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After reading replies it looks like I’m going to buck the trend here.
My pick was a Standard Horizon Spectrum+ because they were and are leading the pack with DSC integrated functionality. The ham guys will recognize their sister brand Yaesu for premium quality ham radios. However since they also have a line of chart plotters they appear to have been the only high end VHF manufacturer to successfully integrate and exploit on board DSC and GPS capabilities.
If you read the capabilities list for the mega million dollar USCG RESCUE 21 system, with the exception of the land based transceivers has been installed on Wing Tip for several years now. If some one pops off a DSC distress call within ear shot it plots on my chart plotter. If I hit [GOTO] it will lay a direct line course and provide an ETA. Given that course is navigable, and the ETA means I can provide some meaningful assistance, I can engage the Autohelm and be in route while I determine what I’ll need at the ready when I arrive. If the incident is beyond reach or the USCG hasn’t heard the call I can relay the call.
As for RAM or Hand Held I retired the hand held to harbor dinghy duty after a disturbing RFI incident onboard. The power of radio waves like light falls off exponentially from the source. So a 25 watt transmission from the masthead is a lot quieter radio frequency interference wise than a 5 watt transmission from the helm. Auto helms can react violently to HH VHF transmissions based on distance to the antenna and the antenna orientation. After a couple of years of HH bliss my wife answered a hail using a HH and we did a hard over into the path of a speed boat. I got her back on course without incident but I purchased the Spectrum & RAM soon after.
If you go with a RAM be sure to mount the connector in a combing compartment. They are sealed but the cover will last many years longer out of direct sunlight.
Standard Horizon now has some black box units designed to use multiple RAM+ units which means you can hide the radio box completely and just have the RAM+ units visible. The RAM+ units do all functions while the earlier RAM units did a subset.
If you are in an area with fog or frequent heavy rain that limits visibility you might want to get a unit with a loud hailer. These units, like the SPECTRUM+, double as automated fog horns with built in short long blast patterns that signal your status. I have to go below to turn mine on but the units that take a RAM+ can do it from the remote access microphone.
Phil Agur s/v Wing Tip Commodore, Call Sign WCW3485 IC27/270A
www.catalina27.org Vessel Doc# 1039809 -----Original Message-----
Planning on replacing my old large radio, with a compact unit with a remote access mic, hard wired or cordless. Any suggestions on what to purchase, what to do and not to do, experiences, problems, etc.
John Jennings Escapade C27 # 5267 Hopkins Creek |
- RE: catalina27-talk: VHF Radio Phil Agur
