Shopping For A VHF Radio
2008 Buyer's Guide: Accessories
by Randy Scott
January 28, 2008
Why You Need It
A VHF radio can save your life. Next to your personal flotation device, a very high frequency
(VHF) marine radio is the most important piece of safety equipment you can have on your boat. If an
emergency arises, it can immediately put you in touch with the Coast Guard or other boaters in the
area who can render help or, in some cases, automatically provide rescuers with your latitude and
longitude. But besides the safety factor, a VHF radio is a huge convenience, allowing you to talk
with other boaters, hail lock and harbor masters, make ship-to-shore phone calls, monitor weather
around the clock, and communicate with members of your crew who disembark.
Lowrance LVR-880
What You Need To Know
There are two basic types of VHF marine radios: handheld and fixed-mount. The handheld is
mobile and can be taken with you wherever you go, including on a life raft if the boat sinks. The
downside to a handheld is that it generally only transmits up to five watts, whereas a fixed-mount
VHF usually offers 25 watts. Also, a handheld’s antenna is only a few inches long compared to
several feet on fixed-mount units — meaning the handheld doesn’t have the range of a fixed-mount.
When it comes to transmitting with either unit, the higher the frequency the better, because VHF
radios operate on line-of-sight signals rather than satellites. Most radios offer the ability to
transmit on as little as one watt to save power and prevent your conversation from being
broadcasted as far when you prefer a measure of privacy.
Raymarine Ray55 DSC
By law, fixed-mount marine radios now come equipped with digital selective calling (DSC),
which provides instant distress notification with an accompanying GPS location. Not all handhelds
come with this feature, however. Backlit buttons and LCD screens with adjustable brightness are
handy features for nighttime use. Other available features include a public address option, mikes
with redundant control buttons, speaker-equipped mikes, and units with built-in GPS displays. You
can also choose between waterproof or submersible units, the latter being preferable for boating.
Uniden UM425 (left) and Uniden MHS550
The Final Word
It’s best to have both a fixed-mount and a handheld unit, but if you have to choose only one,
go with the more powerful fixed-mount. While recreational boaters no longer need to have an FCC
license to operate a VHF radio, you’re required to register your radio’s unique Maritime Mobile
Service Identity number to tap into DSC’s full safety capabilities.