10 Best Handheld VHF Radios
Sam Fortescue tests some of the best handheld VHF radios on the market…
A VHF radio is a staple on almost any boat’s equipment list and a legal requirement in the UK for boats over 45ft.
For sheer range, a fixed VHF will always win because its antenna is high up on the masthead and it has a powerful 25W transmitter, but handheld VHFs play a key role too.
They come into their own for communicating with the tender, checking for berths while navigating into a busy marina or even speaking to the sailing coach in the safety boat.
What Are the Best Handheld VHF Radios?
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Standard Horizon HX320E
With plenty of features, this floating handset is more than an entry-level unit. Its dot matrix display makes menus easy to navigate with large buttons. You can programme the three soft keys as a short-cut to your favourite functions.
For simplicity, it uses a USB-C charging port and a built-in battery, although you can also use the supplied charging cradle if you prefer.
Bluetooth capability means it can be easily paired with a compatible headset for extended use.
Pros
Nice dot matrix display
Programmable soft keys
Long 17h battery life
USB-C charging
Built-in FM receiver
Cons
Quite bulky
Slower charging
Non-interchangeable battery
Standard Horizon HX40 E
With near identical features to the HX320, this unit is all about the small size. In fact, it is the most compact handheld VHF in our test, measuring just 52mm wide by 95mm long and 33mm deep.
It weighs just 230g, but with that small volume it won’t float without the optional foam jacket. Otherwise, the only compromises are the lack of soft keys and the loss of the Bluetooth connectivity for a headset.
In tests, the battery life was among the shortest – just 16 hours in standby mode.
Pros
Small and very light (230g)
Fast charging
Dot matrix display
Good value at £128
FM receiver
Cons
Doesn’t float
Small screen
No room for soft keys
Short battery life
Non-interchangeable battery
Standard Horizon HX891BT
This is the Japanese brand’s premium DSC-enabled handset with the full suite of station-to-station calling tools.
Send your position to other stations at regular intervals, or to monitor the changing position of another boat via regular DSC polling. Or set up group calls that switch buddies to a given channel for VHF comms.
There’s also a handy noise reduction function for clearer sound, and a call log that allows you to replay DSC calls like a voice message.
Fitted with a GPS receiver, it can quickly set a man overboard waypoint and send a distress call with one button press.
The HX891 also lets you set a route using multiple waypoints, and it logs your GPS position regularly. It can then export your track and other GPS data (position, boat speed, course) to a laptop via a dedicated micro-USB port.
In case you’re away from charging points, the unit also comes with a spare battery compartment for 5x AAA batteries.
All these impressive features, and it still floats!
Pros
Powerful DSC functions
GPS navigation
MOB function
Large dot matrix display
Floats
Cons
Smaller battery means more regular charging
Bulky in the hand
IC-M94DE
This is Icom’s all-singing, all-dancing model with all the features (and price) of a fixed marine radio. These include DSC calling, AIS collision avoidance and built-in GPS.
Thanks to the GPS, you can set up to 50 navigational waypoints in the radio – completely independently of the chartplotter and instruments. And the M94 has a soft-key MOB button that marks the position and time of someone falling over the side.
It is the only unit on test that functions as a Class B AIS receiver and can plot other vessels on a radar-type screen, or as a list of targets. Dangerous targets are those that get too close, too quickly, and you can see them on a separate list. You can even define what ‘too close’ looks like and set an alarm.
You can also fit an optional speaker mic via a waterproof jack. And Icom’s Aquaquake system uses sound to expel water from the speaker grille.
Being packed with so much functionality does have its downside. The handset is the heaviest (365g) and the thickest (48mm) on test, with a shorter battery life of around 10 hours between charges. Comes with a useful charger cradle.
Pros
All the functionality of a top-flight fixed marine VHF
Only unit to offer AIS
MOB function
Large dot matrix screen
Programmable soft buttons
Cons
Shorter 10h battery life
Bigger and heavier
More complex to set-up
More expensive than some fixed VHFs
Icom IC-M73
This is a real workhorse of a VHF radio, for those who always have the handset in hand. It is slim and comfortable in the hand with a serrated grip and just 33mm deep.
In contrast to Icom’s other models, it has a rotary knob that switches the unit on and controls volume. Old school, perhaps, but I found it easy and intuitive. Charging is also quick using a nicely designed 12V cradle.
