Standard Horizon HX851 6W Floating Handheld VHF Radio with Glow in the Dark

The best single piece of electronics on your boat of any size
This is a long review because this radio has a LOT of features.

Summary:
The HX851 is an update to the HX850s and is a great handheld VHF radio that boaters operating in open waters should have. If you only operate on inland lakes, then this VHF has a lot of bells & whistles that you don't need, but it's still good at being a basic VHF, and if you take that rare trip on open waters, then it would sure be comforting to have the DSC MAYDAY service. It is the only floating VHF with DSC and GPS that I could find in the summer of 2010. The price is comparable to higher-end handheld VHF radios, and with all the features packed in, it is well worth it.

Positives:
+ Floating
+ Rugged
+ Lightweight
+ DSC with MAYDAY signaling
+ GPS with navigation to waypoints and DSC calls
+ Comes with most of the accessories you need (charging base, antenna, 12VDC and 120VAC chargers)
+ Provides novices with an easy-to-use MAYDAY hailer that...
The best marine HT on the market today
This marine HT is a solid, if incremental, over the highly acclaimed HX850S. It combines an excellent 6 watt marine radio with a very decent GPS navigation function.

The outstanding attribute of this radio is that it supports Digital Signal Calling (DSC). This feature provides two major benefits:
1) it supports DSC distress calling ("the red button") which is a valuable safety feature. Essentially, the radio puts out an automatic distress call which includes the GPS coordinates of the radio.

2) DSC communications. Basically this allows your radio to call a specific other DSC-equipped vessel or radio by means of a digital packet signal sent on channel 70. If the digital call is received by the station being called, the radios automatically (or with user intervention, depending on which option is selected) then switch to a voice channel such as channel 69 for the conversation. This is a really nice feature that will become more and more common and essential...
Anyone going offshore should have this
This is a no-brainer for any boater that goes remotely offshore. The built in GPS, LED, and waterproof floating aspect make this a perfect back up radio in case of emergency. I am pleased with the radio and its construction and luckily have not had to use it much. It comes it a cigarette charger that makes it easy to keep charged even when you don't have a wall outlet.

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