VHF Radio Replacement

J

John Macaulay

New Member
Jun 26, 2020
17
Boat Info
400 Sundancer, 1997 Raymarine electronics
Engines
Twin 454 Mercruiser, inboard
Hi folks, I am needing to replace my VHF Radio in my 97 400DA. I have a Ray202 that quit transmitting. Looking for recomendations. I would prefer to stay away from Raytheon...Raytheon, you can always buy better but you'll never pay more.
Anyway, I was looking at the ICOM or Standard Horizon as potential replacements. I would also like to update my Nav and Radar system as well so getting components that are compatible will be a necessity. Since the radio is bad, I might as well start with that and get one with an integrated GPS.
 
Last edited:
IMO, the choices to consider are:

NMEA-2000 or NMEA-0183
AIS Receiver or Transceiver or none
Built-in GPS and connected to a GPS or only connected to a GPS
Brand
Color
Black box or head unit

If you have an NM2K network, I recommend a VHF that can connect to it. It takes only seconds.

If you cruise in an area with a lot of commercial traffic, I’d get an AIS receiver. If you travel at night or in fog, I’d get an AIS transceiver.

Built-in GPS is becoming a very inexpensive option. Unfortunately, many people find it hard to justify connecting to the plotter. I think that’s a mistake.

Standard Horizon is offering big rebates right now.

The 400DA has plenty of dash real estate. I don’t think it warrants a black box investment.
 
I replaced mine in my 98 400 last year. I went with the Standard Horizon.with built in GPS and AIS reception. 100% satisfied.

Both Standard Horizon and ICOM are good. No need to match brands with your other gear.

I wired.mine to via 0183 to my Garmin to show the AIS data. Pretty easy if you follow the directions.
 
yobub said:
I replaced mine in my 98 400 last year. I went with the Standard Horizon.with built in GPS and AIS reception. 100% satisfied.

Both Standard Horizon and ICOM are good. No need to match brands with your other gear.

I wired.mine to via 0183 to my Garmin to show the AIS data. Pretty easy if you follow the directions.
Click to expand...
I got a Standard Horizon several years back but could never get it to display the AIS data on my Garmin MFD via the 0183.
 
tdschafer said:
I got a Standard Horizon several years back but could never get it to display the AIS data on my Garmin MFD via the 0183.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Mine was really straightforward. I have the Garmin 742xs and Standard Horizon GX2200. I had to connect the 0183 wiring, but I don't even remember if I had to set the AIS output. I made sure the GPS out from the radio was turned off so my Garmin was using it's own GPS.
 
yobub said:
Interesting. Mine was really straightforward. I have the Garmin 742xs and Standard Horizon GX2200. I had to connect the 0183 wiring, but I don't even remember if I had to set the AIS output. I made sure the GPS out from the radio was turned off so my Garmin was using it's own GPS.
Click to expand...
I have the Garmin 3006 (old I know) with the 0183 wiring too. I don't remember the model Standard Horizon but, my directions seemed straight forward too. Mine just didn't work. I'm not the best with this stuff.....lol
 
Thanks all for the info. I am pretty certain I am going with a SH GX1850. I don't need AIS and I will most likely replace my loran nav with a Garmin so I am foregoing the internal GPS receiver but it does connect to a NEMA2K network for GPS position. I think that will work for now.

So here is another dumb question, the NEMA2K has to be connected to power. Is that power source just for the network or will it power the devices as well?
 
John Macaulay said:
Thanks all for the info. I am pretty certain I am going with a SH GX1850. I don't need AIS and I will most likely replace my loran nav with a Garmin so I am foregoing the internal GPS receiver but it does connect to a NEMA2K network for GPS position. I think that will work for now.

So here is another dumb question, the NEMA2K has to be connected to power. Is that power source just for the network or will it power the devices as well?
Click to expand...
Just the network.
 
John Macaulay said:
Thanks all for the info. I am pretty certain I am going with a SH GX1850. I don't need AIS and I will most likely replace my loran nav with a Garmin so I am foregoing the internal GPS receiver but it does connect to a NEMA2K network for GPS position. I think that will work for now.

So here is another dumb question, the NEMA2K has to be connected to power. Is that power source just for the network or will it power the devices as well?
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm missing something, but it looks like the 1850 with built in GPS is only $20 more than the one without. Thay seems like a no brainer to have your DSC with integrated GPS inside the radio so you aren't reliant on any other component in an emergency.
 
RollerCoastr said:
IMO, the choices to consider are:

NMEA-2000 or NMEA-0183
AIS Receiver or Transceiver or none
Built-in GPS and connected to a GPS or only connected to a GPS
Brand
Color
Black box or head unit

If you have an NM2K network, I recommend a VHF that can connect to it. It takes only seconds.

If you cruise in an area with a lot of commercial traffic, I’d get an AIS receiver. If you travel at night or in fog, I’d get an AIS transceiver.

Built-in GPS is becoming a very inexpensive option. Unfortunately, many people find it hard to justify connecting to the plotter. I think that’s a mistake.

Standard Horizon is offering big rebates right now.

The 400DA has plenty of dash real estate. I don’t think it warrants a black box investment.
Click to expand...
I agree with above post. I went with a Lowrance Link-8. It’s NMEA 2000 compliant, has AIS receive and GPS from my Garmin chart plotter. Plus, it allows me to add friends MMSI numbers so that I can track them on the water and make quick radio calls by simply clicking on their icon on chart plotter.
 
yobub said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but it looks like the 1850 with built in GPS is only $20 more than the one without. Thay seems like a no brainer to have your DSC with integrated GPS inside the radio so you aren't reliant on any other component in an emergency.
Click to expand...

It’s a $40 delta at the gps store, but even so, I agree that it’s worthwhile redundancy. These radios are feature packed and inexpensive - I can’t think of anything else on a boat that I can say that about!
 
TUS NUA said:
I agree with above post. I went with a Lowrance Link-8. It’s NMEA 2000 compliant, has AIS receive and GPS from my Garmin chart plotter. Plus, it allows me to add friends MMSI numbers so that I can track them on the water and make quick radio calls by simply clicking on their icon on chart plotter.
Click to expand...

Interesting - I didn’t know that. I’m quick to tell people that I regret choosing my Garmin VHF because of supposed “integration”. I paid twice as much for the Garmin as other brands with more features, and was immediately disappointed. The MMSI list not only doesn’t sync between a plotter and the VHF, but it doesn’t even sync between networked Garmin plotters.

I assumed that initiating a DSC call from the plotter was the only useful “integration” feature I gained by matching brands, but it turns-out that’s possible between brands anyway...

I wish the industry would step-up and modernize MMSI data mgt. When someone provides me with their MMSI, I put it in SEVEN locations: three plotters, the fixed-mount, the handheld, my phone address book and a Google Sheet I share with friends. My STD Horizon handheld can accept programming from a PC, which is cool, but I only use Macs.

To the OP: you can add Garmin alongside RayMarine on the list of choices high on price and low on features.
 
RollerCoastr said:
It’s a $40 delta at the gps store, but even so, I agree that it’s worthwhile redundancy. These radios are feature packed and inexpensive - I can’t think of anything else on a boat that I can say that about!
Click to expand...
I was waffling back and forth between the GPS and non-GPS unit and at Amazon, it is only a $20 delta but Amazon doesn't carry a black GPS unit...it seems silly but they don't. So after reading this, I changed it to a GPS unit, although it's white. I agree that redundancy on my boat is a good thing. I am in aviation so we have redundant upon redundant systems installed just for safety sake.
 
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