Marine Radio

Michael Pietrangelo

Michael Pietrangelo

Member
Jul 15, 2020
76
Boat Info
2006 290 Sundancer
Engines
5.0 ltr
I have 2006 290 Sundancer. I bought it used and the boat came without a marine radio. Well I should say it came without the handheld mic. The speaker and power switch is to eight of the captains seat. I assume the mic has all the operational controls. Any suggestions on what I should buy (and where) to replace?

thanks in advance!!
 
If the controls are in the missing mic, you could try to locate the "black box". It will be the transmit / receive unit so tracing your antenna lead may help. If you can find a make and model on it, you could try to order a replacement mic.
 
Hi Robert
It just plugs right in here I believe.
4A2AAB4E-1DC5-4613-8BF6-BD4C103D20B2.jpeg
 
That may be where the mic plugs in, but not the transmitter. You have to find where your long, white, VHF antenna connects to.
 
Those look like the hardware for the Northstar NS100 black box style radios. All the controls were indeed on the handset. There may be a speaker left over.

Those were great radios, but the cord insulation failed and fell apart. There was no replacement, and no upgrade path since Northstar was bought by another company.

For a replacement, consider the Icom M400BB radio. It is also a black box style radio and is excellent. A number of owners with NS100 models replaced it with the M400BB and been happy with them, including myself. Garmin also makes a black box radio. It is considerably more expensive but does have the advantage of having NMEA 2000 networking vs. only the older NMEA 0183 on the M400BB.
 
Should I be looking to only buy the handset? I assume it would plug into existing port correct? And then be heard over the speaker that’s left behind (to the right of the helm)
 
Behind your helm seat is where the main on-off and speaker is. right by your right rear pocket. The mic is where most of the control is as I remember.
 
The unit you suggested looks like an entire radio unit. Don’t I need only the handset?
 
Michael Pietrangelo said:
The unit you suggested looks like an entire radio unit. Don’t I need only the handset?
Click to expand...
You can’t buy just a handset that is compatible with the northstar radio. Have to replace it. You can find old crappy ones on eBay sometimes, look for NS100 once you verify the brand.
 
The plug on your dash will lead you to the unit, but looks like a northstar or Ray Marine, I have a feeling the ray does not have a replacement either, but not certain.
 
Michael Pietrangelo said:
The unit you suggested looks like an entire radio unit. Don’t I need only the handset?
Click to expand...
You’re about 5 years too late. Sea Ray equipped all boats of that vintage with the NS100 radio. They all suffered for the same failure mode at about the same time - disintegrated handset cords. Any decent used NS100 handsets were snapped up. As I said earlier, this is NO replacement available from the manufacturer. Northstar was sold and the product discontinued with no spares.

If you can find a used handset is any kind of decent condition you will be extremely fortunate. And it will still be 15 years old. Save yourself the aggravation and just go but a new radio that’s reliable. A vhf is critical piece of safety gear; don’t mess around with dodgy equipment that has a known 100% failure rate.
 
b_arrington said:
You’re about 5 years too late. Sea Ray equipped all boats of that vintage with the NS100 radio. They all suffered for the same failure mode at about the same time - disintegrated handset cords. Any decent used NS100 handsets were snapped up. As I said earlier, this is NO replacement available from the manufacturer. Northstar was sold and the product discontinued with no spares.

If you can find a used handset is any kind of decent condition you will be extremely fortunate. And it will still be 15 years old. Save yourself the aggravation and just go but a new radio that’s reliable. A vhf is critical piece of safety gear; don’t mess around with dodgy equipment that has a known 100% failure rate.
Click to expand...
Good advice, I have the Ray Marine of the same design with a FUBAR'd cord. I keep nursing it because the unit still works. A friend sent his hand set and cord back to Ray Marine and they installed a new cord for him for $75. I'll try that on mine. Micheal, try putting a want add on the classified page for your model radio and if the hand set is wonky just have it repaired. Like Brad said though why mess with a 15 year old radio throwing good money after bad into the water.
CD
 
b_arrington said:
You’re about 5 years too late. Sea Ray equipped all boats of that vintage with the NS100 radio. They all suffered for the same failure mode at about the same time - disintegrated handset cords. Any decent used NS100 handsets were snapped up. As I said earlier, this is NO replacement available from the manufacturer. Northstar was sold and the product discontinued with no spares.

If you can find a used handset is any kind of decent condition you will be extremely fortunate. And it will still be 15 years old. Save yourself the aggravation and just go but a new radio that’s reliable. A vhf is critical piece of safety gear; don’t mess around with dodgy equipment that has a known 100% failure rate.
Click to expand...
I went with the Garmin option that Brad mentioned and as he said it was more expensive but plugged right into the network. Only downside I can see so far is the tiny display is hard to read with my “old” eyes.
 
Standard Horizon is offering rebates on most of their line-up. They’re also user-friendly and have the best MMSI re-programming policy on the market.
 
You can get a GPS enabled VHF radio for under $200. I wouldn't spend any $$ on a 15 year old unit that is an orphan anyway.
 
I'd replace that radio. Even if you find a handset, its getting towards the end of its useful life. Basic radios are $125 online, some with a few more features are $200-$400 so not alot of money ( I have an Icom 400BB and like it).

What I'd replace it with would depend on what other equipment I have on board and where I boat.

What other electronics are already on board (or you are planning to add) and where do you boat. This will dictate what your needs are.
 
I am waiting for this to hit..
should be any day now, vesper has always been the leader in AIS ( anchor watch as well) now adding VHF and monitoring as well

maxresdefault.jpg
 
Thanks guys! Looks like most of you have suggested the M400BB So I’ll get one of those. Thanks for all your insight.
 
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