Re: [Paddlewise] VHF Posts

Andy Knapp wrote:
> 
> "In summary, it aprears that at least for now, you will just have to pose
> the question and request old messages on the issue be forwarded to you."
> 
> I saved quite a few of the VHF posts as text files for further reference.
> If someone is interested, I could compile them into a *.zip file and e-mail
> them.

This is by way of a followup regarding VHF radios.

1. I just got the Consumer Marine Electronics catalog (1-800-332-2628;
http://www.cmelectron.com ) It lists a new radio by Garmin that
transmits at a max of 3 watts, the VHF 720.  It is rated as submersible
(something about that a bit later), costs $159 and is the basic size of
all the other smallish radios.  It is sold with _only_ a double AA
battery pack.  I know nothing about it beyond the description in the
catalog.  A Nicad pack is optional but I don't know the price.

In some ways it is an interesting marketing tool to sell a radio in this
fashion.  The Nicad packs on marine radios generally sell for from about
$75 to $120 where as the AA battery packs go for around $30.  This
allows Garmin to sell its radio at $159 as opposed to say $220, the
price of the Icom M-1.  Some people may prefer this.  While discarded
batteries add to landfill problems,  in the long run it may work out. 
For example, if your use of a radio is mainly as an emergency item and
you are not planning to monitor traffic or transmit with other kayaks or
larger ships regularly, it would seem ideal.  Keep batteries in it until
you suspect they are losing power and then swap them into your Walkman
or other non-critical devices at home.  

I have no idea whether the radio is submersible with the AA pack.  We on
this listserver have not come up with any examples to date of such.  Two
radios that claim submersibility with Nicad packs (Apelco 520 and
Standard HX350S; the Raytheon 106 is basically the same as the Apelco
except with up to 6 watt and bigger battery) indicate that this does not
apply with their AA packs.  Someone who may have other questions of
Garmin should give them a call to check that.

2.  I continue to be quite impressed with the Standard HX350S.  I did
have it for side-by-side use with the Apelco 520 and it seemed so much
easier to use and packed a wallop in speaker volume.  I am slightly deaf
and so I appreciate this especially around NYC where the din on the
water is, well, deafening.  Its displayed numbers and mode signs are
huge, which makes my aging eyes happy.  While it is bigger than the
Apelco and a few ounces heavier, it doesn't seem so much so now that I
did send the Apelco back.  :-)

3.  Raytheon (the maker of Apelco) appears to be a good company to work
with. When I became dissatisfied with some aspects of the Apelco and was
getting a run around from Defender Industries from whom I bought it,
Raytheon took it back directly and cut me a check for the full purchase
price including shipping.  That is service.  Several of us on this
listserver did find bugs in the Apelco 520 but Raytheon is 100% up to
fixing them or making good as they did with me.  If you get one, you
would definitely be saving weight and money and a bit of size.  Do make
sure its Nicad battery has that vent hole described in this listserver
(a little white dot next to the recycle emblem), don't buy the rapid
charger as it won't work.

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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