14 Products
For most boaters, the ideal setup is a fixed-mount Simrad VHF radio as the primary communication system paired with at least one Simrad handheld VHF as a backup. The fixed-mount unit gives you 25-watt transmission power, a permanently mounted external antenna for maximum range, and DSC distress capability linked to your GPS - all features that make it the more capable system for routine and emergency use. The handheld covers scenarios the fixed mount cannot - if the boat's electrical system fails, if you are in a life raft, or if crew members are operating away from the vessel. The handheld is also the right primary choice for small boats without a dedicated helm station. Treating the handheld as a standalone solution on a larger offshore boat is a risk most experienced mariners are not willing to take.
A Simrad VHF marine radio operates on dedicated marine VHF frequencies monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard, vessel traffic services, and commercial shipping traffic at all times. Channel 16 - the international distress and hailing frequency - is monitored continuously by the Coast Guard and by most vessels underway, meaning a DSC distress call or a voice Mayday on Channel 16 reaches professional rescue resources immediately without routing through cell towers or dispatch centers. A cell phone depends on coverage that frequently does not exist offshore, cannot broadcast a DSC distress signal with automatic position data, and is not monitored by the Coast Guard for distress calls. Marine VHF radio is also legally required on certain vessel classes and strongly recommended for any offshore or coastal boating where cell service is unreliable. No app or consumer radio replaces what a proper Simrad radio VHF provides in a genuine emergency.
DSC - Digital Selective Calling - is a built-in feature on all current fixed-mount Class D Simrad VHF radios that allows your radio to send an automated digital distress alert containing your vessel's identity and GPS position to the Coast Guard and nearby DSC-equipped vessels with the press of a single button. To activate DSC functionality, your radio needs to be programmed with an MMSI number - a unique nine-digit vessel identification number issued free of charge through BoatUS, Sea Tow, or directly through the FCC. In the United States, vessels operating on international waters are legally required to have an FCC ship station license, which includes your MMSI assignment. For coastal and inland boating, an MMSI registration through BoatUS or Sea Tow is free, takes a few minutes, and is the step that activates the most important safety feature on your radio. Skipping MMSI registration means your DSC button does nothing useful in an emergency.
A Simrad VHF unit with an integrated AIS receiver gives you the ability to see AIS-transmitting vessels on your chartplotter display without purchasing a separate AIS receiver - a real convenience and cost saving for boaters who want AIS awareness without additional hardware. However, a receiver-only AIS means other vessels cannot see you on their displays, which limits the collision avoidance benefit to one direction. Models in the Simrad RS VHF lineup that include a Class B AIS transponder - rather than just a receiver - broadcast your vessel's position, speed, and course to surrounding vessels and commercial traffic, completing the two-way AIS picture that makes the technology genuinely effective for collision avoidance offshore. If you are boating in areas with ship traffic, running offshore passages, or operating in reduced visibility, a unit with a full Class B transponder is worth the additional cost over a receiver-only model.
