Passed my SRC - So now, which handheld?

Jimbolio · 09 February 2020, 13:58

Chappies/Chappettes,

I passed my SRC yesterday (hooray!) & now have an offically issued MMSI and am looking for a handheld DSC VHF to replace my non DSC HH bought on a whim.

Shortlist is as follows (ignore the costs and go for ease of use for mrs jimbolio & the chiddlers, should i be incapacitated to use it myself... I want the easiest to use/wallyproof version, should a panic occur)

1. Cobra HH600
2. Standard Horizon HX890
3. Icom M93D

Any comments/pitfalls from users of ANY of the above, are warmly welcomed.

As are "i wish i'd bought blah as the screen on this is too small" or "i have to scroll through too many menus to transmit a panpan"...

Not brand bashing, just trying to find the right bang for buck.

Cheers, Jimbo.

Max... · 09 February 2020, 15:00

One of the perennial questions on here alongside, insurance etc. Same advice is always Icom or SH. Make sure floating obviously although I always secure loop it to my LJ.

Jimbolio · 09 February 2020, 15:22

Understood. SH ordered in anticipation of easiness... Will revert if its shite.

Max... · 09 February 2020, 16:11

Well, maybe wait for some more opinions?!

Tim M · 09 February 2020, 18:31

Anything but the Cobra!

I used to have some SH Horizon kit (fixed+HH radios + plotters on 2 charter RIBs) and wasn't very impressed with how it lasted being exposed to salt conditions (working in a commercial environment). Became an Icom convert (probably still the most popular brand on numerous vessels I've worked on). Took a punt and bought a fixed DSC VHF with AIS for my own RIB last year simply because the Icom equivalent wouldn't fit in the very limited spot I had for it. Will be interesting to see how it lasts.....

Last Tango · 09 February 2020, 21:29

Always used Cobra. Never any issues.
I have an Icom now for compatibility with my AIS. Again no issues and a better display but disappointed with Icom's DSC. Cobra had some critical functionality that the Icom can't do. "Position request and auto response to position request".....poor show Icom.

It's fashionable to knock Cobra on here but I have two of their handhelds with absolutely no issues and one of them cost around £40 about 15 years ago.......still going strong. Never had a fixed one fail either, I have had two Icoms fail over the years.

HDAV · 09 February 2020, 22:44

Cobra get a bad rep from entry model which was built to a very low price....and never claimed to be waterproof....

I have SH it’s been fine, Range on handheld is biggest issue....but it’s lasted really well and gets soaked on pretty much every outing sometimes a full on swim.......not what a typical unit gets put through, but does get rinsed after use in fresh water and dried with battery out.

A mate Had a cobra it (One with Bluetooth) and it failed, was replaced under warranty was a few years old and he lost the receipt but they sent him a brand new unit, in the meantime he bought a SH HX890 my hx851 is getting on and screen is a bit dodgy (I bought it cheap with known dodgy screen) but can’t get replace the bats so it will be replaced at some point when battery life starts to fail...

Sladonians · 13 February 2020, 17:16

Ive got a Cobra HH500 bluetooth floating etc and have a shoulder mic. Always worked fine and actually is floating and waterproof proven when I capsized a dinghy in the Solent.

Jimbolio · 13 February 2020, 20:27

It’s great to hear the real life experiences (good and not so...)
I’ve received the HX890 and plopped in my MMSI.
Signal is poor near me at Stansted Airport, so I took it for a spin round the M25 this morning on the way to work to check the GPS was working.
Seems good to me, only downside was I pinged the spring out of DSC cover flap, but blame my over zealous sausage fingers for that.
Managed to fix that, so all good so far.
Spare batts are a bit pricey at circa £50 TBH.

HDAV · 16 February 2020, 22:57

Shouldn’t need a spare battery for a day trip even an overnighted unless you are very prolific radio user....listening doesn’t use much battery but transmitting does....Should be fine for a good few years of leisure use especially if you don’t use it as a gps and compass, I turned the strobe off on mine as it would flatten battery as it was always going off ( activates when wet)

essex · 21 August 2020, 19:32

I chose a horizon hx40e. Very small and light on my life jacket. You need the case for it to float. Very good battery life. After doing the course I decided I didn't want the extra weight/ complexity of a dsc radio for my needs