My opinion both. If your going out to sea close to shore both, hiking in a quite area both, if your going out to see more then a couple miles you should have a longer radio vhf radio. Not to mention the more modern phones have satellite texting and sos
If your sailor and go to sea. There is no comparison bring the Radio.... phone still works for navigation if you have downloaded maps but does nothing for communication if your 5 miles off shore. Great radio im buying one.
@@SailingTipsCa I'm going to install the 12 volt charger. With this radio and I bought a Garmin Inreach to communicate with the wife when I'm out at sea I should be good to go. The AIS function was the main reason I was considering the M94D
@@Jyock Good idea to install the 12 volt charger on your boat! Note that this radio only receives but does not transmit AIS - I’m not aware of any handheld that does. I’ve never needed my VHF certification to apply for an MMSI here in Canada but maybe other countries are different?
@@SailingTipsCa I'm buying it as a AIS receiver only. I live in Spain so there's rules for everything about boating. EU requires me to have a VHF license for my radio. Just didn't know if I could apply for a MMSI number before.
Thanks for all these "quick hit" videos. Like you, I carry both a cellphone and a VHF. Pro tip: in Canada (though not the US) it's actually a legal requirement for even recreational boaters to have their Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime) to operate a marine VHF. Taking the course for the ROC (M) will let you communicate more quickly and clearly even for routine calls - and especially in emergency calls. The Big Red Distress Button for sending out a digital distress call is great, but you're often sending a voice Mayday in addition to/instead of a digital call. Interest to declare: I teach and test for the ROC (M).
Yes ROC-M is required in Canada! I’m not sure about the rules in other countries. The voice capability is nice to tell them what the emergency actually is!
@@SailingTipsCa So simply mashing the Big Red Distress Button for 3 to 5 seconds will send out a "generic" distress call with your position and MMSI number. But if you have time, DSC radios actually have a drop-down menu that will let you specify the nature of the problem on the digital distress (choose from: fire, flooding, collision, grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, abandoning, piracy or MOB). But, yes, still useful to know proper voice protocols to have nuanced and two-way communication in addition to the digital distress.
I’d be mostly concerned with the impact of salt water on the contacts in the lightning / USB C connector port. If you can quickly retrieve the phone and rinse in fresh water it might be okay…but if you don’t there could well be a corrosion problem…
To put a global perspective on this a handheld VHF will actually work anywhere on the planet whereas an Iphone will work almost nowhere in comparison. The world is a very big place. If you never travel more than 25 miles from the coast of a developed country then have fun with your cell phone.
My opinion both. If your going out to sea close to shore both, hiking in a quite area both, if your going out to see more then a couple miles you should have a longer radio vhf radio. Not to mention the more modern phones have satellite texting and sos
Yes both definitely covers all bases especially with some of the new technology in phones!
Good overall information, thanks
Glad you found it helpful!
If your sailor and go to sea. There is no comparison bring the Radio.... phone still works for navigation if you have downloaded maps but does nothing for communication if your 5 miles off shore. Great radio im buying one.
You’re absolutely right! My only complaint with the ICOM AIS handheld is that it uses more battery power than my ICOM non-AIS handheld.
@@SailingTipsCa I'm going to install the 12 volt charger. With this radio and I bought a Garmin Inreach to communicate with the wife when I'm out at sea I should be good to go. The AIS function was the main reason I was considering the M94D
@@SailingTipsCa I know I need to take the RYA VHF course. Do I need that license to receive a MMSI number and register it?
@@Jyock Good idea to install the 12 volt charger on your boat! Note that this radio only receives but does not transmit AIS - I’m not aware of any handheld that does. I’ve never needed my VHF certification to apply for an MMSI here in Canada but maybe other countries are different?
@@SailingTipsCa I'm buying it as a AIS receiver only. I live in Spain so there's rules for everything about boating. EU requires me to have a VHF license for my radio. Just didn't know if I could apply for a MMSI number before.
Thanks for all these "quick hit" videos. Like you, I carry both a cellphone and a VHF. Pro tip: in Canada (though not the US) it's actually a legal requirement for even recreational boaters to have their Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime) to operate a marine VHF. Taking the course for the ROC (M) will let you communicate more quickly and clearly even for routine calls - and especially in emergency calls. The Big Red Distress Button for sending out a digital distress call is great, but you're often sending a voice Mayday in addition to/instead of a digital call. Interest to declare: I teach and test for the ROC (M).
Yes ROC-M is required in Canada! I’m not sure about the rules in other countries. The voice capability is nice to tell them what the emergency actually is!
@@SailingTipsCa So simply mashing the Big Red Distress Button for 3 to 5 seconds will send out a "generic" distress call with your position and MMSI number. But if you have time, DSC radios actually have a drop-down menu that will let you specify the nature of the problem on the digital distress (choose from: fire, flooding, collision, grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, abandoning, piracy or MOB). But, yes, still useful to know proper voice protocols to have nuanced and two-way communication in addition to the digital distress.
Great video, glad I found your channel!
Glad you found the channel AND liked the video!!!
AIS stands for Automatic identification System, not Information System. Still nice they put this feature in a handheld VHF.
You’re right!
Nice video. Very informative.
Thanks so much Robert - glad you liked it!!!
Phones may be waterpoof, but that aren't waterproof from salt water.
I’d be mostly concerned with the impact of salt water on the contacts in the lightning / USB C connector port. If you can quickly retrieve the phone and rinse in fresh water it might be okay…but if you don’t there could well be a corrosion problem…
Garry can you still make a telephone call with vhf?
I've never actually tried it but there are some instructions here: boating.ncf.ca/vhfphone.html
@@SailingTipsCa radiotelephone used to use it a lot before cell and satellite.
Operator this is SV Unleaded
In many places you can. However, be ready to pay about $70 for a 3 minute phone call.
Your icom doesn’t have a camera! Also you don’t get to say, “Over,” with an iPhone.
LOL you’re right! I guess you could say “Over” on an iPhone but people might look at you kind of weird…
To put a global perspective on this a handheld VHF will actually work anywhere on the planet whereas an Iphone will work almost nowhere in comparison.
The world is a very big place. If you never travel more than 25 miles from the coast of a developed country then have fun with your cell phone.
Exactly!!!