VHF and Antenna Recommendations?

[jasoutside]

Howdy fellas, getting ready for a VHF purchase and am looking for recommendations from you guys. The relevant waters I'll be floating would be the Great Lakes (all of em pretty much). I'm not a rich man so I was looking at this package:

VHF Radio, Economy Package, Black - Uniden UM380BK-E/PKG - iboats

What do you think? Other suggestions? I know there are radios that are a whole lot more $$$ so I don't know if I'm buying junk there or what.

Thanks in advanceeace:

 

[stevecur]

Re: VHF and Antenna Recommendations?

I had a uniden about 6 years ago that looked the same. Don't know the model no. Every time it got wet it would not work. You get what you pay for. I would never go out on the big water with a cheap radio.

 

[JoLin]

Re: VHF and Antenna Recommendations?

Around here, Standard Horizon seems to be the top dog in VHF. All of the 3 boats I've owned came with one, and it's the one I see most often on others' boats. Mine were all original to whatever boat they were in (1986, 1999 and 1997) and all of them worked.

 

[jhebert]

Re: VHF and Antenna Recommendations?

I have owned several Standard-Horizon radios and been very satisfied with their performance and durability. I endorse Standard-Horizon over other brands because of their excellent technical support, their generous service policies, the very well organized user interface of the radio controls, and the excellent performance of the receiver and transmitter. The modulation of the transmitter is typically better sounding than most other radios I hear in use. Standard-Horizon radios are also very attractively priced and in very wide distribution, with the possible exception that they are not stocked at a big marine distributor famous for its high prices.

For antennas I have also a very specific recommendation for a VHF Marine Band antenna on a small boat. Please see my article on this topic at

VHF Marine Band Antennas for Small Boats
continuousWave: Whaler: Reference: VHF Antenna

As for my qualifications to offer these recommendations: I am a terrible fisherman, but I am an active boater. I have been active in radio communications for about fifty years, both professionally and as a hobby, and I have a great interest in marine electronics. So, if you permit me, I would say that these recommendations are not just some casual endorsements based on a random choice of products.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: VHF and Antenna Recommendations?

Thanks for chipping in fellas!

I've used Uniden in the past and was quite happy with it. Handheld, waterproof version for my vest while sea kayaking the great lakes. Went for a swim with me hundreds of times and worked great. I'll take a look at Standard Horizon and see what I can come up with that's reasonable.

jhebert - Thanks a ton for posting up that info! You've clearly done a bunch of research there, thanks for sharing! Your on water tests and feedback is certainly valuable too as I'll be floating those waters this summer once my projects are buttoned up. Thanks:thumb: