radio purchase

[charlesamilton]

My radio is on the fritz and I have a $200 gift certificate and am ready to buy, any suggestions. I can hear the bridge tender but cant talk to him. Some have gps, ais, hand held, just a bit confusing on which is the best. I plan on doing the loop in a couple years and want a good one, the down unit works fine.

 

[Comodave]

Are you sure it is the radio and not the antenna that is broken?

 

[Blissboat]

Commodave is so right about first investigating everything from the antenna output jack all the way to the antenna.

If you're satisfied that your radio is really the issue, compare ICOM and Standard Horizon's features and pricing. Both are excellent product lines.

 

[Comodave]

I like Standard Horizon. But Icom is good also.

 

[2savage]

Get a handheld. I have three on board two of which are West Marine. Sure the range is low but the versatility is perfect. I have an ICOM for the long distance stuff.

I believe I paid around $120 for each handheld. That was maybe 20 years ago and they stgill work great.

 

[High Wire]

If it’s a reception problem, check reception of weather channels before trashing the radio.

 

[Chuck34]

Having a handheld is good for a back up, but for your primary, a fixed VHF is the only way to go. Probably has at least 5 times the range.
I bought a SH with built in GPS and once installed, I put my MMSI number in it, so if I’m in an emergency situation, all I have to do is hit the emergency button and the CG knows who I am, what kind of boat I’m in and my exact location.

 

[jgwinks]

If the radio powers up and receives there's likely nothing wrong with it. Very unlikely for just the transmit section on a modern radio to fail. The problem would be in the antenna or it's connections, most likely the coax and it's terminals. Hook up a new radio to the old coax and it won't work either.

 

[diver dave]

I have fixed a couple of fixed mount icoms with a bad mic element. Just a couple $ at digikey.
Should be able to hit an adjacent bridge with no antenna at all.