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Radio
Standard
Horizon Handheld by Gordon West, WB6NOA |
It’s a fully submersible
marine radio... |
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The new Standard Horizon submersible tri-band marine VHF handheld transceiver falls under Part 80 and Part 15 rules. But this same radio contains 14 Family Radio Service (FRS) channels, falling under Part 95. It also contains all five Multi-use Radio Service (MURS) channels. A brand new addition to Part 95, they were formerly from the land mobile Part 90 service. Add in Part 15 aircraft receive, plus AM and the FM music broadcast band reception, and submit this one radio with tri-band capabilities to the FCC lab for approval. “We are optimistic that the Federal Communications Com-mission will see this radical new design in a multi-purpose handheld achieve their approval,” commented the technical crew at Standard Horizon, the same company that manufactures Yaesu amateur radio products and Vertex land mobile radio products. It makes perfect sense that the marine division would want this type of handheld, with its added legal land capabilities, because most recreational boat owners have been asking for a multi-use, two-way handheld marine radio. “We are encouraging the legal use of our equipment, whether on land or at sea,” added Todd Crocker of Standard, pointing out that manufacturers of radio equipment are very concerned when they hear that their marine radio gear is ending up on ski slopes or with trucker caravans rolling down expressways.
The stand-alone marine VHF handheld and
25-watt transceiver is designed specifically for on-the-water use and,
except for specialized marine coast station licenses, may not normally be
operated on transmit after you step foot on land. A few years ago, the
Federal Communications Commission slapped a heavy fine on a marine VHF
user who was transmitting aboard his boat as it sat on a trailer in his
driveway. A marine VHF radio was intended for on-the-water use, not land
use—well, until this new concept radio from Standard Horizon hit town. |
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