The best marine VHF two-way radios for 2018 meet the latest SOLAS regulations for fire teams on ships. They are durable, reliable and offer extended battery life—because your radio shouldn’t go off the clock before you do.
Highland Wireless offers everything you need for superior ship communications thanks to our Marine Communication Consulting Division. It all starts with a consultation, in which we present you with all your options to meet your needs and budget. From there, we offer design, delivery, and installation for a seamless and stress-free process. Plus, we provide optimization, training, and ongoing maintenance.
As an authorized dealer for Motorola and Kenwood two-way radios, we have a wide variety of selection. We are more than happy to consult with you to help you find the best option for your next mission. Plus, we offer radio systems for rent and sale to accommodate a range of needs and applications.
What to Look for in a Reliable Marine VHF Radio
- Meets the latest SOLAS regulations – These new regulations offer a much-needed safety upgrade, and include the need for two two-way radios on board at all times. Furthermore, both radios must be explosion proof and intrinsically safe.
- Durable exterior—water and dustproof
- Advanced capabilities like GPS and Bluetooth
- Long lasting battery life
- Lightweight and sleek model that doesn’t get in the way
- Full color screen (personal preference)
Best Motorola Marine VHF Two-Way Radios
Motorola is leading the way with the industry’s largest third party application developer program, MOTOTRBO. This application is built to globally recognized ETSI DMR Tier 2 standard. It is offered in UHF and VHF frequency bands.
Motorola radios vary in features, from high-tech to simple. Not all Motorola radios are ideal for Marine environments. For instance, the Motorola SL-7550 UHF MOTOTRBO is designed for hospitality, service, and airport industries. It is sleek and modern in design and functionality. Without doubt, it’s a great radio, but there might be a better option for marine VHF applications.
Such as the Motorola XPR-7550, which has a full color LCD display and is compatible with the latest digital radio systems. This radio is Submersible (IP57), and intrinsically safe, thus making it ideal for marine applications and wherever the latest SOLAS regulations apply. In addition, it offers GPS, Bluetooth, and is engineered using a rigid design. The IMPRES battery technology offers unmatched performance and long lasting battery power.
Check out more Motorola Two-Way Radios
Best Kenwood Marine VHF Two-Way Radios
Kenwood is another leading producer of durable future-forward radios. Of their line of radios, the NX-5300 is one of the best options for Marine VHF applications. This radio is considered the brand’s new flagship radio. It offers the features of P25 public service radios, as well as an industry grade UHF radio. Thus, it provides the best of both worlds. Its durability is met with advanced features like Bluetooth, GPS, and SD card slot.
The Kenwood NX-320 UHF NexEdge Radio offers the same durability and specifications as the NX-5300, although it is more compact in size. There are two options: one comes with a screen and the other does not.