Standard Horizon Radios

[PeterM]

I've had/ have 5 or 6 SH HH VHFs now 9 Currently an HX850 & HX870 , but found an issue with my HX870 in that it just wont charge in the cradle … I checked the cradle power , check the battery, checked what I could (software up to date etc) but no joy.

IN googling various things I saw the remote mic is only £29.99 on ebay - so got one so I have one for both radios .

I ordered a new battery £40 from Cactus Nav - it seems the lack of charging may be down to a needing a new battery ( it wasn't ) .

I emailed SH - they suggested corrosion on the units terminals ( it does get very very wet in use - but I do look after it well / wash & dry etc ) - would be replaced under warranty - but if out of warranty a repair cost would apply . But terminals seem to have lost their metal coating ? - But still carry current from one side to the other ?

Then I find the HX890 is £189. including a free hand mic - so guess what... I ordered one ( but with a blue case to 'match' the boat tubes ) ! My 'logic' ( excuse? ) the 890 uses the same battery as the 870 - so I can use the 890 to charge the battery and then stick it in the 870 - problem solved

So now I have a spare battery and hand mic for 3 DSC HH and are about £260 poorer but smiling

I wonder..... is the very tenuous chain of events ( and sort of justification) I've listed common in everyone's boating ?

[ChrisParish]

I have had exactly that problem. A level of oxidisation had formed on the contacts on the outside of the radio. I cleaned the contacts with a very small piece of 1500 grade wet and dry paper and it now works fine.

[Martin]

I have the HX 870 also but I’ve not suffered any charge terminal issues.
I’m a little anal too over the radio, it gets a wash immediately after each run out.

I also have a spare battery as well as the cradle, and I have the speaker mic too, tho I’ve not used that as yet.

Martin.

[harrison]

@PeterM seems like a perfectly reasonable chain of events to me. Any excuse to acquire more boating goodies.

My only comment would have been now time for another boat to keep radio/boat ratio in karma.

But reading your other thread...issue already addressed. Nice one.

[Froglet]

Interesting. I would have though the contacts on a marine radio would be slightly more salt resistant, but indeed the charging contacts on my HX890 are showing very mild signs of corrosion. Presumably they're zinc coated rather than stainless steel. Mine don't need any further attention yet, but I will be keeping an eye on them.

Anyway this thread prompted me to look again at the remote mic. I always fancied one since discovering I can't hear the VHF on my belt if my engine is at anything more than tickover. However with prices varying between £40 - £50 I always thought it was a bit steep.

I looked on eBay and found the £29.99 ones @PeterM mentioned, but also happened to stumble on an auction for a pre-owned, but brand new in box MH-73A4B with a starting price of £20. I chucked on a bid and not a single other person bid. It turned up in the post today and all works perfectly.

Now I just need to sew a small loop onto my lifejacket to attach the speaker mic. I took the opportunity to strip the lifejacket down to wash and service it. Gas and auto inflator are good until 2022. It's currently sitting, inflated, in the airing cupboard to thoroughly dry and make sure it holds air. The only problem I see is that if the PFD fires while I have the speaker mic attached, the mic will then be under the bladder. However I came up with an elegant solution for that...


... don't fall in the water!

[rogerblack]

My Crewsaver lifejacket already has a handy little red loop in a good place for the extension mike, see picture below*
I must admit I hadn't even thought about where the mic would be if I ended up in the briny with the lifejacket inflated! I'll try it out when I test the jacket next time.

*Please note, the rugged-looking fella in the picture isn't me!