Collection: Portable VHF Radios

How to choose a marine handheld VHF?

A handheld VHF can assist with harbour manoeuvres, dinghy outings or onboard safety equipment. Not all models in this collection have the same features: start with your intended use, then check the exact model’s specifications before ordering.

Which criteria to compare?

• Buoyancy and protection: a waterproof radio is not necessarily buoyant. Icom’s IC-M25EURO EVO is marketed as buoyant by its manufacturer; check the IP rating for each model separately.
• Power supply: compare the stated battery life under the manufacturer’s test conditions, the charging method, and the available batteries or accessories.
• DSC, GPS and AIS: these features are not present on all handhelds. The Icom IC-M94DE combines DSC (ASN), GPS and an AIS receiver; “receiver” does not mean AIS transmitter.
• Specialized use: the Icom IC-GM1600E is a radio designed for survival craft in a GMDSS context. Check the configuration and battery of the ordered model.

Before choosing

Verify the regional version, the actual integrated features, the supplied accessories and your navigation constraints in the manufacturer’s documentation. The IC-M94DE specifications and those of the IC-GM1600E allow comparison of two very different uses. Also see the fixed VHFs and the full range of VHF and AIS radios.