Like all Icom radios, the functionality is excellent, including Aquaquake. The screen is small but easily readable. And the menus are much simpler to navigate than some of the other units relying on seven segment displays.
I also noted that the belt clip must be attached with two small, fiddly screws and I found the battery hard to remove once fitted.
Pros
Slim chassis
Comfortable in the hand
Simple operation
Best battery life and fast charge
Cons
Battery case hard to open
Belt clip takes screws
Small display
Icom IC-M25 EVO
Lightweight and compact, this handheld VHF is designed for grabbing when you head off on an adventure in the tender, in the kayak or ashore. Unlike the other Icom units on test, the M25 floats and flashes when immersed, making it safer for water sports.
The Evo version of this popular model has 30 per cent longer battery life (14 hours) and an improved grip on the chassis. It also introduces fuss-free USB-C charging. This makes it easier to recharge, but takes longer.
Its small seven-segment display makes the menu hard to navigate, and the backlight is faint.
Pros
Floats
Weighs just 230g
Simple controls
Easy USB charging
Long battery life
Cons
At £160, expensive for a basic user
Basic display
Complex menu
Slower to charge
Cobra HH350
With its origins in CB radio for American truckers, Cobra has long been familiar for its good value handheld marine VHFs.
The unit looks well designed with buttons on the side for transmit and to toggle the backlight on and off. It uses a handy twisting knob on top to switch on and adjust volume, leaving the buttons for other controls.
Features include a ‘burp’ mode to expel water and an intermediate 3W power setting.
A minor issue is that the battery is fitted using two large screws. It’s not difficult, but it means you need a tool to switch quickly to a fully charged battery.
Also, the chassis is quite bulky, with the buttons standing proud in the most prominent central section.
Pros
Floats
Large screen
Intuitive menu
Fast charging
Great value at £109.95
Cons
Bulky chassis
Slightly plasticky feel
Battery compartment screws shut
Cobra HH600
Similar in looks to the HH350, this is Cobra’s fullest featured handset. Useful additions include built-in GPS, DSC calling and Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone.
By pairing the handset with your phone, you can answer mobile calls on the VHF. You can also initiate calls by speaking into the VHF, as long as your phone has voice control activated.
The DSC function gives you a dedicated man overboard (MOB) button. There’s also a unique ‘rewind’ function which replays the last 20 seconds of audio so you can verify details you may have missed.
An AA battery holder is included, so that you can keep the handset going off-grid, although it doesn’t float with heavier alkaline batteries. Another original feature is that the charging cradle comes with a NMEA 0183 output so your handheld VHF can send GPS and course data to the boat’s instrument network.
In standby mode, the 2000Ah battery ran down surprisingly quickly.
Pros
Floats
Great value for a DSC handset (sub-£200)
Pairs with your mobile phone
NMEA 0183 output
Cons
Feels large in the hand (47mm thick)
Short battery life
Battery change needs screwdriver
No M1 or M2 channels
Plastimo SX-350+
Good quality and no-frills sums up French manufacturer Plastimo’s SX-350+ handset. It performed well in tests, despite its lower 3.5W transmit power.
Having just six large buttons, it relies on a menu to access some functions. And with its simple seven-segment digital display, this means there are some curious abbreviations and collections of upper and lower case. It is not very intuitive.
Charging is via a USB-C port in the top of the handset, and the rubber plug which keeps the water out looks like a weak point. It’s easy to replace poorly.
Only the slightly boxy ergonomics left something to be desired – it felt too droppable! And there’s no light signal when it falls into the water.
Pros
Floats
Simple operation
Large buttons
13-hour battery life
Great value at £89.99
Cons
Low transmit power (max 3.5W)
No immersion strobe
Clunky menu display
Dubious waterproofing around charging socket
Basic ergonomics
Plastimo SX-400+
Functions are very similar to its smaller sister, except that the SX-400+ has a nicer dot matrix display with a backlight that activates when you press any key. It also has a useful function to reduce background noise and up to 5W transmit power..
For my hands, at least, the shape of the chassis was more comfortable than the smaller SX-350. On the other hand, the belt clip must be fixed on with tiny screws, adding a degree of hassle.
Standby battery life was excellent, going into a fourth day.
