Options for Radio for helm position

[dmksails]

HI All! I've a question about using the radio while at the helm. My radio - a B&G V50 - is below at the nav station. I do a lot of solo sailing and normally rely on a handheld unit for communications while at the helm. There have been occasions where the handheld just hasn't' had the reach of my main radio. These are also the times when I really don't want to leave the helm.

Can anyone suggest a way to extend my main radio to the pedestal? My V50 handset does have buttons for changing channels, but no channel indicator. B&G was making a remote handset for this radio, but it's been discontinued - and reports were that it didn't work well.

[rslifkin]

Realistically, I'd say the best option would be to replace the VHF with one that has a good remote mic available. Then you can have the remote mic at the helm and the VHF at the nav station.

If you have a good spot for a second antenna, you could keep the existing VHF with a secondary antenna as a backup.

[Phyrcooler]

I have a V-50 and the handheld H50, and they work just fine. I get about 8-9 hours of pretty active listening per charge. But I am just a single data point. They have replaced the H50 with the H60 handheld. I assume it would be backward compatible. (I have a call into the dealer, as I am curious). There isn’t a connection for a RAM-mic on the radio, and I am not an electronics expert as to whether there are other solutions via the NMEA 2000 network. At around $200, the H60 handheld might be a pretty economical solution to replacing the radio.

[svMarite]

Standard Horizon is a great radio with RAM

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by svMarite

Standard Horizon is a great radio with RAM

I'm in the same situation as the OP and really leaning towards the Standard Horizon and cordless second station. It's pretty inexpensive. Can you add any details about your set up?

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...952&id=5577560

https://www.defender.com/product3.js...957&id=4550991

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...957&id=6831609

About $350 total.

[deblen]

Consider mounting a regular 25W waterproof VHF at the helm.
Here is a Uniden with 3yr warranty. / Len
https://www.outsidepursuits.com/best...rine-radio/#um

[mikedefieslife]

Doesn't it beg the question why the radio isn't mounted at the helm where you need it anyway. It seems odd to me that so many sail boats mount their radio inside, whilst powerboats tend to mount it outside. Especially on mono's where going down below would be a chore in choppy in seas.

Most modern VHFs are waterproof.

The B&G has the H50 handset what should work wirelessly so that would solve your problem. I have a link8 which is pretty much the same but doesn't have the wireless stuff built in that the B&G and Simrad versions have. I believe that Panbo did an overview of them on release years ago.

[rslifkin]

Having a VHF that can be monitored from in the cabin is nice. And there's often more space at the nav station on a sailboat, so mounting the larger radio there and smaller remote mic at the helm (or using a black box VHF) just fits better sometimes.



Personally, being a powerboater, I have 2 VHFs at the helm (and 1 of them is easily usable from the nav station next to the helm, the other could be as well, but would require standing to see the display).

[carstenb]

We're having to replace our VHF (the old one is now kaput) so we're looking for a unit that can be mounted below and have a wireless handheld mic/loudspeaker at the helm. But we have an additional requirement - the radio needs to be able to run both International and US channels either by switching from International to US and back again or running them at the same time

anyone have a lead on one of these?

[svMarite]

Originally Posted by Palarran

I'm in the same situation as the OP and really leaning towards the Standard Horizon and cordless second station. It's pretty inexpensive. Can you add any details about your set up?



https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...952&id=5577560



https://www.defender.com/product3.js...957&id=4550991



https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...957&id=6831609



About $350 total.

Here's the deal, Standard is an old Japanese company that have been making radios for a very long time. Its very good equipment, not the best, but solid and reliable. You don't need hifi vhf radio for amount you use is it, you need reliable that will work 17-25nm on 25W when you need it.
The RAM is a small wire to run to the helm from the back of the radio. From my station to the cockpit is 12' run in a locker.
I have 1W when in close talking to a fuel dock for example or 25W for calling that ship to let him know I'm here at sea.
This radio has an AIS receiver built in thats functional.
The negative I'd say is the menu buttons aren't set up in the most useful manner. Things like setting up 16, 9, a freq to call/monitor your buddy, is not intuitive.
The radio has a fog horn, hard to find in the menu, but an automated fog horn is the cats meow.

Other than that I love it.

[rslifkin]

In my mind, Standard Horizon (made by Yaesu) and Icom are the go-to companies for solid VHF radios.

[Dr. D]

I also have the H50 along with the V50 and I sail solo often. Works well, though I wish the battery in the H50 lasted longer.