Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 21-11-2017, 19:59   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,225
Images: 1
Best VHF

For all you radio aficionados, what is the best performing VHF available? I don't care about AIS, I don't care about NMEA 2000 support. I just care about VHF performance talking to other people, and am wondering what units are the best.

We just completed a rally on about 25 boats, and VHF performance across the fleet varied widely - really widely. So if someone wanted to refit with the very best, what would it be?

Thanks
__________________
www.MVTanglewood.com
tanglewood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2017, 20:19   #2
Senior Cruiser
 
BlackHeron's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2016
Boat: Bathtub
Posts: 889
Images: 19
Re: Best VHF

Antenna...Antenna...Antenna.
BlackHeron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2017, 20:26   #3
Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
 
Wotname's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,301
Re: Best VHF

Quote:
Originally Posted by tanglewood View Post
For all you radio aficionados, what is the best performing VHF available? I don't care about AIS, I don't care about NMEA 2000 support. I just care about VHF performance talking to other people, and am wondering what units are the best.

We just completed a rally on about 25 boats, and VHF performance across the fleet varied widely - really widely. So if someone wanted to refit with the very best, what would it be?

Thanks
The best performing VHF is the one that is installed properly (i.e. to best practice). The installation is by far the most important aspect of a radio's performance. Any name brand radio (Icom, Standard Horizon) will have similar specifications (although there are minor differences between them) but all will operate poorly if not installed correctly.

You need:
  • Good Antenna
  • Low loss coax
  • Antenna height
  • Quality connectors
  • Coax and connectors well supported and sealed
  • Good DC wiring

The above is a start and should ensure a low VSWR for the antenna feeder / antenna and good Tx power. However miss any one of them and performance will fall off quickly.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
Wotname is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-11-2017, 22:06   #4
Moderator
 
Jim Cate's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,151
Re: Best VHF

^^^^^^

Wot Wottie said! Nowadays there is not much difference between radios in terms of performance... the differences are all in the bells and whistles, most of which are not particularly useful.

Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
Jim Cate is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
vhf

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
VHF and AIS Radiowave Propagation and VHF and AIS Radio Range ka4wja Marine Electronics 46 25-10-2023 08:41
Best Handheld VHF (or otherwise) Radio for Ditch Bag keelsidedown Marine Electronics 61 20-07-2014 09:36
Best VHF cable connector??? redsky49 Marine Electronics 26 14-02-2014 08:43
Can AIS Share VHF Antenna with Existing VHF Radio ? cool2848 Marine Electronics 18 24-04-2013 08:56
Best Non-Handheld VHF ? farotherside Marine Electronics 7 23-12-2010 05:58

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:14.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.