Handheld GPS/VHF combo?

ReverendMike · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Was there something wrong with this idea? I think Uniden still makes one, but i thought it was being discontinued (read: have trouble finding it). It wasn't cheap, but i thought it was a great idea for small boat (really small) sailing as well as for 'ditch-bags'. Is there some problem with them? Does a shared antenna do both poorly? Or is it just a case of something 'neat' but not really an improvement on anything?

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

The real problem is that when it breaks down or the battery runs out, you're now out two important pieces of equipment. Separate GPS and VHF have separate batteries and if one dies, like in a ditch bag, chances are likely that the other will still be working.

TrueBlue · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Reminds me of those "all-in-one" office machines, which have a copier, printer, scanner and fax.

If one component of the unit fails - or the ink cartridge dries up, everything else stops working.

Valiente · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

I agree that combining the two is not wise, given the rate at which marine electronics go pear-shaped when truly needed.

But...

Are you sure you aren't thinking of the function where the VHF's charger is connected to the chartplotter and transmits the "last known lat/lon"? My SH 471S has this feature, and while I consider it a frill, it's a potentially useful frill if you find yourself with no personal EPIRB floating away from a sunk boat.

" DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) DISTRESS CALL

The HX471S is supplied with a NMEA Charging cradle that allows the radio to be connected to any GPS. Connecting the HX471S to a GPS allows your position of your vessel to be stored inside the HX471S. In the event of an emergency, simply grab the HX471S lift the Distress cover and depress the the DISTESS Key and a DSC Distress call containing your position will be transmitted along with the high intensity Strobe light. ANOTHER INDUSTRY 1st!!! "

Welcome to StandardHorizon.com

ReverendMike · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

The real problem is that when it breaks down or the battery runs out, you're now out two important pieces of equipment. Separate GPS and VHF have separate batteries and if one dies, like in a ditch bag, chances are likely that the other will still be working.

Thanks for the perspective. Yeah, i figured it was something like that (like those wonderful tv/vcr combos, except your safety may be at risk

)

TB - I had one of those! (which should have allowed me to avoid starting this thread, sorry)

Val - no, i was referring to the Mystic by Uniden (not an advertisement

)

My parting shot: OK, skip the ditch bag idea, but for a small open boat on a lake, if they're not more than buying the two separate, they might be worth considering. Which is such a limited market, I'm not surprised they're hard to find.

labatt · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

I actually have a Uniden Mystic... it's neat, but the map and display aren't that great. It's big and heavy. But I like the fact that I can bring it on my dinghy and not have to grab two devices.

ReverendMike · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

Labatt

Thanks for the input. How bad is the display? I thought it might have serious trade-offs like that.

labatt · #8 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007

It's not bad during the day - Black/Gray against gray. The backlight is a bulb on the side, so at night it's tough to use. The mapping software kinda blows, and the memory is limited so you can't download many maps to it. Would I buy it again? Not in its current version. If they improved the screen and backlight, I'd deal with the map issues.