looking for new vhf

[S.D. Doghouse]

My old ray jefferson is starting to cut out. Some times it works other time it will cut out about 15 to 30 mins after I turn it on. So I am looking for a new radio, but of course there are to many to choose from. One for about 100.00 is what I am looking for, but then I wonder if it is going to be a dud. So what would be a good radio?

[Johnnie Candle]

I have had great luck with Humminbird VHF radios. The VHF255s is their current model. Simple to use and can be connected to your GPS to transmit your location in case of emergency. The transmit and recieve well and have DSC as well.

My father has a Bird VHF on his Lake Erie charter boat that has to be 20 years old and still going strong.

[VaGuy]

I was luckly and got one of this brand new from EBAY for $85.
More features than any other radio on the market. Nmea 2000,
loud hailer, track you buddy, DSC, FM stereo, ETC.
Plus it's an excellent VHF radio.

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo71/boygeorgelastsummer/880.jpg

Really not much difference in any VHF in the $100 range.
I used STANDARD for years with never a problem.

[JerryA]

I think Uniden makes good radios. I've had a "president" model for 10 years and it works great. Plus, the mic cord on mine wore thru and I was able to get a replacement cord and mike on their web site for like $15. Get a good 8 ft antenna to go with it as that is really the important part of the system.

[yarcraft91]

I'll second the Uniden recommendation. It may not be the best unit on the market, but I bought one to replace a Ray Jeff 12 years ago and have no plans to replace the Uniden.

[Smitty]

I've had good luck with both Uniden and Raymarine models in the past, both can generally be had in that price range if you look around.

[Rippin_Eyes]

Well if you and a couple buddies get the 880 from lowrance you can use the buddy track feature and it will plot them on your unit so you know where they are at. This is very benificial if you want to see where they are fishing, or if they break down you can easily find them. plus you can run your FM radio through it since we all know that those radios that come in the boats kind of suck......

[VaGuy]

Well if you and a couple buddies get the 880 from lowrance you can use the buddy track feature and it will plot them on your unit so you know where they are at. This is very benificial if you want to see where they are fishing, or if they break down you can easily find them. plus you can run your FM radio through it since we all know that those radios that come in the boats kind of suck......

Neat thing about the FM radio. A VHF call will cut in over the FM and
then return back to FM once the VHF call is over. Can also use duel
speakers (for stereo) and the VHF will also use these speakers.

Track your buddy? So far all my fishing buddies are to tight to buy
one of these so I can try it out. They usually wait for me to give
them my old radios.

It is a really nice radio and I have no complaints.

[S.D. Doghouse]

I'm thinking about going with the Uniden Oceanus. It has just about every thing I need. As for buddies the river isn't that big and I thought fishing in a boat was to get away from every-one. But thanks for the info it was good to hear about the different radios. Rob