Pros
Floats
Immersion alarm
Excellent battery life
Attractive dot matrix display
Cons
Dubious waterproofing around charging socket
High RRP, but good online deals to be found\
How to Choose a Handheld VHF Radio
Quality First
There is plenty of choice if you do a simple online search for VHF radios, but beware. If it is not specified as a marine VHF, its functions on the water will be severely restricted and it is unlikely to last long in a wet, salty environment.
Look for a high IP rating – all those tested below reached IP7 or better for water, which means they can survive for more than 30 minutes submerged to 1m depth.
“To communicate successfully with other vessels or the coastguard in an emergency, you will want to have a good-quality marine VHF radio,” says Ian Lockyer of Icom UK. “Walkie-talkies bought cheaply online may be okay for short-distance one-to-one communications, but you would not be able to use them to hail another vessel for assistance.”
Marine Channels
“Ensure the radio you purchase conforms to the required approval standards and bears the UKCA/CE marks,” adds Lockyer. “Sets purchased from overseas, intended for other markets, will likely not have the full UK channel set.”
A true marine VHF will always come pre-programmed with the official communications channels, including the all-important channel 16 for safety and distress broadcasts. The most commonly used by sailors are grouped between 156 and 162MHz.
The availability of channels varies by country, so the ability to select your location is also important. For example, M1 and M2 are private channels commonly used in the UK, but use them in another country and you can be fined.
What Features Do You Need?
After that, it is the features that distinguish the best handheld VHF radios. Every user will have their own priorities here. For one it will be battery life for a full day on the water between charges; for another it will be large buttons or an MOB function.
Many marine VHFs are designed to float, with a light signal to raise the alarm. Against the obvious benefits, you should weigh the fact that these are larger units to create the necessary buoyancy.
The ability to save favourite channels is ubiquitous, with most radios then letting you scan them for traffic. Another very useful feature on all our test models is the dual or tri-watch mode, which lets you monitor distress channel 16 plus one or two others.
DSC Equipped
The best equipped (and most expensive) VHFs will have high-end capabilities such as Digital Selective Calling (DSC). Usually seen in fixed VHF sets, this allows you to call a specific vessel using its MMSI number, which is a bit like a unique phone number.
DSC can also be handy in distress. A single button press will alert any stations within range, switching them to channel 16 and providing your vessel’s details. This can dramatically improve communications and shorten response times.
GPS capabilities go hand-in hand with DSC calling, allowing the radio to establish your latitude and longitude, speed and course. Some handsets even allow you to export this useful data. But only Icom’s M94-D goes the next step by adding an AIS collision avoidance function (see entry below for more).
Some handsets can receive FM radio and support a Bluetooth headset. But, there is little point in paying the features you don’t need. Not only does it add cost, but additional functions also reduce battery life by 50 per cent or more.
Just Enough Power
VHF radio range is very hard to test, as we discovered when we used these handsets. It works on a line-of-sight basis, so a coachroof or land between you and the receiving station will hinder the signal. And when used close to the sea’s surface, waves and swell can also get in the way.
All the handheld VHFs on test give you the option of high or lower power transmission. Use the low 1W option to avoid swamping local VHF traffic when communicating over short distances or in busy harbours. This also preserves battery life.
Higher power will increase the maximum range at which you can be heard to 10 miles or more. All the brands top out at 6W maximum power, except for Plastimo radios where it is 3.5W or 5W depending on the model.
“Set to 3.5W, you can transmit up to 7-8 miles in good conditions,” explains Plastimo’s Nicolas Barriquand. “That’s enough for inshore sailing. Power consumption is low, so battery autonomy is longer, about 13h based on 5% transmitting, 5% receiving and 90% standby. Set to 5W, you can transmit up to 10 miles. Power consumption is a bit higher, so battery life is a bit shorter.”
Charging
All the units below feature efficient lithium-ion batteries. But with typical battery life of around 12 hours, charging is still an important consideration with a handheld VHF.
Different handsets have different charging systems. Some have a USB-C port for a convenient 5V mobile phone charger, but this takes up to 5-6 hours to fill the battery. Others take a 12V adapter which charges in just 3-4 hours. All but the Plastimo handsets included a useful mountable cradle for charging.
All the units we tested could be charged from a 220V wall socket and via the on-board 12V system. But there are very few that support the 24V DC systems seen on larger boats.
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