Solara Compact Fixed Mount VHF 2-Way Marine Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great DSC VHF Marine Radio for the best price. I have a 27 foot sail boat that I use on average once a week and have had the radio now for 2 years without a problem. It has the Distress Call button which I registered with the Coast Guard and received a MSI number so if I ever have an emergency and have to push the automated distress button the Coast Guard will know who I am, size and description of my vessel and my home port. I have also wired it to my GPS so the Coast Guard will also know my GPS location at the time of the distress call. I would highly recommend this radio for it's features, reliability and price.SOLARA DSC WHITE VHF RADIO

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Product Description:
UNIDENMINI 90 CH W/DSC

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Cobra MR HH125 Compact Waterproof Marine Handheld VHF Radio with 1 or 3 Watts, All Weather Channels, and Weather Alert (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a short-term review, as it has only been in use for less than a month.I also have a Uniden MHS350 radio, which is a much heavier duty VHF radio that this Cobra model.Comparison between the two:The Cobra is about 1/2 the cost

Cobra is about 1/2 the weight, and smaller in size - much easier to clip to your PFD or jacket/belt while on the water.

Cobra is "splash resistant" while Uniden is "water proof - submersible" which means that you probably should carry the Uniden unit in a plastic baggie if you are using it on a kayak (where things tend to get wet frequently).

battery life is moderate - using AAA batteries, it lasts for a full day or so before needing fresh batteries.The MHS350 on the other hand, will last a week or more of all-day use with its NMh battery pack, and it includes a back-up battery and dual-slot charger.Feature-wise the Cobra does a good job of covering the basics - a full channel selection for all VHF channels, plus NOAA weather.The squelch is not infinitely adjustable, but has a couple of "steps" controlled by a single button.There is no scan feature (unlike the Uniden, which will scan as many channels as you choose in memory on a continuous basis).

Bottom line, if you want to add the safety of having a VHF radio with you while you kayak, I recommend the Cobra unit based on its price and its small size and weight.I would not recommend it for heavier usage (like daily on a boat) because it is definitely made from cheaper materials, and will also not go very long on a charge/set of batteries.

Update 9/29/09:
I just got another one of these for a friend, and after the second outing, it started acting up (it would operate fine for about 10 minutes, then "lock up" and would not respond to any commands or inputs from the buttons.The unit has been sent back to Cobra, and based on past experience, I am hopeful that they will replace the unit without any fuss.I'll update the review when I hear back from them.

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Product Description:
The Cobra MR HH125 is a compact, waterproof, Marine Handheld VHF Radio with 1 or 3 watt power options for short and long communications. The unit works for all U.S., Canadian, and International channels, allowing operation on any of the three different channel maps established for these areas. It also has instant national access to all the NOAA weather Channels which provide information on hazards and weather 24 hours a day. This feature is further bolstered by the Weather Alert function which alerts with an audible tone and visual alarm if threatening weather is nearby. Other features of this unit include: instant channel 16, a large illuminated LCD display and keys, scan option, signal strength meter, key lock, a speaker/ microphone jack, and a battery charge jack.Accessories included are a wrist strap, DC adapter plug, and rechargeable NiMH batteries.

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Icom IC-M422 Waterproof Two-Way Marine Radio (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this radio and when it arrived there was no free MB69 Flush Mount Kit and there was no 'offer' for one. Boatersworld/eAngler said they new nothing about the free MB69 offer.Of course after three days the listing is still here.I'm sending mine back - what a waste of time!

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Product Description:
Built tough to withstand the punishing marine environment, the Icom IC-M422 fixed-mount VHF radio is a must for safety-minded boaters. The radio is outfitted with a host of valuable features, including a large backlit LCD display with a four-step contrast, an intuitive, easy-to-use keypad, and a rugged waterproof housing that's submersible in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. More significantly, the radio works with all 57 U.S., 61 Canadian, and 57 international channels, along with 10 weather channels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The VHF channels offer an ideal way to communicate with other boaters--whether exchanging information on a hot fishing spot or sending out a distress signal--while the NOAA channels notify you when inclement weather is approaching.
The radio--which mounts conveniently on your boat's dash using the included bracket kit--employs Icom's Force5Audio technology to boost the sound pressure levels and produce crisp, loud reception. The integrated microphone, meanwhile, is finely tuned to pick up voices while minimizing ambient background noise, such as a boat engine, wind, or seagulls. As a result, both casual conversations and urgent distress calls come through loud and clear.
The IC-M422 offers several scanning modes, including an auto scan function that starts scanning whenever no signal is detected, a traditional scan mode that searches through all the tag channels in sequence, a priority scan mode that does the same but also monitors the distress channel (number 16), and a weather alert option that immediately switches the radio to the appropriate weather channel when a storm warning comes through. Users will also dig the Dual Watch and Tri-Watch functions. The former lets you communicate on a channel of your choice while also keeping an eye on emergency channel 16, while the latter monitors two channels--channel 16 and another channel--while receiving a third channel. The pair of "watch"modes guarantee that you won't miss an important emergency call from a distressed boater while your attention is otherwise engaged.
As with other high-quality fixed-mount VHF radios, the IC-M422 comes with built-in Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which lets you send a formatted distress message in an emergency. DSC activates an instantaneous, continuous "mayday" signal that identifies your vessel, reports your position, and time stamps the message. But that's not all, as boaters can also use DSC to make contact with a specific boater of group of boaters in your area. DSC uses a unique ID (MMSI code) that's similar to a telephone number. To stay in contact with specific boaters, simply store each boater's unique address in your radio (the IC-M422 holds up to 100, each with a five-character name).
Another nice detail is the IC-M422's GPS compatibility. When connected to a GPS receiver, the radio can send your GPS position to other boats, or it can poll the GPS location of another vessel and display it on your LCD screen in seconds, provided the navigational device accepts the NMEA data format. The polling function also checks whether a specific ship is in your communication range.
Finally, the IC-M422 can double as a public address (PA) system for onboard announcements or ship-to-shore communication using an external loud speaker or hailer. The RX speaker function even lets you monitor the received audio from the loudspeaker or hailer while you sit on the deck or tower. Additional details include seven-step keypad backlighting, instant access to channels 16 and 9, and a low-voltage indicator for when the battery is running down. Housed in an attractive white case, the radio measures 6.47 by 3.06 by 5.47 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a three-year warranty.
What's in the Box
IC-M422 radio, hand microphone, bracket mounting kit, power cable, user's manual.

