[Paddlewise] again vhf radio

Since I did share my experience with getting a vhf radio a month ago, I
thought I would do a followup.  Like John Browning (wildconect_at_aol.com),
I've decided to get rid of the Apelco 520 and picked up a Standard
HX350S.

My reasoning has to do with little things about the Apelco 520 adding up
to enough doubt to make the switch.  This Paddlewise forum has been a
terrific source of information that has helped me and, I guess, others
in this VHF question.  I can't say enough about what this forum offers
us.

--It was through this listserver that I found out that the Apelco 520
had been shipped with too short a bolt for properly using the alkaline
pack (Apelco sent the replacement).  Thanks, Rob Nevitt.

--It was through this listserver that I found out that I was not alone
in having trouble working with the optional rapid charger for the radio
(I got a refund within a day of shipping mine back to the seller). I
forget who mentioned that.

--And now most recently, John Browning's experience with the Apelco
speaker conking out in cold temperatures.  As reported by him, this had
to do with the nicad pack not being properly vented and pressing against
the speaker to cut it off.

--It was through this listserver that I heard good things about the
Standard 350 from individuals such as Greg H. confirming what I could
already see in the display at a local marine shop.

On the cold temperature point, I checked it out myself and indeed the
Apelco 520's speaker would not work in 35 degree air temperature
exposure.  And its display and channel switch seemed mired in molasses
as it moved through selections slowly.

The solution would be to get an upgraded replacement nicad pack with a
venting hole.  But that idea got me nervous.  Talking with
Apelco/Raytheon, I could not get a definitive answer about the vented
battery remaining submersible.  So, I opted to return it.

Here Raytheon displayed terrific customer service.  They offered to take
it back, no hassles, and refund my money even though I purchased it
through a mail order house and not directly.  Hurray for Raytheon!

A half-thumb down on DefenderUS.  DefenderUS, from which I bought it,
dragged its feet some on this and that is why I went directly to
Raytheon.  DefenderUS was hitting me with "we don't accept returns on
electronic products" or "it is beyond 20 days and used", etc.  It only
would relent because of what I said about the defect.  But even then,
DefenderUS wanted me to get some kind of authorization number from
Raytheon, have me send the radio back to Defender; Defender then would
send it back to Raytheon and wait for Raytheon's okay before giving me a
refund or credit toward another radio.  I guess it would have eventually
worked out with DefenderUS but I did not like the footdragging.  
Again, in contrast, Raytheon was great, no argument.  I do hope they
work out the kinks in the Apelco 520 as it does have a nice size and
price.

I have since purchased the Standard 350, which I had admired all along
and it looks like it will work well.  I tested its speaker after
overnight teen temperatures exposure on my terrace and the speaker was
so loud it almost knocked me over...good to know when paddling on a busy
noisy summer weekend in New York City with the din of nearby city auto
traffic, planes overhead, cigarette boats zooming around, and the wind
howling.

Features I like.  It is redundant in waterproofing: double gaskets on
the battery case itself which can't possibly let water past plus O-rings
and gaskets on the terminals where they contact the radio's electrical
contacts.  A 16/9 toggle button that will switch from 16 to 9 as well as
an A/B button that you can program for two most used channels (I plan to
use it probably with the Coast Guard's VTS center (Channel 14) and
whatever the ferries are using (69 is one of these channels).  That will
make it easier to switch to any needed channel in a hurry.  And it has
the monitoring/scanning function, tri watch for weather alert, etc.. 
Also, probably best of all, its default when you turn it on is a low
setting (1 watt) as opposed to a high setting (5 watt as on the
Apelco).  This conserves the battery...most of the calling is to some
boat you can see withing a half a mile of you and so you don't need much
power for that normally.  The switch to high power is a dedicated button
right next to the transmit button.  All the buttons seem easy to work
with and any programming or putting stuff into memory is simple and
intuitive.

The size differential compared to the Apelco is not monstrous; and it
will still fit nicely in my PFD pocket as well as a small neoprene
holder I have for strapping on my other PFDs (I leave a PFD with one of
my stored boats so I don't ahve to carry anything on the subway when I
go to use it if I don't want to).  The Apelco weighs 11 oz. with a 600
battery where as the Standard 350 with its 1100 battery weighs just shy
of 14 oz.  The display is huge, about twice the size of the Apelco,
which isn't small to begin with.  There are lots of other nice features
almost too numerous to mention.

The cost was steep but I am buying some peace of mind and confidence
that it will work even if I am in the drink in winter. It seems so much
a better machine and likely to be more reliable in its waterproofness. 

I bought it at the local West Marine where I had seen it originally and
was given a leisure amount of time to examine its instructions, etc.  So
I went up from the $205 for the Apelco to $279 for the Standard.  I was
not going to buy elsewhere for a $10-20 savings given that I had really
taken such a good look at it there.  Anyway that is my philosophy.

ralph diaz  

  
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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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