Cobra or Yaesu?

[BogMonster]

Looking at a handheld VHF, waterproof.

Two options:

Cobra at £89.99 from Mailspeed

Standard Horizon @ £99.99 from Mailspeed

I'm thinking I'll pay the extra and get the Yaesu (Standard Horizon - why do they call it that??) any comments on the Cobra?

I know it may be a whisker cheaper elsewhere but I have used Mailspeed in the past and they know how to send stuff to the Falklands and will post VAT-free which is worthwhile!

Bit curious as to the web page on the HX270 though - it says it has a 110V charger, surely they aren't dozy enough to supply a US spec charger with a radio sold in the UK??

Also what is the difference between an HX270E and an HX270S and the HX270W/P which seems to be on sale here with a sensible charger?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Looking at a handheld VHF, waterproof.

Two options:

Cobra at £89.99 from Mailspeed

Standard Horizon @ £99.99 from Mailspeed

I'm thinking I'll pay the extra and get the Yaesu (Standard Horizon - why do they call it that??) any comments on the Cobra?

I know it may be a whisker cheaper elsewhere but I have used Mailspeed in the past and they know how to send stuff to the Falklands and will post VAT-free which is worthwhile!

Bit curious as to the web page on the HX270 though - it says it has a 110V charger, surely they aren't dozy enough to supply a US spec charger with a radio sold in the UK??

Also what is the difference between an HX270E and an HX270S and the HX270W/P which seems to be on sale here with a sensible charger?

I have the cobra's baby brother (only manages 2 watt maximum power). Quite frankly it is a piece of crap (nothing to do with the comms as they have never really been tested in anger) - but the engineering is such that it has a tendency to turn itself on... haven't really worked out why - but it works better if you loosen the screws on the casing - comprimising the waterproofing (which is minimal anyway).

The extra £10 IMHO would be a good investment.

[BogMonster]

Pretty set on the Yaesu anyway I think - but not at all sure on the differences.

Is there an idiots guide somewhere to the different channels i.e. USA or International marine band - I'm not even sure what we use! almost certainly same as the UK.

[Northern Tim]

Happy New Year Stephen!

I personally have the Icom M1euroV but I've used the Standard Horizon and found it to be fine. Transmission and reception was clear and the radio is easy to use.

I believe that the cobra is much better than it's baby brother that polwart talks about, but the cobra name isn't as well respected as Standard Horizon.

Good luck!

Tim.

[al40]

I'd personally choose the STD Horizon. Really easy to use and I actually prefer some of the features to my mounted Icom M421. Comes bundled with drop in cradle that works with either the 12V lead or mains adapter. Also comes with AA case that takes 6AA alkaline batts if necessary. Not sure what cobra comes with.

you can get std horizon for £90 (same price as cobra) from a few places e.g.

http://www.marine-super-store.com/po...artno=99110680

Hope that helps.

[Biggles]

Hi,

I think you should give the Cobra a miss. The few that I've seen look like toys.

[Jono Garton]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Cobra at £89.99 from Mailspeed

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Have you just bought one more expensively from somewhere else?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Is there an idiots guide somewhere to the different channels i.e. USA or International marine band - I'm not even sure what we use! almost certainly same as the UK.

http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk...f_channels.htm

gives you UK channel allocations. Channels themsleves are "standard" internationally - except for a few (usually quite useful!) local variations. As I understand it the main difference is that the USA/Canada operate more of the channels in Simplex only.

This looks as though it has the differences:

http://www.panix.com/clay/scanning/F...arine-vhf.html

[BogMonster]

Thanks no major differences then, didn't see how there could be as ships travel all over the world!

I've never understood how the duplex channels work, if you are both transmitting on one channel and receiving on the other, neither of you will hear anything - they need to be swapped around to get anywhere. Doesn't matter to me anyway, the main ones I will use will be 9 (our company uses that) and 16 for calling, also 10, 11 and 12 might be useful, 67 and 72 and that is all.

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I've never understood how the duplex channels work, if you are both transmitting on one channel and receiving on the other, neither of you will hear anything - they need to be swapped around to get anywhere.

As I understand it when the duplex channels are almost all for ship-to-shore comms and this I believe is because they use a shore base repeater. The way it was explained to me was as follows

Consider two channels A and B with you discussing the merits of a Humber Destroyed with the Humber rep. You transmit on A this is picked up by the repeater and re-transmitted so that the Humber rep gets his ears roasted on B. He then transmits his humble and pathetic apologies on A, which is then repeated on B for you to receive.

If I've got it all ar$e about face I'm sure someone will soon put me right

Andrew

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by al40

you can get std horizon for £90 (same price as cobra) from a few places e.g.
http://www.marine-super-store.com/po...artno=99110680
Hope that helps.

Stephen just been down this route and bought a HX270 from the Marine Superstore, following a few recommendations on Ribnet after my Icom Euro sadly died. Initial impressions, it feels well made with a strong case and I will hold that nice Mr Brooks to there claims of it being waterproof.

Pete

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

As I understand it when the duplex channels are almost all for ship-to-shore comms and this I believe is because they use a shore base repeater. The way it was explained to me was as follows

Consider two channels A and B with you discussing the merits of a Humber Destroyed with the Humber rep. You transmit on A this is picked up by the repeater and re-transmitted so that the Humber rep gets his ears roasted on B. He then transmits his humble and pathetic apologies on A, which is then repeated on B for you to receive.

If I've got it all ar$e about face I'm sure someone will soon put me right

Andrew

Topical choice of example.....

I know how repeaters work in amateur radio - exactly as you say - but I read somewhere that repeaters aren't used in the marine band, hence my confusion. I guess there are repeaters then!

[Nick Hearne]

I have got a HX270E Nautequipe & it looks a great bit of kit, but time will tell! 3 year warranty as well!

[BogMonster]

Does anybody know the difference between the E and S models of the HX270, and indeed any other models there might be?

Just want to make sure I get the right one

[al40]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Does anybody know the difference between the E and S models of the HX270, and indeed any other models there might be?

Just want to make sure I get the right one

Yeah this confused me as well - I came to the conclusion the E was european version (or maybe UK?) Only thing I could think off was the default channel setting to be international rather than US etc. It's actually stamped on the radio so it doesn't seem to just mean the type of mains adapter / documents supplied with the kit.

Maybe a question for Jon Brooks?

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Does anybody know the difference between the E and S models of the HX270, and indeed any other models there might be?

Just want to make sure I get the right one

Yes I do

E version for Europe
S version for the USA.

All the best

[BogMonster]

Just looking at this:

http://www.radiocommunicationsonline...70e-p-682.html

HX270E on special offer at the moment £79.99 + vat including free delivery - seems like a very good price for those of you in the UK!!

No connection with the company and I already have one on order from my new local Yaesu dealer