Standard Horizon HX300E VHF radio review
It’s been nine years since I passed my VHF exam, and since then I never been on the water without a VHF radio. To get things straight, Standard Horizon was not the first brand I carried with me on the sea. I didn’t know much about waterproof radios at the time but that soon changed as I decommissioned two older VHF radios because were not waterproof.
The radios themselves were good, but not for a sea kayaker who spends more time in the water than in his kayak during rescue training. Things started to corrode very soon due to the saltwater, such as the external contacts to charge the battery and I’m not fond of carrying my radio in a waterproof bag. If the brand states that it is waterproof out of its own, well then it should be. So, after a few years I discovered the Standard Horizon HX300E.
WATERPROOF OR NOT?
The waterproof rating caught my attention, because I never had a radio that lasted very long. The Standard Horizon HX300E VHF radio is IPX8 submersible. I have carried this radio with me for more than six years. To be complete and objective; the radio has always been carried in the front pocket of my PFD, with the antenna sticking out. The front pocket is not waterproof, so when I’m submerged in the water… the radio is too! I had to replace the antenna once, because it’s always stuck between the zipper of my front pocket and it’s been abused plenty during self-rescues (the radio finds itself between me and the back deck).
Besides that (and for me that is normal wear and tear) I had no issues whatsoever. The radio floats and when it hits the water, it starts to emit a bright red light – so, no worries about losing the Standard Horizon HX300E, even in the dark. You should see the look on other paddlers’ faces when I throw the radio into the sea, a few metres away from my kayak! It disappears below the surface and then resurfaces where it awaits rescue, emitting its red light! In my opinion, one of the its qualities – ON and IN the water!
EASY TO OPERATE
I paddle during the four seasons, which means I need to carry thick neoprene gloves during the winter. The buttons are large enough to operate with gloves, so there is no need to take them off. There are not many buttons and if you haven’t read the manual, the layout is intuitive and you can read the purpose of each button clearly. The screen itself is clear and easy to read even in bright sunlight. There is a programmable scan function, dual/tri watch and priority scan (for us that will be channel 16). With the pre-set-key you can chose up to 10 of your most used channels. The output can be switched between low (1W) and high (5W). Beside that you can see the battery, squelch and volume on the back-lit display.
HARDWARE
People who know me will be aware that most of my equipment gets a beating, every now and then and the VHF radio is no exception! During surf session in rough conditions, the radio performed, the water stayed out, the volume is loud enough for me to hear and the microphone is good quality. If there is water in the speaker and/or the microphone; simply blow a few times to force it out. The radio itself is very compact, fitting into any PFD. If you prefer to carry your radio outside of the PFD, then there is a clip installed that comes with the radio. The antenna is also good quality, but if the needs arises it can be replaced swiftly. The Lithium-Ion battery that is provided with the radio is light but powerful. The Standard Horizon comes with a USB charger, with the contacts safely tucked away behind a small waterproof cover, so no worries about corrosion on the long term. So, in short: light, small, firm and waterproof!
EXTRA
During the past years I have informed other sea kayakers about Standard Horizon VHF-radio when asked. I find it to be the best radio you can buy, for a sea kayaker’s purpose. I would never buy another radio with a lower IPX rating (although there are also submersible at IPX7). THE Standard Horizon HX300E does exactly what is stated on the box. It’s never let me down and I use it every time I go out to state my intentions to the Coast Guard and to sign off when I’m back on the beach. Besides that, I have used it for ship to ship (even kayak-rescue helicopter) communication without any trouble. The price is very competitive (read: low) for such high-quality equipment. If you don’t carry a VHF-radio with you yet, maybe now is the time to invest in this life-saving device and maybe take some classes so you know how to use it when the need arises. Have a look at our YouTube channel and you will see that we use so much of the time.
Have fun and take care of each other on the water!
Price: The recommended retail price is £132.95 inc VAT, although it can be found at many dealers/online retailers at prices like £99.95 inc VAT.
