VHF RADIO'S - PRICING AND TECHNICAL INFO REQUIRED

[Scomberomorus]

I am looking for some advise on VHF radios please.

I have to replace my VHF radio and want to know what the best options available are.

I'm not clued up about DSC and how it integrates with an existing GPS/chart plotter and would like to know which radio's are compatible with a Lowrance LCX37 combo unit and how one would go about connecting/linking the VHF radio to the GPS.

If anyone in the know could share I will be most grateful.


For  commercial sealiners who sell VHF radios I would appreciate pricing for budget, intermediate and top of the range units please. I will be passing the pricing on to many other club members who also have to purchase DSC capable units before the end of the year.

Thanks

 

[Psy]

You may want to contact the below;

1. http://www.seaport.co.za/

2. https://www.commercialmarine.co.za/index.php

 

[MichaelK]

You get 2 types of DSC radios.
The first has a built in GPS and does not require being connected to a chartplotter. However they are bloody expensive
The second is a DSC ready VHF radio, these radios connect to a chart plotter to obtain the GPS coordinates for the radio.

Your chartplotter must be Nema 0183 or Nema 2000 compatible inorder for the DSC radios to be compatible with your chartplotter

I see you are from Durban

Places that sell VHF Dsc radios in Durban that i had dealings with are Radio holland, Skiport and Killer deals.

I purchased my Standard Horizon GX 1300 eclipse (Fixed mount) VHF Dsc from Skiport for R3500. There were cheaper radios like Cobras there as well

The New VHF Dsc radios make use of your old VHF aerial, so no additional cost there.

You will not however be able to use the radio until you have done your VHF Dsc radio license exam and have obtained a MMSI number from ICASA.

This MMSI number is programmed into you radio, please note that if you put the incorrect number in you will need to send it back to the manufacturer to reset.