Any Feedback on Lowrance LHR-80 VHF/GPS radio vs. Standard Horizon HX850S

Was talking with my uncle on Thanksgiving and he related an experience when he was out with a friend on a 27 foot boat fishing for Albacore and they hit really rough seas causing him some distress.  I told him that it might be a good idea for him to go out with a VHF because he couldn't rely on the boat's radio if he was separated from it and his buddy.

He searched a bit and he initially asked about the Standard Horizon HX850S GPS/VHF.  I told him that I had a Standard Horizon and thought they were reliable, and that having the ability to transmit your Lat/Long with your distress call looked like a good feature to have.

Then he posted me regarding the Lowrance LHR-80 and was favoring it.  I don't think this automatically transmit the GPS coordinates with the distress call.

Does anyone have any feedback on these radios or others with the GPS feature?

I have included downloads of their manual PDFs if anyone is interested in reviewing their respective features.


Lowrance LHR-80 manual:

 http://www.lowrance.com/en/Products/Marine/DSC-VHF-Marine-Radios/LHR-80/Downloads/LHR-80-VHF-Marine-Radio-Manual/


Standard Horizon HX850S manual:

http://www.standardhorizon.com/downloadFile.cfm?FileID=4660&FileCatID=87&FileName=HX850S%20Owner%27s%20Manual.pdf&FileContentType=application/pdf

The only problem we have experienced with the Lowrance unit was if the antenna was touching the body it would not receive the signal (to much interference). Not the best choice to wear on a vest.

Yakhopper,

Can you confirm that the Lorance unit does not send GPS coordinates with the distress call, while the Standard Horizon unit does?

I sent all of our units back because of issue above
I will try to get the info from Lowrance however they are closed for now.

Is the Standard Horizon unit the only current one that will transmit actual GPS coordinates along with the distress signal with a push of a button? I couldn't find any other VHF/GPS units in my search.

I thought this was a significant factor over only the ability to send a distress signal that then would have to be followed up with a voice transmission to give GPS coordinates, since ambient noise, etc., might make it hard to give a clear voice transmission.  And it seems that if you are injured and only can get off the distress signal, it might act, kind of like an EPIRB (not sure if it repeatedly gives off the GPS coordinates though).

I've had a LHR-80 for about 8 months, I love it, I haven't noticed any problems when the antenna is touching me, but I would assume any antenna that TX/RX would have the same problem, it is manipulating the ground plane of the antenna.

It floats. The battery lasts forever , all day and then some. Yes, when you push the emergency button, it transmits your GPS location, DIGITALLY. But if you have a friend with a DSC radio that you have set up as a friend will see your GPS location too. They can waypoint to you. The help button will continue to transmit even if you can't. You can even let the CG know what kind of trouble you are in ( man overboard, taking on water, fire, crash, ) and that transmits too.

Drawbacks:

the charger, no car charger. I had to set up a power inverter in the van to recharge the radio on long trips.

The battery, $$$, lots more than 2 rechargeable AA's.

The USCG around here isn't scheduled to have DSG until next year.

http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/

west coast map.

http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/images/R21nationwide.jpg

This guy did a great review:

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,3809.0.html

I've never used a SH radio, so I couldn't compare it.

I am glad I went back and re-read this post.  The guy at West Marine in San Carlos, told me the SF Coast Guard Station doesn't yet have the capability to revive the GPS coordinates.  It is coming but they do not have it yet.  Not being in the CG I can neither confirm or deny this report just passing it on.

 

  OK then they ( The coast guard) need get there behinds over to a West Marine and buy a few of these radios until they get there normal gear updated!

I am glad I went back and re-read this post.  The guy at West Marine in San Carlos, told me the SF Coast Guard Station doesn't yet have the capability to revive the GPS coordinates.  It is coming but they do not have it yet.  Not being in the CG I can neither confirm or deny this report just passing it on.

The USCG website says Sf Bay area April 2010, right before rockfish season! San Diego is April 2010 also, LA/Long Beach in December 2010. The map also shows it reaching inside the bay and up into the delta. I want to give the USCG every opportunity to find me, as fast as they can, they have to fly those helicopters all the way from Novato. The Lowrance is a nice WATERPROOF radio that floats and has a nice big screen and a loud speaker, all things I like and wanted. I rinse it off in the shower when I get home. How many electrical devices would you do that with?



I just wish it was Blaze Orange, but I'll get over it. I want a CAR CHARGER!

I could not find and therefore contacted Lowrance about a spare battery and alkaline battery tray for the LHR-80.  Neither are available!  Really!?  So if (when) the battery goes out, you are supposed to throw the radio away????  Count me out.  To bad, looked like a great radio.

I realize I am digging up an old post, I came across it when searching for reviews of these radios. But I found something interesting regarding the Lowrance LHR-80 radio accessories. I called Lowrance last week, they told me the only accessory is a replacement antenna, same response others here have gotten. I called Simrad, who makes the HH33 VHF GPS/DSC, it turns out both radios are identical, made by the same company, they just put different brand labels them. Parent company for Lowrance and Simrad is Navico. For some reason the folks at Simrad have a spare battery and 12 volt car charger available, but no AA battery pack. They also were able to access the Lowrance parts catalogue and found it there.. with the same part numbers. So a spare battery and 12vdc charger is available for the Lowrance... the folks answering the phones there are just not digging deep enough into their parts catalogues, they are just looking at their web site. Just a FYI in case a 12v charger matters to folks, I know it does me. The guy at Simrad also said that a AA battery pack is not available due to the fact that it does not have the current capability to handle the max output power levels. Apparently these radios are not designed to automatically limit power out when a AA battery pack is installed like other radio's do. For some reason the Simrad radio is $50.00 more expensive than the Lowrance. HTH