vhs radios

[JeffM]

Anybody got a good recommendation on a handheld waterproof vhs radio?  Or, alternatively, good ones to stay away from?  I'm planning a longish trip in open water for the middle of the summer.  (Right now my last-ditch safety plan involves the cell phone strapped to my lifejacket in a waterproof box.)

[Hirilonde]

I don't know enough about brands to say, but I know the features I wanted.  Mine has a rechargeable battery, and a AAA holder that fits on the same way.  I use the rechargeable on my Renegade with the DC plug.  I can charge it AC as well, both chords attach to the charger base.  I carry the holder and some AAA batteries as last straw back up.  Any combination or 2 sets of batteries gives you security of use.

Where exactly are you going?  Not to imply exact itineraries are necessarily needed.I will be cruising in early August and might bump in to you.

[Charlie Jones]

I can warn you that the Uniden Atlantis 250, which says "waterproof" on the box- isn't. Once you read the specs, it says conforms to some spec which is "splash proof". I emailed Uniden and asked- the answer I got was "splash-proof", the wording on the box was in error. >

And that wording was one reason it was purchased!!! We got it as a gift, so I'll keep it.

West Marine has one hand held that my friend who used to manage a store, kept floating in a fish tank behind the counter. He'd fish it out to show the radio to people. Check it out.

Oh - and they are VHF's, not vhs's ;D

[wkisting]

I agree with Charlie... I had a Uniden Atlantis and it was junk. It got splashed once (lightly) and stopped working. I sent it in, had it refurbished (free, under warranty), and it worked for a short period of time... got splashed lightly again, and stopped working. I sold it for 50 cents at a garage sale to a guy who said he wanted to disassemble it for some reason. Perhaps he was as angry at the thing as I was. 

I owned an older Uniden handheld model (something like HH955, if I recall) and although it wasn't waterproof, it worked very well for a long time. So some of the Uniden stuff is good... there's just something wrong with the Atlantis design, as it definitely isn't even splashproof.

Good catch on the VHS vs. VHF Charlie... I was imagining a radio that records on videocassette. (Sorry Jeff, I'm just kidding you.)

[Edit to add: I have heard good things about the iCom handhelds... I think it's the M34 that I was told is very waterproof, and that was by a kayaker who was carrying it strapped on his kayak's deck. I also have heard from a couple of paddlers who wear the smaller model (I think it's the iCom HX471SB/SS) strapped to their PFD's and have been pleased with them.)]

[Frank Hagan]

I have a cheap one that hasn't gotten wet enough to destroy itself, but then I'm just doing day sailing so I don't have a need for the extra features they are building into the high end ones now.  They are adding some kind of "auto transmit" of your identity and location (boat name and coordinates, I guess) into a lot of them. 

I think the "waterproof" designation comes only if the radio can be submerged for a specified period of time at a certain depth ... 3' if I recall correctly .... and still work.  "Splashproof" just means if you splash it then it might work.  One thing to look at is the warranty coverage:  do they cover water damage?

Mine's a pretty large one, but I was buying just on price.  My next one will be more compact so I can tuck it into my jacket when we dock for lunch.  The smaller ones from Icom and Standard Horizon are sometimes under $100 now.  Amazon.com lists quite a few in our store (click Here to see the listing).  But I don't know the "Midland" or "Cobra" brands.  They could be great, but I know that Icom and Standard Horizon usually stand behind their products.

[JeffM]

Thanks, all!  That M34 looks like a good radio.  I wonder if its possible to get a spare battery pack in case I can't recharge for a few days?  Of course, if I get it, I'll buy it through the messing-about store.

[Ken_Potts]

  When you see the word "waterproof" look for the rating.  The one most frequently used in the US is IP (as in IP65 or IP67, etc) then look up the rating on the internet (or post here and I'll find a chart and post a link).  If I remember correctly my VHF was rated with a Japanese standard but I was able to find out what it meant with a google search before I bought it.

  Frank's right about time-at-depth for the rating.  I've got a camera that is rated for 3 hours at 3 meters but the previous version of the camera was rated at 1 meter for 30 minutes.  Don't believe any claim that just mentions depth without time.