if need be.

I looked through some reviews, but most don't date their articles on purpose because they are trying to sell you stuff.
Of the 5 companies reviewed, the Standard Horizon HX350S rated high in 2001 (my point on old reviews) but they have now discontinued that model on their website. I called the company and they said they replaced it with the HX600S. I found that one for $164 plus $10 shipping . . . A reasonable cash outlay for the safety factor it brings.

Fully submersible, NiMH 1400 battery, AA backup, SOS Strobe light (just be sure to have your emergency in the dark), DSC distress, but this one to me is a gimmick because you have to have it in a cradle connected to a GPS to have someone locate you. Easy to do in the salon of a 46 foot boat, but a little more tedious in my 15 foot yacht.

Also these new models are half the size of the old ones. This new one has AM/FM too for times when your off the boat (or when my Wife wants to drain my batteries while listening to FM). Plus an airband.

What interested me the most was the ability to monitor the weather alert without having to listen to the constant drone of the weather report, supposedly. I'll find out when I receive it. But I'm sure the sales guy was wrong about the DSC feature as he said you don't have to be hooked up to a GPS unit, it sends out it's own distress signal (that would be sweet). I'm sure he is wrong about this feature from what I read. The specs say you hook it thru the cradle to a GPS unit and then jump ship!

Thx for all of your feedback. At least this is a start and I'll feel that much safer now on big stretches of water as the fog rolls in.

Garmin for $399 makes a combo handheld VHF/GPS unit, this is a great idea, but I already have a Garmin handheld that I bought a few years back for about $400 (with a U.S. navigational waterways disk and a bigger card).

So I'd still be relegated to a handheld if I went that combo route and I'd rather spend 1/2 of that now and do as some of you suggested . . . which is to get the more powerful on-board VHF unit with an antenna at some point and use the handheld as back up.

And If I can listen in on some of the charter chatter like I used to years ago when I had an on board unit as to where the fish are with the handheld, I'll be pretty happy for now and a little safer.

They should make an 8 foot antenna that looks like a fishing rod. This way it wouldn't look so hokey to me on my 15 foot boat . . . ha ha

You know I'm not far off on that one because when my new boat came last week I coudn't believe how tall the stern light is on these new boats. I thought they gave me one from the wrong boat. It's about 6 feet! Now why not build an antenna inside this type of structure? Just make it fiberglass instead of aluminum. I think I'll go for the patent on this one!

 

[Boatist]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

Hand held range about 2 miles over the water. VHF fixed unit with 25 watts and a antenna about 10 above the water range about 5 miles. With both units talking to another unit of the same type will double the range. Also talking to the Coast Guard with high mounted antenna range for a fixed mount can be 80 miles or more.

For the DSC to work you need a MMSI number (MARITME MOBIL SERVICE IDENTY). Your radio needs to be connected to a GPS or Loran C for position information.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

Hand held range about 2 miles over the water. VHF fixed unit with 25 watts and a antenna about 10 above the water range about 5 miles. With both units talking to another unit of the same type will double the range. Also talking to the Coast Guard with high mounted antenna range for a fixed mount can be 80 miles or more.

For the DSC to work you need a MMSI number (MARITME MOBIL SERVICE IDENTY). Your radio needs to be connected to a GPS or Loran C for position information.

Thx for that info. I'll get a MMSI #. Prob get an onboard VHF for the range too at some point. I'm sure they make a wire to go from my Standard Horizon to my handheld GPs without having to tot around a cradle too.

By the time I would get all this hooked up in an emergency, I'll be eye to eye with a Flounder . . . )

 

[drewpster]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

For my situation having a marine radio is a matter of backup. Being on a river means a cell can be used. (but not always) This saved my bacon a few years ago when we were on a trip to the game reserve I mentioned earlier. At that time I had no VHF on board. I had a dead battery, no dingy, no boats in site and we were a good 30 miles from my marina. I was really NOT looking forward to the swim in 30 deg temps to shore. Thank God for cell phones. A few calls later to the CG and to a tow service and we were under tow. I am a big believer in redundant forms of communication and a backup battery system.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

A cell phone is ok for a backup but you only call one person at a time. Let say you hit something and are taking on water fast. Do you know the number to nearest Coast guard station? Do you know the number to the boat you see about 1/4 mile away?

VHF you make a MayDay call on 16 and every boat near you that follows the rules will hear you. The Coast Guard if within range will also hear you. Every boat following the rules will write down your Mayday call and position. The boat you see 1/4 mile away will be coming to your aid. The boat around the corner you did not see will also be headed your way. If Coast Guard does not respond other boats that heard your MayDay should relay to the Coast Guard.

In area where VHF radios are common I take my chances on the VHF. However many inland area with small lakes and rivers VHF radios may not be common and if there is cell coverage you should be able to get help. Help, Police or Fire may not be ready to put a boat in the water and come to your aid. They may not know how to plot your position on the water but should call the Coast Guard or a patrol boat.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

Agreed, The cell is great for not so emergent emergencies but a VHF is a definite plus on a boat.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

A cell phone is ok for a backup but you only call one person at a time. Let say you hit something and are taking on water fast. Do you know the number to nearest Coast guard station? Do you know the number to the boat you see about 1/4 mile away?

VHF you make a MayDay call on 16 and every boat near you that follows the rules will hear you. The Coast Guard if within range will also hear you. Every boat following the rules will write down your Mayday call and position. The boat you see 1/4 mile away will be coming to your aid. The boat around the corner you did not see will also be headed your way. If Coast Guard does not respond other boats that heard your MayDay should relay to the Coast Guard.

In area where VHF radios are common I take my chances on the VHF. However many inland area with small lakes and rivers VHF radios may not be common and if there is cell coverage you should be able to get help. Help, Police or Fire may not be ready to put a boat in the water and come to your aid. They may not know how to plot your position on the water but should call the Coast Guard or a patrol boat.

Absolutely . . . I once went over in a canoe as the water turned rough. A passer by was nice enough to take the time to tow us back to the marina. If he did not help us out we could have been struck by another boat while we were bobbing up and down in 2 foot waves!

So my getting the VHF handheld was also to be there if someone else is in trouble and I might be able to help out or even save a life, before emergency help arrives.

I noticed on Lake George, a 32 mile lake where I sometimes boat and fish, the web lists 4 auxillary coast guard boats which cruise the lake. I'm sure one of them would be in range of a 5 watt handheld. I know cells do not cover half the lake.

After all, we're are all in the same boat, so to speak!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Does anyone make a combo marine radio?

Re: MMSI #.

It's free to get one at BoatUS.com, but be careful when you enter this number into your unit.

From what I found out the hard way since my new Standard Horizon HX600S directions were not too clear on how to enter this number into the unit.

I found that they only give you 2 tries to enter the number. After that you have to send the unit "back to the factory" so they can reset it.

I was threatening to just send it back to the website I bought it from and claim it was defective and then just buy the Icom brand. I said this was so dumb to have to send back my brand new unit just to reset it. but The tech support person says this is an FCC regulation for all handhelds.

They did at least give me their UPS shipping number and said he will ship it back by 2 day UPS.

It's due to something about each radio has to be matched up to your MMSI number and your boat registration. If you change boats you need to send it back to the company to reset it each time.

I guess the FCC is trying to prevent people from sending out a distress signal and then moving to a different place and sending another one out from the same radio.

So just a heads up to be careful entering your new MMSI number into at least the Standard Horizon models from my experience.