Recommendations for handheld VHF?

[Katamarino]

I'm looking to carry handheld air and marine band radios for my round-the-world flight next year. I'd be interested in any recommendations by those who possess such things already.

Requirements/preferences:
- Comm only (Nav not required)
- Water resistance strongly preferred
- USB charging strongly preferred, to avoid carrying extra chargers, and just use the USBs in the panel.
- Compact.

They'll ideally live in a pocket of my lifejacket, but more likely in my ditching grab-bag.

 

[hamer]

I have the Yaesu FTA-550L and I love it. Comes with the adapter to plug in your headset and you can use AAAs in a pinch if the battery dies, but the standard lithium lasts a long time.

 

[Scrabo]

I have the Yaesu FTA-550L and I love it. Comes with the adapter to plug in your headset and you can use AAAs in a pinch if the battery dies, but the standard lithium lasts a long time.

I have the 450 model and love it

 

[Raymo]

Another vote for the Yaesu FTA-550L. Comes with every imaginable adapter.

 

[arnoha]

I also have a Yaesu FTA-550L. Very happy with it. The Lithium battery lasts a long time. A AA-battery tray is included, so I keep that full as a backup. It has a 12V adapter, but no USB adapter. That's not surprising...that large battery isn't really compatible with standard USB ports. You'd need USB-C or one of the other fast-charge ports to work with it, and they weren't really a thing when it was designed a few years ago. (And still really uncommon in planes.) I recommend it. Ensure you keep two thing with you, if you use it: The included headset adapter and a PTT switch, not included. Surprisingly, the button on the body isn't functional when you plug in a headset. It's the only weird thing about the unit.

 

[DaleB]

The included headset adapter and a PTT switch, not included. Surprisingly, the button on the body isn't functional when you plug in a headset. It's the only weird thing about the unit.

Ah, not so. There is a menu setting to select the internal or external mic. Switch to external and the PTT works fine with your headset. You can also enable VOX. Haven't tried VOX in the air yet, but it worked fine when I tested it.

 

[wrbix]

Your need for Marine Band not yet addressed, I submit :
Standard Horizon HX 600S: submersible; receives aeronautical VHF, marine VHF, AM/FM, weather channels. Broadcasts on Marine (including one push to 16/9 emergency), does not transmit on aeronautical frequencies.
Have used mine extensively kayaking around Cedar Key with no adverse effects from salt water.
It is a discontinued model but come up occasionally on eBay.
I’ve been unable to find a handheld that transmits both Marine an Aero - would be interested if someone knows of such.

 

[DaleB]

View attachment 70257 Your need for Marine Band not yet addressed, I submit :
Standard Horizon HX 600S: submersible; receives aeronautical VHF, marine VHF, AM/FM, weather channels. Broadcasts on Marine (including one push to 16/9 emergency), does not transmit on aeronautical frequencies.
Have used mine extensively kayaking around Cedar Key with no adverse effects from salt water.
It is a discontinued model but come up occasionally on eBay.
I’ve been unable to find a handheld that transmits both Marine an Aero - would be interested if someone knows of such.

I doubt very much that one exists, at least in the US. Radios that are FCC type accepted for a specific band/use (marine, aero, business band) are prohibited from transmitting out of band. It's why you can't find, for example, a aviation handheld that will also transmit on 2 meter Amateur Radio frequencies.

 

[wrbix]

I doubt very much that one exists, at least in the US. Radios that are FCC type accepted for a specific band/use (marine, aero, business band) are prohibited from transmitting out of band. It's why you can't find, for example, a aviation handheld that will also transmit on 2 meter Amateur Radio frequencies.

Ah, OK, thanks ..... guess I remember that now from my previous research.

 

[weirdjim]

I doubt very much that one exists, at least in the US. Radios that are FCC type accepted for a specific band/use (marine, aero, business band) are prohibited from transmitting out of band. It's why you can't find, for example, a aviation handheld that will also transmit on 2 meter Amateur Radio frequencies.

You've never heard of the Yaesu/Standard VXA 700? It does T/R on both 118-137 AM and 144-148 FM out of the box. No reason that it couldn't be "diddled" by somebody familiar with the guts of the machine to mod it into the marine band.

Jim

 

[DaleB]

You've never heard of the Yaesu/Standard VXA 700? It does T/R on both 118-137 AM and 144-148 FM out of the box. No reason that it couldn't be "diddled" by somebody familiar with the guts of the machine to mod it into the marine band.

Jim

Actually, no, I hadn’t seen that one. I also note that it appears to be long out of production. I can tell you I’ve been looking for years for a way to enable AM transmit on my VX-7R... no dice.

In my emails with Yaesu, they swore such an animal didn’t exist.

 

[Mooney Fan]

I use the Rexon RHP-530. Picks up ATis/AWOS 15 miles out or so @2.5-3.5K. Have yet to attempt a transmission. No USB function

REXON AIR BAND HANDHELD RADIO/TRANSCEIVER
RHP-530 WITH 1700MAH LI-ION BATTERY

• TX: 118 to 136.975MHz. RX: 108 to 136.975MHz. Weather channels: 161.650 to 163.275 MHz (USA Only).
• 5W output power. 10 weather channels. 100 memory channels. 121.5MHz emergency frequency recall. Semi-duplex operation.
• 25KHz Spacing
• Package includes: RHP-530 STANDARD air band radio transceiver, antenna, BP-17L: 1700mAh Li-Polymer battery, belt clip, RC-28L fast desk charger, headset adaptor, and English user's manual.
• Waterproof/Water resistance IP 54.
• 2-Year Warranty

 

[flyingron]

I doubt very much that one exists, at least in the US. Radios that are FCC type accepted for a specific band/use (marine, aero, business band) are prohibited from transmitting out of band. It's why you can't find, for example, a aviation handheld that will also transmit on 2 meter Amateur Radio frequencies.

Really? I have one sitting on my desk right now. Vertex Standard 710. 2M FM and Airband AM. The later versions replace the 2M Ham stuff with GMRS which probably was purely a marketing decision.
I've got several other handhelds that work cross service. If someone wants to get something type accepted for multiple uses they certainly CAN do it.

Been using Business Band radios simultaneously on business and the ham bands going back to the hold Crystal Controlled rigs through all the modern ICOM and other synthesized rigs.

 

[DaleB]

OK, I stand corrected -- it looks like you could, at one time, buy a dual purpose HT with air and 2M ham transmit. I notice, though, that the VXA-700 and 710 are both long gone.