Cheap VHF Midland Atlantic^

[Carl M]

I have seen for sale the Midland Atlantic VHF for £50. It is not waterproof but comes with a waterproof bag.

Does anyone know how reliable a VHF like this is if is the same as one for 3 times the price but without various bells and whistles I would rarely use it sounds like a bargain However if it doesn't work when I need it it wont be!

Any other indications of what I would be paying the extra money for would also be appreciated.

[RXSailor]

Hi Carl
I just bought the Midland radio off ebay (£40 inc postage - new) Have only used once on the water and only for receiving. Picked up several fishermen swearing like troopers though :)

The build seems ruged enough. Only point to bear in mind is that waterproof pouches and knobs to control volume do not work welll together. Other than that it seems like a perfectly functional bit of kit

Regards
Andy

[NeilG]

I'm still looking at this radio as an option. It is very compact. Midland have been around for years so I think that it should be ok. Check out the output power though - it is very small. Midland do a more powerful version for around £60 - £70. I will probably go for that one. Neither of them are ICOM standard but they are a bargain...

[Ceegee]

I bought a Standard Horizon for just over €100 recently (thats about 60 squid). Waterproof model (HX270E) and seems to be ok so far. Made by Yaesu - we used Yaesu HF kit for years in Africa, ship-shore, between sites, to aircraft etc. and it seemed pretty decent. Cheaper than Icom if like me you can't or won't afford the latter.



Steve

[waltfos]

Picked up a Midland Nautico 1 dont know if its a grade up or down from yours could not see it on the web site

www.midlandradio.com

Good bit of kit had just coming up a year now no problems. Got a good deal I feel for the monies spent [£25] its now $70 not bad considering the exchange rate see web site above for costs.

Like all electronic bits of kit need to be carefull with them on the water.

Radio, Only water resistant and got the same waterproof pouch as you got mees thinks. We bag of silica gel gets put in bag with radio.

Oh they say the bag with the radio in it, floats! Have never tried it though, man or mouse.

Got lots of bells and whistles and can be used with waterproof mike and ear piece if you wish to procure separately.

I recommend mine though never had to use it in anger.

Keep shoogling

Walt

[guy]

Carl for the extra I think you will find the icom m31 a much better buy
with a much better warrenty. I think you can even get a waterproof speaker mic so that the radio can go in your back pocket and the speaker mic clipped to a handy strap near your shoulder.

They cost £109 if you shop around but they come with an lithium ion battery (which means it will still be charged after 3 months in storage ) mains and 12 v charger and an AA cell battery box.

If you can spring the extra for a M33 then you get a floating version

In a different league is the uniden mystic with built in gps chart plotter and emergency position transmitting feature. These radios take blue chart maps or topo maps from magellan. Only available from the USA

[miko]

I have one. The radio itself is fine but the supplied dry bag is worse than useless. It is impossible to switch on the radio without removing it from the bag.
If you get one you will end up having to spend more money on another VHF drybag, so factor that into the price.

[RXSailor]

Oh dear.... the dry bag for my Midland Nautico 1 radio has split! Only 2 months old, and very little use. Can anyone recommend a quality radio dry bag I can purchase? As stated previously the only problem I find with this radio is the fact it has a nob for the on/off volume and in the existing drybag I can't adjust it. If there was a drybag that would make adjustment possible..that would be good.

Thanks
Andy

[daveT]

Hi, I have a Silva StarM 298, I use one of the waterproof cases from Aquapac
www.aquapac.info

The Silva also has on on/off Vol control, which is accessed via a recess in the top of the case.

Dave

[TAD1748]

Have just bought an Midland Atlantic VHF xt hand held radio transmiter.
But no info or charger
Can anyone help?
PLEASE

Tad1748