Fixed Cobra VHF Radios

PeteSmith · 06 February 2007, 16:25

Well our Navman VHF has gone the way of our Navman Chartplotter, knackered after 17 months. It seems that Navman cannot make a product that can keep out the damp ( perhaps Navman should shroud their electronices in tissue paper instead of plasic it may last longer!)

Anyway no point going back to Navman for repairs as their returns / repairs service is even worse than their electronics.

So we have decided to cut our losses and go for a cheap fixed VHF instead. Then if it only lasts 18 months we havent wasted all our money.

To this end I see that several online stores are doing a Cobra Fixed DSC VHF for £99 inc VAT including flush mounting kit. Has anyone had any experience of these?

Pete

><(((ö>

Biggles · 06 February 2007, 16:35

Why not get the Icom 421.

Its only £159 from JG Tech.

http://www.jgtech.com/shop3.htm

I've had no problems with mine. But I must say I don't get any mega waves over the bows on the RIBCRAFT as I used to with the Searider.

Jimbo · 06 February 2007, 16:35

I have had (somewhat limited) experience of these. My advice is not to fit it anywhere it is likely to get wet.

On a boat, for example.

I think you will find it substantially worse than your Navman, as the old saying goes, buy cheap, buy twice! I regard a VHF as a safety item, and to my mind paying £200 ish for a decent Icom or Standard Horizon is well worth the outlay.

JABS · 06 February 2007, 16:43

In my humble opinion, it is just not worth getting a budget VHF. I have used ICOM for many years on both sail and power boats and find them fantastic! I would strongly suggest you look around for a bargain, even a used ICOM should serve you well!

I hasten to add that I am not associated with ICOM, other than as a very satisfied customer.

Dino · 06 February 2007, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

Well our Navman VHF has gone the way of our Navman Chartplotter, knackered after 17 months. It seems that Navman cannot make a product that can keep out the damp ( perhaps Navman should shroud their electronices in tissue paper instead of plasic it may last longer!)

Anyway no point going back to Navman for repairs as their returns / repairs service is even worse than their electronics.

So we have decided to cut our losses and go for a cheap fixed VHF instead. Then if it only lasts 18 months we havent wasted all our money.

To this end I see that several online stores are doing a Cobra Fixed DSC VHF for £99 inc VAT including flush mounting kit. Has anyone had any experience of these?

Pete

><(((ö>

Hi Pete
Yes i have ,it's a great cheapo little unit that does what it says on the tin.It transmits well and receives clearly even though it's built in speaker is a little tinny. However, i can't vouch for the waterproofing as mines in a wheelhouse.

Nos4r2 · 08 February 2007, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteSmith

To this end I see that several online stores are doing a Cobra Fixed DSC VHF for £99 inc VAT including flush mounting kit. Has anyone had any experience of these?

Pete

><(((ö>

I've got one. It does everything I ask it to and it was waterproof enough to survive the last 2 years including the stuff that got me my 'submariner' award...
The only real downsides are as Dino says it sounds a bit tinny and there's no dimmer on the display. That can be a pain in the dark as it's bright enough to interfere with night vision.

Don't use the mounting screws provided with it for the mic holder btw-they are thin plated steel and rust really fast staining everything.

Swifty · 10 February 2007, 21:00

I have the Cobra DSC - And wished I didn't. It just isn't upto the job for a Searider.

Unable to select nature of DSC distress. (not needed it yet though!)
Sound is weak and tinny. Have to use external speaker.
Handset collects water and becomes muffled when wet.
Vulnerable to wind noise.
Controls corrode.
Have to constantly change display contrast.
No backlight dimming.
Menu layout is terrible.
Too many fiddly buttons on the handset -keeps changing channel when you pick it up (now disabled).

On the plus side the main unit appears to be waterproof -until you plug in the NMEA and speaker.
Works on 12 volts....
Cheap.

Would seem to be more suitable for inside a cabin than a rib.
Icom here I come.

wavelength · 11 February 2007, 14:23

Quote:

Unable to select nature of DSC distress

no experience of Cobra sets but the Icoms we use for radio courses have the same quirk that you do not really get the chance to choose your particular category of grief when sending a dsc distress alert. However in the real world, if the **** hits the fan in a rib I am not gonna be fiddling about selecting distress categories when water is sweeping the length of the boat-I just want to be able to push an easily found red button for 5 secs. If we had the Icoms on the boats the instruction to inexperienced passengers could be as simple as "if I go over the side just push that red button for more than 5 secs- which is easier than telling them to press it once and then press it again this time for over 5 secs. Been in that situation when a commercial boat was in trouble here last year and unable to transmit his own distress. Salt water sweeping the boat and in your eyes effectivley blinds you as far as scrolling down menus is concerned and I also needed to keep control of my own vessel in very shallow water with breaking waves - a voice transmission with no digital call was far far easier, to the extent that I never even considered trying to read an LCD screen to look for the urgency category of call.

Doug Stormforce · 13 February 2007, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swifty

Unable to select nature of DSC distress..

Correct me if I am wrong but isnt this part of the type approval and therfore standrad to all sets?

The Icoms that Dave is referring to do have the function its just been hidden away in a very stupid place (ie you can not select the narture of distress easily when in distress).

Jimbo · 13 February 2007, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

The Icoms that Dave is referring to do have the function its just been hidden away in a very stupid place (ie you can not select the narture of distress easily when in distress).

From what I've seen, the Icom M601 is similar to other sets, and to the best of my knowledge it's only the M421 with this damn fool arrangement!

Milo72 · 14 February 2007, 09:30

I paid £400 for a simrad when it first came out and it lasted 2.5yrs so went for the £99 cobra. it's been fine, although as the others said, the speaker is a bit on the 'thin' side but don't let that put you off. easy to use and navigate around, piece of cake to fit. It seems to be fully waterproof too! the speaker did have a funny 5 minutes after being left out for a week or so in the foul wind and rain but recovered quickly once the boat cover was put back on. At the price, if it lasts 1 yr, I'd say you've lost nothing...

wavelength · 14 February 2007, 14:32

yes on this particular icom you can select the distress category as long as you do it before you hit the distress button by going into the menu and selecting distress menu/options. I didnt say it couldnt be done

Quote:

that you do not really get the chance to choose your particular category of grief

but lets get real here. You are in a 5 or 6 m rib, what categories are you going to select?? If it all goes pear shaped and your boat is going down or your wellies are melting is anyone gonna be doing anything other than sending undesignated distress-i for one wouldnt be -even if only cos i have got to get me reading specs to see the ****** screen, assuming my eyes arent stinging with seawater anyway. If its a man overboard they will get it in my voice message anyway. Not convinced of the need for a distress category unless you are in a big big boat where your mayday situation is likely to be a longer experience than it would be in a small boat.

The Garfish · 14 February 2007, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

or your wellies are melting

yus. weev herd bowt yorr mingin sokks.

gaRF

wavelength · 14 February 2007, 22:02

Jon Brooks · 15 February 2007, 08:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

From what I've seen, the Icom M601 is similar to other sets, and to the best of my knowledge it's only the M421 with this damn fool arrangement!

The selection of the nature of distress is in deed part of the class D DSC spec.
Very odd this set has not got the list.
This was raised and I understood Cobra had sorted this issue...maybe not.

All Icom DSC units work in the same way.
Into the menu, find distress setting, select the nature.

Our kit works that you hit the red button once, menu appears select the nature and away you go.

All the best