Standard Horizon HX890 Black Handheld VHF - Floating 6 Watt Class H DSC Two Way Radio
Score By Feature
OveReview Final Score
Product Description
Questions & Answers
It is different how frequencies are assigned to channel numbers as well as the default frequencies for emergency calls and hailing. If you have a conversion table handy, you could use either radio, but using the appropriate local configuration is easier.
There is flat water for 5 miles on the line of sight. The interference from the land and the islands is much The range of an external antenna increases considerably when the antenna is higher. For the price, it's a good radio with a lot of features
It is an excellent product, although the menus and screens can be a bit challenging at first to learn, however the time spent learning will be well worth it. The navigation and waypoints are exceptionally easy to set up. There are some difficulties when it comes to deleting waypoints. Using the phone for only a few hours, the battery lasts for over 24 hours. The backup is excellent. It would be a good choice for you.
The charging of USB devices is not Additionally, for charging the radio, the entire charging CRADLE must be used, just as it is with other Horizion radios I have This is not a good choice for traveling light
Selected User Reviews For Standard Horizon HX890 Black Handheld VHF - Floating 6 Watt Class H DSC Two Way Radio
It has been some time since I used a Standard Horizon handheld and I have not been disappointed. In order to get DSC capabilities I decided to upgrade, and this came out to be the best option with the features I needed. With DSC calling, it is waterproof, floatable, and has GPS navigation built in. The first thing I did when assembling this unit was check the floatation. I read a review indicating this unit did not float. The strobe light feature works without the unit even being turned on, so it does not only float, but it activates without even being turned That's a great feature and a very nice surprise.
If you use a marine radio, you will notice there are more features than most people will use. Plus, there are pages and pages of instructions most people will never bother to read. In this case, it is no different. You can get an MMSI number for DSC use on US waters through Boat US by just spending a little time learning about the features and settings you're interested in one at a time. My project was finished within fifteen minutes and I could not have done it more quickly. Also, I can see that there are other boating sites where that service is available.
Although I am seldom the one to write reviews of products, I feel the need to set the record straight on how to deal with taking part in the Standard Horizon survey. About a month after I received the product, it developed a problem in which the screen would suddenly light up, but the buttons would not work, and nothing would appear on the screen. Within a few minutes of an initial email response, I was given the names of two distributors who were supposed to provide support. After several correspondences with both of them, the first one told me they weren't able to assist and that I should contact I was instructed to check the manual by the other one. The problem clearly had to do with hardware, so that helped nothing. Responded to the email and stopped. As I was not receiving any actual support, I emailed Standard Horizon customer support once The conversation took place a month ago, and several follow-ups have taken place since There have been no responses to follow-up emails. Having gotten this far, I was only able to use the product for the brief amount of time that I had spent asking, following up, or being ignored by customer service. My problem has not been solved and I doubt I will ever be able to use it again. Especially considering the $200 price tag, this is simply not acceptable. After being frustrated for a while, I bought a Uniden HDS75, which works nicely. If I need another unit I can buy the second for less than I would have paid for the HX890. I don't know how their product support will be, but I can purchase another unit if necessary. For Standard Horizon, if you are reading this, my summary is as follows Although customer support is poor for a product of such high cost, the product itself is excellent. I will not buy from you in the future.
It has moisture. I hate it. A radio like this has been on my wish list since In the past few years, I have kept it in a water-resistant It occurred to me five months later that I probably should have charged my radio for my trip on the water tomorrow. Initially, the radio would turn on with a normal start up screen, but it would then error out. On the LCD, there are only black blobs. A lot of moisture is behind the screen as well. A separate rubber antenna has arisen from the internal antenna lead due to failure of the rubber antenna. The waterproof marine radio that you'll find here is intended to meet all marine needs. There has been no handling or abuse of this item. As a result, it's been in a water-resistant boat bag for over five months so that it can be used in case of It was a disappointment. Next week, I will attempt to utilize the 3 year warranty they provide.
Myself and my husband just joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary of the United States Coast Guard. This is an amazing radio station.
This is a nice screen with a backlight. Lithium battery pack allows the device to float entirely. After I received my HX890 and set it up, I installed MMSI. When MMSI was entered, I was able to receive GPS details right away. I wasn't able to contact my location before this, but I was also inside, so it might have been my fault. However, I could not find any evidence of a backlit screen anywhere in the documentation. It wasn't important to me I eventually decided not to fret My confidence was bolstered by the thought that Standard Horizon would never sell a radio without a backlight. The time I was right was this time In the dark, it is easy to see. This FM radio plays all the way down to 65 mhz and all the way up to 108 mhz. Surely there's some extra bandwidth there (here in the US I'll offer one criticism, though.
It works fine. There are not a lot of choices on the menus. Is there a device like this on which you can access your website? It was a particularly confusing MMSI We exited the screen rather than delete the screen after pressing "Back" four times. Still, they are able to do their jobs. There are a few points where I differ from some prior reviews Despite its appearance, I did not perceive the device to be cheap. The manufacturing seemed fairly high-quality. It seemed like all the parts were nice and the buttons were good. There is no doubt that it floats. Using a built-in battery pack and lanyard, and a clip and lanyard, I tested it in my kitchen sink. It floated beautifully, and the strobe light on the display worked. You can see quite a bit of it. Even if you drop your radio in the water in the middle of the night, you'll find it! I read some people saying that theirs didn't float, but mine I know lithium batteries are lighter than most alternatives, so perhaps that is an issue. For DSC and GPS, I think it's worth it and am happy with it. Overall, I'd say it's a bit pricey, but it's worth it in my opinion.
I had a friend who accidentally left this radio on a boat he chartered, when he returned, someone had stolen This radio was exactly the same as the one I got him, and he loved it This is cheaper than what he paid!
Works like a charm 100% and is simple to use.
You can send your coordinates when transmitting with this beautiful and safe radio. However, you MUST register online with USBoat or others to obtain an MMSI # that will identify this radio, YOU and your boat when you transmit or when you use the one-touch emergency button. This radio contains all the features required for an emergency situation - floats and lights. It may not be worth its weight in gold if you never need it, but if you do, it may be worth it. It is cheap to insure at this price.
The audio is nice and loud though. It is possible to change the names of the channels and the channels themselves through the software. There is one thing I am not certain of Specifically, the top 2/3 of it just feels rubbery, like there is nothing inside, and the radio does not seem sensitive, even when using the FM radio.