What to consider when you choose a Marine VHF radio?

Marine VHF radio is an important safety tool for mariners, but the wide range of available models and functions makes it difficult to choose when buying. Below we give some suggestions to help you make a choice.

First, the Marine VHF radio must be easy to use. The maritime climate and environment change rapidly. When calling the other party or encountering an emergency, it is necessary to use the VHF radio to respond quickly, so simple operation is required. If the operation is complicated, it will lead to a delay in seeking help, which will cause certain harm.

Second, the Marine VHF radio must have standard power, 25W or 5W. If the standard power cannot be reached, it will seriously affect the distance of the marine VHF radio and cause communication difficulties at sea. Remember, more power out means more power in, giving shorter battery life for handhelds or non-recharging batteries. Always start with the lowest power setting and work up. On a fixed unit, you should expect at least 25W  transmit power and on handheld units, you should expect no lower than 5W. Some channels (Ch15, 75 & 76) operate on 1W only. This should automatically be selected by your radio.

Third, the Marine VHF radio must have noise-cancelling technology. If you know that you will be operating in loud environments such as on a motor cruiser it may be worth considering a set with active noise cancelling technology. Some of the latest radios feature this noise cancelling technology that digitally removes background noise and transmits your voice clearly. Active Noise Cancelling also improves an incoming signal therefore increasing voice quality.

Finally, the Marine VHF radio must have reasonable battery capacity. If it is a fixed mount marine radio, there is no need to consider the battery. If it is a handheld, you need to consider the battery and backup battery issues to avoid power outages during use.