T&T: Recommendations for replacement VHF radio

[Peter Bennett]

For a primary radio, I suggest you look for a "Class D" DSC radio,
rather than the more limited US SC-101 type. A class D radio has a
separate channel 70 receiver, so can listen for DSC calls regardless
of whatever else you may be doing with the radio. An SC-101 radio
doesn't have a separate channel 70 receiver, so has to scan between 70
and whatever channel you want to listen to.

For a second radio, the ICOM SC-101 radios may be useful - they allow
you to turn off the channel 70 scan, disabling all DSC receive
functions (other makes I've looked at don't seem to allow this), so
you can have one radio that you know won't alarm and switch channels
automatically.

I have a Icom 504 (class D)at the lower helm, with a remote mic on the
flybridge, and a IC-422 (SC-101) on the flybridge with a remote mic at
the lower helm.

Monday, May 4, 2009, 6:15:58 PM, Reid wrote:

RG> We went out on a first cruise-of-the-year today and the VHF radio on my
RG> flybridge began to act crazy.. Continuous scanning that I could not stop
RG> (with no transmissions being received) and I wasn't able to transmit either.
RG> So, it's time to replace this approximate 13+ year old radio.   I know that
RG> I want to get one with DSC capability.  Perhaps it would be nice to have one
RG> that had capability to expand for use in lower helm station as well.  Any
RG> recommendations as far as model and what other features to look for?

RG>  

RG> Thanks,

RG>  

RG> Reid Gantt


-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Ennos 31 "Honeycomb"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca