06 340 VHF Radio replace

[Jaay757]

I am looking for picts or ideas on replacing the NS100 VHF radio, the cord is cracked. I have a backup handheld but would like a permanent fix. I have done some research and know I can replace it with the ICOM M400 ($300) prob the easiest change, however the Standard Horizon radios have more integrated options such as GPS and AIS for the same $$. I really dont need AIS but is an option on these radios. I am looking at the GX2200 ($260) but really like the GX1700 ($170). I like the idea of having the radio hidden so I was looking at the remote mics ($100) that both these radios will accept. My initial thought was to hide the radio under the dash and use the remote mic however for the gps to work correctly it appears the radio needs to be in the open. Has anyone mounted either of these radios into the dash on a 340 or 320, I am hesistant to cut up the dash for a vhf.. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jason

 

[be_prepared]

I am looking for picts or ideas on replacing the NS100 VHF radio, the cord is cracked. I have a backup handheld but would like a permanent fix. I have done some research and know I can replace it with the ICOM M400 ($300) prob the easiest change, however the Standard Horizon radios have more integrated options such as GPS and AIS for the same $$. I really dont need AIS but is an option on these radios. I am looking at the GX2200 ($260) but really like the GX1700 ($170). I like the idea of having the radio hidden so I was looking at the remote mics ($100) that both these radios will accept. My initial thought was to hide the radio under the dash and use the remote mic however for the gps to work correctly it appears the radio needs to be in the open. Has anyone mounted either of these radios into the dash on a 340 or 320, I am hesistant to cut up the dash for a vhf.. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jason

A couple thoughts...When I was looking for a new radio for my 340DA, I ended up buying a Garmin VHF with an AIS receiver because it integrates so nicely with the Garmin GPS/Chartplotter that I already had on the boat. I don't know what other electronics you have on board, but you might considering matching them. I know everything is supposed to speak NMEA 2000 now, so maybe it's not as big a deal. I do like the AIS receiver after having it for 2 seasons. I didn't think I needed it, but it really improves your situational awareness. It's nice to see the commercial ships plotted on the chart, with their heading, speed, size, name, etc... It has allowed me to hail them directly, knowing their name from a distance, instead of "fishing vessel approaching west end of canal" and hoping that they know you're talking to them. Sometimes, in fog, you see something on radar, near a buoy, so you assume it's stationary, and then you see that the blip is sitting on an AIS track, and there's something bigger than you moving near that buoy

It's been valuable enough that although not required for recreational boats, I may add the AIS transponder to squawk my own boat's info out there. Another off season project.

 

[Craig]

No real good options under 6-7 hundred dollars without cutting. The ray 260 is being retired so you may find a deal on the non AIS
Under 600. I found one for $550 and went that route.

 

[RollerCoastr]

I ended up buying a Garmin VHF with an AIS receiver because it integrates so nicely with the Garmin GPS/Chartplotter that I already had on the boat.

I was disappointed in the integration. They connect, they communicate (some), but for the premium that I paid for the brand, I expected more. Maybe things got better in models after or above my VHF 200, but that the Address Book for MMSI numbers isn't shared drives me nuts. I can initiate a DSC call from the MFD, but only the first step and then I have to go to the radio anyway.

I could've chosen another brand that includes NMEA2000 networking, better ratings on performance, built-in GPS for much less money.

 

[JVM225]

I installed a Standard Horizon GX 1700 on my Uncle’s boat for him last year. Great radio with built in GPS and very reasonably priced.

 

[Jaay757]

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I am still running the Raymarine C80 for GPS and radar. I know an upgrade would be nice however for now it does everything I need it to. I will look at the garmin and Raymarine remote radios. Thanks again

 

[Craig]

The Icom is a good unit at a nice price but doesn't have a remote speaker. Problematic to integrate into the current active speaker for the NS100. You could ad a passive speaker easy enough but by then the price
Point jumps up close to the other black box models that come with a speaker. You could always just cover the hole or leave the old speaker there and not functional.

 

[aarongrz]

I installed a Raymarine Ray 50. I ordered the burlwood panel from Flounder Pounder. Very happy with the radio and how it looks.

 

[RollerCoastr]

View attachment 58480 I installed a Raymarine Ray 50. I ordered the burlwood panel from Flounder Pounder. Very happy with the radio and how it looks.

Looks great! I like the clean looks of that radio. Is it connected to the the plotter to get GPS data?

 

[aarongrz]

Looks great! I like the clean looks of that radio. Is it connected to the the plotter to get GPS data?

It will be in the offseason when I upgrade. It has nmea 2000 so I could hook it up but I do not like the Garmin unit the previous owner "installed" (he mounted it and never wired it but told me it was working the day before)

 

[RollerCoastr]

Not even a power cord? That would raise my blood pressure.

 

[aarongrz]

Not even a power cord? That would raise my blood pressure.

There were a lot of things that raised my blood pressure lol. Took me literally 5 minutes to hook Garmin up. I got the boat for a real good price and it only had 199 hours on it. Lots of work and upgrades since I bought her and I'm happy now. Plenty more upgrades planned.