Marine VHF Radios – Fixed Mount and Handheld
Marine VHF radios are the single most vital piece of electronic safety equipment aboard any commercial or recreational vessel—second only to life jackets in terms of survival importance. These radios form the backbone of maritime communication, offering a direct link to harbors, other vessels, and emergency rescue services. Required by law on most commercial craft, marine VHF is the standard by which all other communication systems are measured.
A Legacy of Maritime Safety
The use of VHF radio at sea dates back to the mid-20th century, when analog transceivers replaced spark-gap and MF/HF Morse sets. The adoption of dedicated marine VHF frequencies (156–174 MHz) brought rapid improvements in voice clarity, channel organization, and international standardization. Channel 16, designated for emergency and hailing traffic, remains the global lifeline for mariners in distress. The 1979 SOLAS Convention made VHF carriage mandatory for many vessel classes, cementing its role in GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) frameworks.
Modern Capabilities
Today’s marine VHF radios are digital, rugged, and feature-rich. Key innovations include:
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC): One-button distress signaling with GPS position encoding
- Integrated GPS Receivers: Location tracking without a separate GPS unit
- NOAA Weather Alerts: Auto-tuned forecasts and storm warnings
- Remote Microphones: Full-featured control from cockpit or flybridge
- Commercial AIS/VHF hybrids: Display nearby vessels and transmit identity/location
Fixed vs. Handheld
Fixed-mount VHF radios offer 25-watt transmission and can be paired with external antennas for extended range—ideal for the main helm or nav station. Handheld VHFs operate at 5–6 watts, are battery-powered, and provide essential redundancy for crew, tenders, or liferafts. Every commercial vessel should carry both types to ensure failover coverage in case of power loss or bridge inaccessibility.
Essential for Emergency Response
Whether coordinating with tugboats, responding to Mayday calls, or alerting harbor patrol, VHF remains the first response channel in every maritime emergency. Unlike cell phones, it does not rely on towers. Unlike satellite phones, it offers instantaneous broadcast to all nearby vessels. In congested harbors or open ocean, marine VHF is your fastest, most reliable communication lifeline.
Channel 16 must be monitored at all times, and it’s the only way many rescue authorities will detect and triangulate distress traffic. A properly installed VHF system—paired with a compliant antenna and DSC-registered MMSI—is your best hope when everything else fails.
PSI Provides Trusted Marine Radios
We supply both fixed and handheld VHF marine radios from the most respected manufacturers in the industry: ACR, Furuno, Garmin, ICOM, JRC, Raymarine, SEA, and Standard Horizon. These radios are engineered to meet SOLAS, FCC, and GMDSS standards and can be integrated with vessel comms, navigation, and alerting systems.
Most VHF radio products we offer include essential accessories such as antennas, power cords, mounting kits, and microphones. PSI ensures you get a fully operational solution tailored to your vessel class and communication needs.
Whether outfitting a new fleet or replacing outdated gear, PSI can guide you through antenna placement, cabling, backup power systems, and regulatory configuration. Our goal is ensuring that when the unexpected happens, your voice is heard loud and clear.
