VHF for new build

b_arrington

b_arrington

Well-Known Member
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Feb 21, 2007
3,475
Setauket, NY
Boat Info
Back Cove 37
AB Ventus 9VL
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3 600
I’m currently mapping out a new electronics suite. The big stuff was fairly easy - dual Garmin GPS, either 7600 or 8600. Phantom radar.

The unexpectedly harder part is the VHF radio. I’ve had Icom, Standard Horizon, and Northstar in the past. Is there any advantage to staying with a Garmin radio?

Depending on the layout I may need to use a black box radio, which will significantly limit my choices. If not there are so many radios and none seem to really stand out. Any suggestions?
 
b_arrington said:
I’m currently mapping out a new electronics suite. The big stuff was fairly easy - dual Garmin GPS, either 7600 or 8600. Phantom radar.

The unexpectedly harder part is the VHF radio. I’ve had Icom, Standard Horizon, and Northstar in the past. Is there any advantage to staying with a Garmin radio?

Depending on the layout I may need to use a black box radio, which will significantly limit my choices. If not there are so many radios and none seem to really stand out. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Get the Standard Horizon GX2200 Matrix AIS/GPS, you can see AIS vessels on your plotter. It is not a transmitter.

https://www.boemarine.com/standard-...ount-vhf-w-ais-gps-class-d-dsc-30w-white.html

MM
 
Garmin has some VHF devices compatible with NMEA 2000, these will be much easier to integrate with your Garmin than other units. I think they have black box and standard.
 
I've been happy with my Garmin AIS 300. They have an intuitive user interface, Standard Horizon makes great radios as long as you have a PHD in menu navigation.
 
Probably the most important piece of equipment on your boat
ICOM 400 BB military grade I have 2 at the helm and 3 handhelds.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
Probably the most important piece of equipment on your boat
ICOM 400 BB military grade I have 2 at the helm and 3 handhelds.
Click to expand...
I have one of those on my current boat. I like it well enough. It just bothers me that they haven’t included N2K interfaces.
 
bobeast said:
I've been happy with my Garmin AIS 300. They have an intuitive user interface, Standard Horizon makes great radios as long as you have a PHD in menu navigation.
Click to expand...
b_arrington said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I did recently futz around with one of these. Like @bobeast said, the interface was not intuitive to me. Less so than my SH DSC capable hand held. Maybe I’ll look again.

AIS is a “wish list” item.
Click to expand...

I pretty much set it and forget it, but I do remember the menus were not easy for sure.

MM
 
I debated between Standard Horizon and Garmin when I added new Garmin plotters this years. I've owned Standard Horizon in the past but ultimately went with Garmin this time around simply for aesthetics.

I went with the lowest cost Garmin, the VHF110. I didn't need/want the AIS (cost vs benefit for my boating style) and I didn't need internal GPS since the VHF is networked to my plotters. It's still more expensive than the Standard Horizon but not by much.

I'm pleased with the choice so far though I've only used it a handful of times. It does not appear to be any more or less functional than the Standard Horizon GX1700B I had previously.
 
b_arrington said:
I have one of those on my current boat. I like it well enough. It just bothers me that they haven’t included N2K interfaces.
Click to expand...

Agreed but it does have NMEA0183 for DSC connection to your plotter. I don’t rely on VHF’s for AIS that’s a different piece of equipment on board What would you need the 2k connection for?
 
Had Garmin electronics on my old boat, including VHF, and really liked them. Simple and worked flawlessly.
I would get Garmin and if you want to supplement with a handheld go with the Standard Horizon handheld.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
Agreed but it does have NMEA0183 for DSC connection to your plotter. I don’t rely on VHF’s for AIS that’s a different piece of equipment on board What would you need the 2k connection for?
Click to expand...
True, it does have NMEA 0183. I have it connected that way on my current boat for DSC and it works. When I got mine 2 years ago I was totally shocked that such a new model didn't have an N2K connection. It was a moot point at the time since I was using 0183.

Now I'm planning on have an N2K network. It would easier to hook up the VHF via N2K. Would the 0813 still work? Sure. For some (perhaps illogical) reason, I just feel like a new radio should have the most current interface. It seems like ICOM is a bit behind in this specific area.
 
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