VHF Options

[LastCall350]

While I am currently redoing my dash including panels, gauges, etc now would be the time for me to do something about a VHF. The boat currently has 2 standard vhf's mounted in dash, but both are inop. I'm installing a Garmin 1242xsv as well, what are my options for a decent vhf? Or just keep a portable hand held on board?

 

[yobub]

Buy a VHF with built in GPS and DSC. It's a key piece of safety equipment that anyone on your boat can operate just buy pushing a button if you are incapacitated (or overboard). No need to screw around with this.

ICOM and Standard Horizon are both good.

Brand compatibility doesnt matter with the VHF as long as it has NMEA2000 (which it will).

 

[rlynch03]

We recently replaced our VHF with a Garmin 315. The advantage of using Garmin N2K VHF with a Garmin N2K MFD such as your 1242 the MFD can send a position location through to your VHF in an emergency situation.

To yobub’s point your vhf can directly do the same thing as long as it has the location information.

Another option is the VHF units with AIS receive. We have the separate Garmin 815 AIS unit with send and receive and probably wouldn’t spend the money on send and receive if it did it again. However it is nice to see the large commercial ships coming with the receive unit.

This information should display from your vhf to your MFD also.

 

[Stee6043]

I had been a big fan of Standard Horizon (well, still am a fan) but I went with a Garmin VHF to match my charplotters. I think the user interface of the Standard Horizon is better but the Garmin seems to have mostly all the same features. Aesthetically, I like them matching. I also like that my firmware updates all come through a single app on my phone. It's nice to open up my Garmin app (Active Captain) and have it push updates to all of my devices. One less thing to worry about..

 

[rlynch03]

I had been a big fan of Standard Horizon (well, still am a fan) but I went with a Garmin VHF to match my charplotters. I think the user interface of the Standard Horizon is better but the Garmin seems to have mostly all the same features. Aesthetically, I like them matching. I also like that my firmware updates all come through a single app on my phone. It's nice to open up my Garmin app (Active Captain) and have it push updates to all of my devices. One less thing to worry about..

That is a great point with the all Garmin system. I like that as well. Not sure if the other manufacturers do that.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Any brand vhf will send your location using any brand MFD using the nmea bus even NMEA 0183 I have ICOM radios tied to Furuno TZTouch 2’s and they all talk to each other.

 

[Skybolt]

I also like to have the electronics from the same manufacturer as much as possible. I have all Garmin and have the 210 AIS model, works great and also supports the remote MIC option. I have recently added the 315 like MIC and speaker because the PO located the VHF if a remote location. The VHF 215 AIS replaced my 210 as the newer model but is still a great radio.

 

[LastCall350]

I think I am going to go with the Garmin VHF 115, I can network it to my unit and it will match well to my MFD. Any negatives to that VHF being used solely on lakes/TN River?

 

[Skybolt]

I can't see any, except possibly getting AIS support (AHF 215) if there is commercial traffic on the river.

 

[yobub]

I had been a big fan of Standard Horizon (well, still am a fan) but I went with a Garmin VHF to match my charplotters. I think the user interface of the Standard Horizon is better but the Garmin seems to have mostly all the same features. Aesthetically, I like them matching. I also like that my firmware updates all come through a single app on my phone. It's nice to open up my Garmin app (Active Captain) and have it push updates to all of my devices. One less thing to worry about..

 

[b_arrington]

I had been a big fan of Standard Horizon (well, still am a fan) but I went with a Garmin VHF to match my charplotters. I think the user interface of the Standard Horizon is better but the Garmin seems to have mostly all the same features. Aesthetically, I like them matching. I also like that my firmware updates all come through a single app on my phone. It's nice to open up my Garmin app (Active Captain) and have it push updates to all of my devices. One less thing to worry about..

I can confirm this is indeed useful.

 

[b_arrington]

Buy a VHF with built in GPS and DSC. It's a key piece of safety equipment that anyone on your boat can operate just buy pushing a button if you are incapacitated (or overboard). No need to screw around with this.

ICOM and Standard Horizon are both good.

Brand compatibility doesnt matter with the VHF as long as it has NMEA2000 (which it will).

Just note that the otherwise excellent ICOM M400BB (black box style) still does not support NMEA 2000; it only supports NMEA 0183. The N0183 interface can certainly be used to integrate with other devices, but it takes a bit more effort to match up the wiring.