Re: [Paddlewise] My VHF choice

Rob Nevitt wrote:
> 
> rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >
> > Several people had asked me to post on PaddleWise what VHF radio I
> > finally picked.  After comparing a lot of things, I went with the > Apelco 520.
> 
> I was the one who originally posted the message: "VHF questions: power
> output, power source, & weather resistance?"  At the time I was looking
> at the Icom M3A and a Uniden unit.  I ended up getting the Apelco 520
> also as it had all 3 things I was looking for: 5 watts (actually 1/3/5),
> alkaline backup, and submersible.  I didn't get quite as good a price --
> $225 from Consumer Marine Electronics -- but I'm satisfied.

I think that Rob and I should hasten to state the standard disclaimer
that we have no connection to Apelco or its parent Raytheon!!!  :-)

Your $225 is lower than any other I had seen. I just lucked into that 
low price I found.  All New Yorkers have a bit of Woody Allen in them
from the character he played in one of his movies who said "The biggest
sin in my family was buying (at) retail."  :-)

Like anything, the prices may have lowered for some such thing as a
newer, better model coming out.  Such is life. 
   
> 
> I had one problem with the unit; it seems that the screws on the
> alkaline packs sent with some units are a few threads too long and the
> battery pack doesn't make good contact with the terminals.  I called
> tech support and they are sending me a new one.

I haven't tried the alkaline pack yet.  But in researching all over the
place with various manufacturers, I have seen this as an occasional
complaint with battery packs, i.e. they don't make as rich a contact
with the radio's terminal pad as they should.  I have to give mine a
try.

It happens with anything made of parts.  Boy, could I tell stories about
folding kayaks, but the manufacturers are paying me off to keep mum. 
:-)

> 
> They also explained to me that the alkaline pack should really be used
> as backup to the nicads as it will only provide a couple of hours of
> use.  Thanks for the info on submersability.

Some else had indicated that in some of the radios with switchable
alkaline and NICAD arrangements that sometimes the alkaline
configuration doesn't have as much punch.  Unlike most of the other
alkaline arrangements, the Apelco 520's one has just 5 AAs rather than
the usual 6 AAs; so that is definitely less.

I did wander back over various web sites and found the reference to a
larger NICAD pack for this radio, 1200 rather than the 650 standard; it
will run a theoritical 12 hours full power as opposed to about 7.  This
bigger pack is the standard pack from the Raytheon 106 radio which also
has 6 watt power and is submersible making it supposedly the most
powerful, longest lasting of the handhelds.  The bigger pack will fit
the Apelco 520 but it makes the overall package slightly taller.

ralph diaz

-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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