Re: VERTEX HANDHELD VHF HX2605
The part number you gave is one used by Standard Horizon for one of their mid-range hand held radios. I presume someone has just rebranded it but you should compare it to the Standard unit to see if they are the same - if they are buy it.<br /><br />Look, I'm going to say this plain and simply, Humminbird makes equipment that is not the best in any catagory. If you find any device made by Humminbird you can go look at the competitition in the same price range and get a better piece of equipment ever single time - no exceptions. So if you're looking for a radio do not pick a Humminbird, you can do better for your money.<br /><br />If you honestly believe the radio is your lifeline to the world in case of an emergency then you probably want a very reliable radio. If you prefer a hand held your best choices will be radios made by either ICOM or Standard Horizon. Standard has more models, and consequently a grater price range, than ICOM so you get more choices, but not higher quality or reliability. <br /><br />I dislike it when someone says they want to buy a $100 item and ask people for their opnions on it only to get a barrage of replys saying that nothing will do but that they buy this or that $500 unit. However I'm going to do that in this case. If you want to buy a dead on reliable radio that has ever single bell and whistle out there buy the Satandard Horizon HX350S or the ICOM M1V. Neigher one of them costs a lot more than what you're talking about. In the ICOM lineup do not look at any of their other hand held radios other than the M1V but if you like the Standard Horizon versions you can go down the model line and pick one that is less expensive if you want.<br /><br />I guess I should say this too. If the radio you buy isn't waterproofed to level 7 (I forget the acronym for the standards but they move up progressively from 1 - not waterproof at all, to 7, which is capable of submersion to a couple of feet for a few moments or something like that). A hand held that isn't waterproof is about as useful as a hammer without a handel.<br /><br />Thom
