Boat I am buying needs a new VHF radio - fair price for a credit/replacement?

mrsrobinson said:
Yes, after reading the replies to this thread I feel less anxious, better about not needing to replace it right away. My plan is to sit on it and use the credit after I've used the boat for a while and figure out what I really want/need.

Will a handheld transmit far enough (to the coast guard) on the open Chesapeake Bay for the trip home?
Click to expand...

Transmission distance is a function of 2 things: height of the antenna and output wattage.
  • Generally, 1 watt of transmit power = 1 mile of range. The HX 890 has 6w of transmit power so you have about 6 miles of range.
  • Antenna. VHF signals are line-of-sight so the higher the antenna, the more the range. A handheld is only going to be so high off the water. You could potentially improved the range a bit by connecting the hand held to your ship's antenna. SH makes the CN-3 adapter for this purpose. Pair that with an optional extension mic for practical use and you could get some extra range. IDK how much extra, and it will never be as much as a fixed mount with 25w of power though.
I don't know how far across the Chesapeake, or more importantly distance between USCG stations. They have massively powerful antennas though.
 
The line of sight propagation is a real factor in how far VHF can travel, the real life distance for our express boats is somewhere around 12-15 miles in perfect conditions. If you add in skip or reflection that distance grows to almost 50 miles or more in the right conditions. Of course add in land and other boats it really is difficult to say an exact number and wil differ from day to day in the given conditions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-of-sight_propagation#Earth_bulge
 
I'm in the search for a new VHF also. The Vesper Cortex is really interesting. Pricey for just a VHF but it has a ton of features I like. I really like the cordless handset feature so I don't have to be at the helm to hear warnings or calls when anchored.
 
H2Oload said:
I'm in the search for a new VHF also. The Vesper Cortex is really interesting. Pricey for just a VHF but it has a ton of features I like. I really like the cordless handset feature so I don't have to be at the helm to hear warnings or calls when anchored.
Click to expand...
If I didn't already have a Garmin 315 I would have gone with the Cortex. I also have a Siren Marine system waiting on install, which has a lot of overlap with the Cortex.
 
H2Oload said:
I'm in the search for a new VHF also. The Vesper Cortex is really interesting. Pricey for just a VHF but it has a ton of features I like. I really like the cordless handset feature so I don't have to be at the helm to hear warnings or calls when anchored.
Click to expand...

I have the Cortex. When I added up the price of a black-box VHF, an AIS transceiver and a Remote boat monitor, the Cortex came out as a bargain. The only down side is that it currently has only dual-watch. Vesper is promising full VHF scanning "real soon now". That will remove my one gripe.
 
bobeast said:
I have the Cortex. When I added up the price of a black-box VHF, an AIS transceiver and a Remote boat monitor, the Cortex came out as a bargain. The only down side is that it currently has only dual-watch. Vesper is promising full VHF scanning "real soon now". That will remove my one gripe.
Click to expand...

An area where Siren seems to have a lead over Cortex is in the sensor department. Cortex has a limited number of wired-only monitored sensor inputs, and it seems really hard to find info about recommended sensors.

By contrast, Siren has more inputs for wired sensors, makes clear what the options are, and sells them. Perhaps more importantly Siren makes a bunch of wireless sensors that make it even easier to connect. Yes they are pricey, but it supports up to 15 wireless sensors.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Now, if I want to spend extra and tie it in to the GPS/Radar I know I can do that, just not sure which unit I'd need, or if I really need to do that.
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It's actually the other way around: if you don't want to connect a VHF to your GPS/Plotter, you'll need to spend a little extra for a VHF with built-in GPS.

Nearly all units can be connected via NMEA-0183, which is just a matter of connecting some wires.

NMEA-2000 compatibility isn't found on the lower-end VHF units and connecting NM2K may require some parts, but it's not a major investment in the grand scheme of things.
 
here is my Cortex, now owned by Garmin
a few kinks but very happy... still have the fixed mount standard in the cabin and Icom handheld as well..

the item next to the Cortex is my Scanstrut wireless charger...
IMG_8355.jpg
 
Siren ( Yamaha) is battling the 3G monitoring going away,, should be resolved soon
 
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H2Oload said:
What is your antenna set up? I have read that standard antennas don’t tune well for the AIS?
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I work with Shakespeare and I went the standard 158 megahertz vhf (6400) phase III

Works great
Yes ais goes out to 162 but I’m doing just fine
 
mrsrobinson said:
Yes, after reading the replies to this thread I feel less anxious, better about not needing to replace it right away. My plan is to sit on it and use the credit after I've used the boat for a while and figure out what I really want/need.

Will a handheld transmit far enough (to the coast guard) on the open Chesapeake Bay for the trip home?
Click to expand...


You can buy an adapter to allow your handheld to connect to the fixed mount antenna. This will give you more antenna height, and help increase range.
 
b_arrington said:
Dude, I told you the exact part you need to do that. On Monday. In this thread. You liked it.
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Ha, remember, I am old...

2 Dudes in 24 hours, I am in trouble ;)

Is this it: https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Horizon-SMA-Adapter-CN-3/dp/B00FS80DMY

And this is the unit I plan to buy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K2G7NF5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A1BG95QSTDVLXL&th=1

Do I need a cable to connect the two?

I see a few of the original ones on eBay for $50+-. I may pick one up to use for a while until I figure out what my long term solution looks like.
 
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mrsrobinson said:
Ha, remember, I am old...

2 Dudes in 24 hours, I am in trouble ;)

Is this it: https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Horizon-SMA-Adapter-CN-3/dp/B00FS80DMY

And this is the unit I plan to buy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K2G7NF5/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A1BG95QSTDVLXL&th=1

Do I need a cable to connect the two?

I see a few of the original ones on eBay for $50+-. I may pick one up to use for a while until I figure out what my long term solution looks like.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's it on both counts.

The way I understand it, you remove the flexible antenna and screw on the CN-3 adapter in it's place. The boat's antenna attaches to the other side.

Now, the CN-3 uses a BNC connector on the antenna side. That' the kind with 2 tabs, and it locks into the other side with a 1/4 turn. Every antenna to a fixed radio I've ever seen uses a different type of connection: a threaded screw on connector. You likely will need adapter like this. At $7 you don't have much to loose.
61cTHnDL2sL._AC_SL1001_.jpg


https://www.amazon.com/SO239-Female-Coaxial-Antenna-Mobile/dp/B01IT2GS42

Lastly, consider that your new HX890 is going to be connected to a fixed antenna. How are you going to use it when it's attached to the boat? Kinda hard to pick it up. I would suggest getting an extension mic like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Horizon-MH-73A4B-Speaker-Microphone/dp/B007Z9SGLY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3SG9W7MWD07TR&keywords=MH-73A4B&qid=1646926238&sprefix=mh-73a4b,aps,80&sr=8-3&th=1
MH-73.jpg
 
I am at $70+ for adapters, bolt ons, glue, tape. etc. to use the handheld with the antenna...

This is looking better and better

Telephone-Game.jpg
 
Just a thought - the 2 parts that you're not likely to reuse are the adapters. Total is about $21 for those.

Alternative is just to go hand-held alone. No judging, just posing ways to maximize your radio signal for the delivery trip.
 
b_arrington said:
Alternative is just to go hand-held alone. No judging, just posing ways to maximize your radio signal for the delivery trip.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate your comments/feedback. I am leaning towards a handheld alone for the trip home. Once home use the boat for a while and figure out what I want for a permanent solution.
 
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