Uniden Atlantis 250 Handheld VHF

Key West Gary · #1 08-08-2012

I'm looking to pick up a handheld VHF. With most of my boating experience being power boats all over 100' I don't have much experience with handhelds. Does anyone own or have experience with the Uniden Atlantis 250 Handheld VHF? I liked this one and the West Marine VHF155 but leaning towards the Uniden. Any pros? Cons? Other radio suggestions?

sneuman · #2 08-08-2012

I have the Uniden. Got it used (without charger) for $25 and used it on a recent trip from Annapolis to Newport. Worked great. No complaints. Especially none for $25.

hellosailor · #3 08-08-2012

I don't know the radio but would suggest a couple of general things to check on handhelds.

Battery options. What does it have, what can it use? How long will it last?

Volume! Can you hear it, in the rain, over engine noise and anything else?

Water-resistance guarantee.

And does it look like you can drop it without breaking it?

FWIW Standard Horizon makes some great radios, and backs them up with great customer service. Usually, they're going to cost a little more but they're made up more to commercial standards than lower recreational ones.

bljones · #4 08-08-2012

i have the atlantis 250. loved it for 2.5 seasons. great battery life, great range, great price...
then two weeks ago, no sound. nothing. no squelch, no volume, not a thing. although the screen still lights and it still scrolls through the channels, a radio you cannot hear is nothing more than a backlit paperweight.

hellosailor · #5 08-08-2012

bl-
Assuming there's no warranty, open it up. Look at the back of the speaker to see if one of the wires has simply come off. (Or plug in an earplug if there's a jack, see if that works.) Could just be a bad solder joint as well, A LOT of electronics gear can be fixed by simply taking a very close look for cold solder joints (hairline cracks in the solder work) and resoldering them.

Stu Jackson · #6 08-13-2012

Worst HH I ever had. The speaker was useless when the engine was running even with it turned all the way up, more the "tone" than just the volume. Went the WM route for a few years,m but ended up with Standard Horizon. Great units.