A marine VHF radio might be a significant safety device for every boater and sailor, so if you’re a sailor, you should always keep the device with you because it will save your life in emergencies.
However, the point is, There are two types of models available in the market, fixed mounted and handheld, so it can be tough to figure out which model would be suitable for you and which not!
But follow the marine VHF radio reviews. Indeed, you’ll be more benefited from this page, because here we’re not only going to review some of the best fixed-mounted radios but also share some advanced quality handheld VHF radios too!
Marine VHF Radio Reviews
1. Cobra MR HH350 FLT Handheld Floating VHF Radio
Cobra is one of the most popular VHF radio producing companies worldwide that makes different radio devices and offers them in the market at a great price range.
This MR HH350 is one of their best-developed devices that offer a tone of valuable features and benefits.
The long-lasting battery will let you work up to 10 days to work the equipment unit for 1 to 2 hours daily. The strength is quite enough and powerful, which is up to 6 watts. There is a high chance you’ll get up to 10 miles of Coverage.
This Floating Marine Radio will let you directly access channel 16/9. To find conversations in progress, you can scan the channels. It’s included all NOAA weather channels 24 hours a day.
Since this portable device can produce 1, 3, and 6 watts of output power, so you can select the power setting according to your needs for near or distant calling. It’s developed to IPX8 standard for water submersion.
We love the most about this specific model because it has a built-in ring tone feature that will alert you to weather emergencies with a tone on a weather channel. Of course, you’ll have an option to select your preferred tone on the system.
It has an ideal floating design and orange core that makes recovering the device easy if dropped overboard. The noise removing feature will automatically cancel the additional background noise to ensure you a clear communication all the time.
The pack contains an owner’s manual, spring-loaded belt clip, drop-in battery charger, LiON battery pack, AC charger, DC charger, antenna, and wrist strap.
Although it comes with a rechargeable battery pack, you can also use a standard AA batteries connection with a dedicated holder. In addition to this, it also has a third backup that can be used if your rechargeable batteries die.
Pros:
- It gives a maximum coverage
- Live weather alerts
- It comes with an AC adapter
- The price range is within your reach
- Channel scanning
- Tri-Watch features to manage three channels at once
Cons:
- Nothing to say about any bad thing!
2. Uniden MHS75 Waterproof Handheld 2-Way VHF Marine radio
This is another well-designed rechargeable battery-supported handheld VHF marine radio. We’ll recommend it for people who go out in wet conditions.
The most available feature of this device is to use personal program channels and set them to scan. You’ll also see that this model can control three safety channels and weather channels at one time smoothly.
The radio comes with a cigarette lighter-style 12-volt powerful and long-lasting battery charger. If you want to charge your device at your home, you’ll need to get help from a standard wall outlet converter to charge it!
The charging time might take up to 3-4 hours. The super durable body will last for a long-time, and the audio quality is remarkable because it can give you clear communications.
It has 1, 2.5, and 5-watt output power, and all of these are selectable for the user’s convenience. You can select the lowest passion for short-range communication and the highest power level for long-range communication.
But we think the 1-watt output power will be enough for most cases. This power-watt selectable system is a great way that will massively save your battery life. The 1-watt power will take the lowest battery power competitively from your power source.
As we can see, it’s a tri-watch VHF radio. If you are already familiar with this term, you might know that a tri-watch radio can allow the device to manage the VHF working channel, VHF user channel, and the VHF CH 16 channel in a quickly changing sequence.
Pros:
- Marine two-way radio
- IPX8 Waterproof ratings
- Selectable power watts
- Supports international channels
- attractive design
Cons:
- No charger is included in the box, and you have to buy it from your local shop or online!
3. Standard Horizon HX210 HX210
This standard horizon marine VHF handheld radio is a compact device with a large capacity of 1850 mAh Lithium battery technology.
The key feature of this device is the emergency strobe light. What this powerful feature does is it will automatically activate if the radio falls in the water. Not only that but the strobe light can also be reconfigured to flash on and off.
If you’re one of these guys who love to enjoy FM with their VHF radio device, this model might attract you to buy because it has an expanded receiver that will allow you to tune in to your preferred FM radio station. Its pre-programmed radio can accept FM broadcast bands between 76 MHz to MHz.
The Coverage of this handheld radio is incredible. Of course, the range will depend on your local weather. If the weather is clean, indeed, this machine will be able to cover up to 5 miles.
Nothing is safe, you might fail to protect your device for any reason, and this is where the 3-year waterproof warranty comes in with the device. If the device got damaged during regular use in the first three years, it would replace or repair it free of cost!
