Handheld VHF/GPS/DSC, two coming
I’ve long liked the concept of a handheld VHF with a built-in GPS and hence built-in DSC alarm capability (just add MMSI). I made the case here in August. So wasn’t I tickled to see this prototype kicking around the Lowrance booth at NMEA, and later to hear that Standard Horizon is also planning a combo unit. But it was very much a prototype, in fact just an empty shell, and Lowrance could not say when it will be ready. Ditto Standard Horizon. And the naysayers still report that the needed engineering is challenging.
I waiting for AIS to be built into a VHF.
I had a Uniden Mystic. Great concept, needed a lot of work. It was big, heavy, had a poor screen and had very little map storage, plus a difficult to use GUI. On the other hand, it had built in DSC, and that’s why I bought it. It’s good to see other companies picking up where they left off, but they should make sure they learn from the weaknesses of the Uniden. I do, however, applaud Uniden for being on the bleeding edge!
What might be easier engineering is a Garmin 520/530 with marine VHF frequencies. It’s not as universal as DSC, but it does transmit the location of the other person and would work well for a boat and tender arrangement.
Alas, Garmin says they have no such product in the pipe.