Which VHF radio

ajarmis · Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject: Which VHF radio

Hi Fishneters,
It's time (well and truly) to purchase myself a VHF radio due to the increasing miles offshore needed to catch a fish. Thus I am wondering whether to go for a handheld model or fixed.
I currently only run a 27meg and was contemplating one option, that being to replace it with the fixed VHF. Interested in some opinions on the pro's and con's of fixed vs handheld and whether it's worth keeping the 27meg..

savagetasman · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:29 am Post subject:

hi aj
i got the lowrance 250 which can also connect to the nmea for dsc which i feel if a great system.
definetly go the panel mount which you have plenty of console area to accomadate
martin

ajarmis · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks Martin. I think I'll do that but I don't have a nmea setup. Do I need it for the dsc to function.

savagetasman · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:46 pm Post subject:

yes you do aj . maybe consider it with your next gps/sounder purchase. dsc costs only a vhf licence to get mmi number and gives a little more safety
martin

Hydro_boy · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject:

I am also going to upgrade to VHF over winter and dont know a lot about DSC. I have a Humminbird which does not run NMEA, however I have a Lowrance GPS antenna on a NMEA network (I-Command gauges). Would be possible to connect a DSC compliant VHF radio to the NMEA network to pick up the co-ordinates from the GPS antenna??