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Cobra MicroTalk LI 6500-2 WX VP 20-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)When looking at FRS/GMRS Radios radios ignore the marketing ploys that tell you the range of the radios (12 miles, 18 miles, 22 miles).All of the radios sold to the general public (except high end models- over $100 per individual radio) have the same power output rating- 1/2 a watt for FRS and 2 watts for GMRS.All other things being equal- every radio will have the excact same range.Why do you think that the more expensive the radio the farther a range the manufacturer says it has?Because they want you to THINK a more expensive radio has a farther range so you will buy the more expensive one.But they all have the same power output- meaning they will essentially have the same range.This is all a marketing PLOY to get you to buy a more expensive radio.A more expensive radio may have more features, but if the power output is the same the range will essentially be the same.You can look for the power output on the manufacturer's website, but I have researced this already- almost all models sold to the general public have 1/2 a watt for FRS and 2 watts for GMRS.With the power rating being the same the things that will affect range are antenna size, height of the transmitter, and terrain- usually things you will have little control over.So buy a radio that has the features and size you want and ignore the marketing ploys about the range.

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Product Description:
The Cobra Li6500-2WXVP MicroTalk GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radios make it easy to stay in touch with someone, wherever you may go. This rugged pair of radios is an outdoorsman's best friend, with plenty of range, features, and power to make sure that you don't get separated from the rest of your party in any terrain.
The Li6500-2WXVP MicroTalk radios utilize the UHF/FM band for ultra-clear, long-distance reception with an extended range capability that reaches up to 20 miles, depending upon the terrain. These units feature an illuminated LCD display that is easily visible at a glance even at night, 10 separate call alerts to differentiate between incoming callers, and an on/off selectable roger-beep tone that indicates the completion of other transmissions so you know when it is ok to talk. These radios also feature an auto squelch with a selectable maximum range extender that overrides the auto squelch for longest-possible reception, a keystroke tone signal that confirms key activation, and a patented VibrAlert for silent incoming calls in noisy or all-quiet environments. Additionally, the Li6500-2WXVP radios include 10 NOAA channels for full coverage of all government operated NOAA weather broadcasts, a scan function to locate conversations in progress, and a 10-channel memory for programming favorite channels or channel/privacy code combinations for easy retrieval.
The Cobra Li6500-2WXVP radios provide seven GMRS/FRS, seven FRS and eight GMRS channels for a total of 22 channels, all of which are easily accessed via the front panel's push buttons. When combined with the units' 121 privacy codes, users have a choice of up to 2,662 sub-channels to ensure privacy. These radios are built with a unique circuit that automatically switches to battery-saver mode if there are no transmissions within 10 seconds, thereby extending the battery life, and let you choose between High, Medium and Low power settings (GMRS only) to either maximize range or further extend your battery life. What's more, they come with a belt clip to secure your radios while you are on the go, and include a key lock that eliminates accidental channel changes. For added convenience, these MicroTalk radios include a VOX function with five selectable levels of sensitivity, which will detect the user's voice and transmit without the need to press any buttons, freeing your hands for other tasks.
The Li6500-2WXVPs each run on an ultra-compact, high-capacity rechargeable, lithium-ion battery, and come with a two-port desktop charger that allows you to recharge the batteries in both radios at once. Each radio has a built-in speaker/microphone/charger jack that lets you not only recharge batteries while in the unit, but use earphone speaker/microphone combinations for hands-free operation. Constructed to be water resistant for improved outdoor reliability, the Cobra Li6500-2WXVP MicroTalk Radios weigh only 3.2 ounces (without batteries), measure 2 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D), and are backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Two Li6500-2WXVP MicroTalk radios, two-port desktop charger, two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, user's guide and warranty information.

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