handheld GPS' and radios

[Al]

Any info on handheld radios and GPS' as to ease of use, etc. would be greatly appreciated.



asouza@erols.com

[Duncan Maio]

I have a Standard HX150S VHF and a Garmin 48 GPS. The attractive features about the radio are the dedicated buttons for channel 16 (or Channel 9) and weather frequencies, the fact that it is at least moderately waterproof, and a rechargeable battery pack that can be removed and replaced by AA batteries in a pinch. It also has a programmable scan feature, so I can set it to scan channel 16, and the other working channel (for the boat yard, the yacht club, etc.)

The Garmin GPS I have not used on the boat yet, but it is simple to operate with one hand, and it has a built-in database of most cities and towns and, most importantly, all the navaids along the coast. Setting up waypoints and getting position fixes is nearly as easy as using a chart plotter. The navaids show as "G", "R" or "W" marks on the display to designate color, and when you move the cursor onto a mark, the display shows the visual information about the buoy (e.g., "Fl G 2 sec", but the display does not include the number of the marker. Paper charts are still required, of course, so this is not a big deal. The big downside to any handheld GPS, of course, is that the display is so small.

-Duncan Maio
s/v Remedy
CD27 #37



dmaio@att.net

[Lyn Heiges]

Any info on handheld radios and GPS' as to ease of use, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Al,

I use a Garmin 45XL (now upgraded to 48) which I power from a "chart-lighter" outlet installed in the electric panel on my CD28 and have mounted on the bulkhead/cockpit side in the cockpit. WORKS GREAT!! I can load info (waypoints) in ahead of time and when I approach that coordinate the unit beeps and tells me to read a message which says "approaching ~~~" or if I mark them while I am on a course, on the return trip the beep and message display will occur. This is a real Godsend down here in the Gulf of Mexico and the Tampa and Boca Ciega Bays where the channels are narrow and the basic waters shallow and visibility of marks often limited by fog or darkness. I went with a friend who had the Garmin 220 (color map version) on his Chris-Craft 381 and THAT is REALLY something!! Not handheld and the batteries would last about 10 seconds probably!

Handheld radios? I have a Standard handheld which I find much more convenient for drawbridge opening communications and 1-Watt is MORE than enough power. The 25-Watt unit with the antenna on top the mast is really great for long range and emergency communications, but the handheld works for yacht clubs, marinas, bridges, etc. without any problem. Standard just dropped the price on the Model 150, I believe, and it has a 3-year waterproof warranty, so not a bad buy.

Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD



lheiges@compuserve.com

[Joe Brown]

I use a handheld Garmin GPS 45 with great success and accuracy. I have crossed Penobcot Bay in Maine in peasoup fog many times, guided to a pre-programmed waypoint within 60 feet or so. Routes are easy to set up, and they can be reversed on the return trip. A word of warning: do NOT let the batteries drain dry, even by accident (such as leaving the unit on while in its case) or all data will be lost. I power my Garmin with a "cigarette lighter" adapter which uses almost no power. If you don't use the unit over a long period of time, it's a good idea to turn it on and let it load every once in awhile or the loading can take a long time later on. Joe Brown, CD28 "Caprice," Rockport, Maine

Any info on handheld radios and GPS' as to ease of use, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

joebrown@mint.net