Let’s take a quick look at the additional features. It has an extra plug for an external mic, but there is no built-in noise-removing system in the device. For this feature, you can take a look at the Cobra MR HH350.
Pros
- Programmable Function Keys
- Dot Matrix Display
- 3-hour Desktop Fast Charger
- Speaker Mic Jack
- Emergency strobe lights
- Built-in Fm Radio
- 1850 Mah Li-ion Battery
- 3-year Waterproof Warranty
Cons:
- Users Will Not Be Able To Use The Battery As A Backup Because It Comes With A Built-in Battery.
- No Noise Removing Microphone, Only One Plug For The External Mic!
4. Two Way Handheld Radio
If you’re searching for the best two-way handheld marine VHF radio, this might be your next solution. A two-way radio is more practical and a single VHF radio because it will supports individuals to keep in connection with each other radio waves. It’s acted by converting audio to radio waves that are then delivered through the air.
In a simple word, it’s a small footprint portable VHF radio with all the advanced and standard features, weather stations, and channel scanning capabilities.
This one is one of the compact-sized models in this list of finding the best marine VHF radio, but it has the largest battery capacity that will last at least 24 hours.
The user interface looks pretty clean and easy to use, although you might need to study a bit about how to use the device if you’re new to this device.
It doesn’t float, but surely if you’re a careful user, you can add an external life jacket for better safety. It comes with a flexible rubber whip antenna, a desktop cradle included, and a wall adapter for household outlets.
Pros:
- Standard Horizon
- flexible rubber antenna
- It’s a Two-way radio
- It comes with a belt clip.
- Included a practical instruction Guide in the pack for beginners
Cons:
- The battery is not removable
2 Best Fixed Mount VHF Radio Reviews
We have done a short review of 4 best-selling handheld marine VHF radios in the top section. In this below part, we will make another quick review of some of the Waterproof and 25 watts power supported fix mounted radios.
5. Cobra MR F45-D Fixed Mount VHF Marine Radio
We have already reviewed a handheld radio from the Cobra brand, and this time, you’re enjoying their fixed mounted radio that comes with a vast number of features and benefits!
The most powerful feature might be the DSC (Digital Selective Calling) feature because it can send distress calls with position information by clicking on a button. It will keep you safe from all kinds of emergencies on the water.
In the middle position of the display, you can watch the radio status and data, and there are four buttons aligned under the display, the first button is for weather, and the following two buttons for channels up and down, and the last control can be used for scanning channels.
You’ll also notice some additional buttons such as call/set, dual-watch, DSC distress buttons, and so on!
It supports all NOAA weather channels and weather alerts, ideal for long and short-range communication. The dual watch feature will help you to control two dedicated channels at once.
If your boat’s engine sound is too high, you may love its noise-removing microphone; it will remove all the background noise and sound to offer clear audio from other devices.
The pack includes an MRF45-D fixed mount VHF radio, a mic mounted kit, a user manual to follow when installing the device, a GPS interface cable.
Pros:
- The price range is super reasonable compared to other radios
- Maximum Coverage supports US, Canada, and international channels
- Dual watch feature to monitor two channels at once
- DSC feature
- Easy installation
- Signal Strength Meter
Cons:
- The radio does not come with an antenna.
6. Uniden UM385BK 25 Watt Fixed Mount
With a maximum transmit power of 25 watts, this UM385BK is now one of the most valuable models in the market. It’s a primary a no-frills, all business fixed radio that will be suitable for the value-conscious.
This model is entirely compatible with an external antenna with a male PL259 connector and 50 Ω impedance.
The range is remarkable; however, the actual content will depend on your antenna and conditions at the end of the day.
Like the Cobra MR F45, it also has an additional engine noise-removing mechanism that will automatically help you clear the communication between others and offer clear audio.
All the functionalities are easy to understand, and the screen is clear enough to watch information. All the US, Canadian, and international channels are available.
In addition to these, this device is DSC capable. This will give you the ability to press one button to call for help during an emergency. The tri-watch facility will allow you to monitor three channels at once!
Pros:
- It comes with an Engine noise-removing microphone
- Solid and durable design
- Inexpensive
- 25W output power
- Digital Selective Calling Capable
- Easy to control
Cons:
- No built-in GPS, You can only add external GPS
Conclusion:
When it comes to buying the most valuable and advanced designed VHF radios from this competitive market, a considerable number of products can confuse you to make the right decision, and this is where this Marine VHF Radio review comes in!
If you properly follow this review, hopefully, you’ll be benefited from the page and will be able to pick the right one and use that device for your needs!
But before you go with any of them, make sure you have checked all the features and benefits. Although we have tried to highlight the most features about them according to our good research, however, checking that product’s description from Amazon will be a bonus point for you!