Uniden MHS 350 2-Channel VHF Waterproof Two-Way Marine Radio by Uniden
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Digital camera reviews of Uniden MHS 350 2-Channel VHF Waterproof Two-Way Marine Radio
Digital camera Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought two of these radios for kayak fishing in Galveston, TX and also local lakes. Before these radios, we tried "waterproof" Midland 26-mile GMRS/FRS radios. Those were quickly destroyed as they readily took on water through the speaker holes.
The Uniden MHS 350 radios are of the highest quality. They feel great in your hand and are not at all plastically. The range is amazing and the quality is great. In nasty weather conditions, you can turn up the volume loud enough that we never had an issue not being able to hear the other person. Using VHF radios for kayaking is superior in terms of safety over the GMRS/FRS/CB radios because boaters are required to scan channel 16 when not transmitting on other channels. Therefore if you ran into trouble, you can send a mayday or hail a nearby boat easily. Also, the battery has a very long life.
I have beaten the heck out of these radios and so far they work like new. We had several cases of people flipping their kayaks in the Gulf of Mexico. The radios were completely submerged in these cases and never had a problem. I never saw moisture and condensation building up inside the LCD display like I have other radios. When I got home I did notice that some water got in behind that battery pack. However, that area seems to be adequately waterproofed and you only need to worry about cleaning the contacts that connect the battery. Just to be safe, I applied silicon grease around the battery compartment and that solved the water-in-the-battery-compartment issue.
Kayakers - A couple of tips I learned over several trips out with these radios. First, be sure to tie the radio to your life jacket so you don't lose it when you flip! Second, don't try to protect your cool new toy by putting it in a ziplock bag. At least in my experience, water always got trapped in the ziplock and therefore created a situation where the radio had prolonged exposure to water. The best idea is to put the radio in a place where, if it does get splashed, it will be able to dry out quickly. I ended up taking the belt clip that came with the radio and epoxied it to my left shoulder-chest area part of my life vest using marine epoxy. I further strengthened the clip with plastic ties.
This is a great quality product. I would recommend it to anybody looking for a great radio for a small vessel or emergency radio for larger vessels.
Update(2/15/09)
If you are taking this radio into salt water environments, I suggest packing silicon grease in the areas between the volume and squelch knobs. I've seen the knobs lock up due to corrosion as this area is not protected by o-rings. With silicon grease packed between the knobs, I have not seen any additional issues.
Digital camera Review: Excellent VHF handheld radio
Summary: 5 Stars
This radio was exactly what I needed. It seems solidly built, has a nice rubber feel, somewhat heavy but indicative of the high quality of the battery and other components. Regarding the battery, I have only used it for a few days now but it is still at full charge. Reception is very clear. A strong recommendation.Digital camera Review: Failed Out Of The Box
Summary: 1 Stars
I just received this in the mail today, turned it on, and listened to the weather report. When I pressed the channel-up button it started emitting a continuous tone and the display is flashing (showing channel 25). I've submitted a request to Uniden's customer support, so we'll see how it works out. Still, if it fails while I'm sitting comfortably on my sofa in my living room, how can I have confidence to rely on this radio during an emergency in poor conditions?!Digital camera Review: Good VHF Radio
Summary: 4 Stars
I reviewed all the reviews prior to buying this radio. I thought, if you are out there in the open water, why invest a little more money since your safety is dependent on this radio.Digital camera Review: Great Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the second Uniden marine radio I've purchased for use while ocean kayaking. The first one is a larger model with built in GPS functionality. I bought this one because it's a lot smaller and I don't need the GPS feature for most of the paddling I do. So far this one is measuring up to the excellent quality that I've experienced with my first radio. I keep the radio either on deck or clipped to my PFD, and despite the regular exposure to water, it keeps on working. Combined with excellent battery life (an extra battery is included) and easy to use controls, this is a great product.