How to choose vhf marine radio?

Whether you are offshore or on an inland waterway, the importance of radios for the safety of those working at sea is indisputable.VHF marine radios are used as a safety tool mainly for contacting harbors and marinas, calling for rescue services, or for ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communications. But because of the great variety of features and types of products on the market, it leads back to very confusing when choosing a radio. Today, we will explain how to choose the right VHF marine radio for you.

1. About marine radio

Before making a choice, our final task is to clarify its role and type.

Role

In the shown use, its role is mainly to keep you in safe communication with other boats and the coast guard.

Types

Handheld Marine Radio; This type of radio is easy to carry and is better suited for crew members, emergency backups and small boats.

Fixed Marine Radio; This type has a greater range than the handheld radios. And being fixed, it is ideal for use as a main radio.

2. Factors to consider when choosing?

Ease to use:

When faced with an emergency, the most important thing you need is a walkie-talkie that is easy to operate.

Power

On a fixed device, you should expect at least 25W of transmission power. On a handheld device, you should expect no less than 5W.

Battery life

It is best to choose a walkie-talkie battery that can last for a day at sea.

Waterproof/Floating

Waterproofing is a must for a marine walkie-talkie, and Retevis also has a floating walkie-talkie. It can float when dropped into the water.

Dual/Triple watch

The Dual or Triple Monitor feature is used to scan between other channels while monitoring channel 16. You can also customize the setting of the channel you want to focus on to ensure that you don't miss important information.

Emergency Weather Alarm

Weather on the sea is very important for safety at sea. With the weather alarm function, you can better prevent extreme weather and ensure safety.

Other Emergency Functions

Such as GPS, DSC and MOB functions. Can better protect your safety at sea.

License or not

All radios require the user and the vessel to have a license. A vessel license is like a car tax disc, but it is also the key to obtaining an MMSI number that will uniquely identify your vessel.

ATIS Programming

If you are a British boat owner and need to navigate the inland waterways of Europe with your boat. Then your marine VHF radio may need to be programmed with ATIS.

Another factor to keep in mind:

If you are a merchant at sea you need to be aware of the availability of appropriate accessories to meet your needs, headphones, strap clips, etc.