Recommendations on a budget fixed VHF radio DSC

[Nick Hearne]

Right recommendations on a budget fixed VHF radio DSC please, as I have looked in to getting mine repaired & with £45 + vat + parts + postage its not looking good to get it repaired!

Will be connected to my Navman Trackfish 6600


STANDARD HORIZON GX1100

STANDARD HORIZON GX1600E

ICOM IC M411 EURO

LOWRANCE LVR-250E

[Bobh]

I have the icom ic m411 nice radio, easy enough to connect nmea 183 and has decent features not come across the others so can't give an opinion. Force4 are doing em for £140 now too.

[Pikey Dave]

Out of your list I've only got experience of Icom, top quality kit & good service. I doubt you'll get better for the money.

[Razorbill RIBs]

I would reccomend the Standard Horizon kit.... In fact, the GX1500e has now been discontinued (replaced by shallower 1600) but they are still out there and can be had for nearer £100..... good quality, good displays..... We have three and all trouble /fault free.

[SPR]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Out of your list I've only got experience of Icom, top quality kit & good service. I doubt you'll get better for the money.

+1 for ICOM

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Razorbill RIBs

I would reccomend the Standard Horizon kit.... In fact, the GX1500e has now been discontinued (replaced by shallower 1600) but they are still out there and can be had for nearer £100..... good quality, good displays..... We have three and all trouble /fault free.

I've got the older GX1500 and that's served me well for 4 years, pick up an out of date model like this and save yourself some more £'s

[SteveHall]

Originally Posted by SPR

+1 for ICOM

Another for the ICOM kit! I have had 3 now on other boats, and all been really good!

[Erin]

I have nothing against the performance of the Icom, but the other manufacturers have far easier menu structures. This may not concern you if you only do voice calls, but if you want to do position requests or dsc then it gets very complicated with lots of button pressing involved. The button labelling is not the most obvious either IMV. Download the manuals from the websites and have a flick through.

[martini]

Icom have just brought out a new menu structure across the range, dunno what it's like but better than previous one hopes.

Sent from my portable speaking device using Rib.net

[Channel Ribs]

I agree with Erin, nothing wrong with the Icoms at all. But for me the Horizons have awesome build quality.

You can get a 1600 for under 150 quid.

[SPR]

Originally Posted by martini

Icom have just brought out a new menu structure across the range, dunno what it's like but better than previous one hopes.

Sent from my portable speaking device using Rib.net

my new m91d arrives next week , h/h dsc gps at last - this had the same menu as m423 fixed radio.

Thought when I upgrade my fixed latter good to have common menu!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I've got the older GX1500 and that's served me well for 4 years, pick up an out of date model like this and save yourself some more £'s

Well got one of these under £100
Good bit of kit thanks all

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Well got one of these under £100
Good bit of kit thanks all