Over the past few years, the people over at Humminbird have released quite a large number of products, including here several radio-based communication systems. And this is exactly the type of product we'll talk about as follows, namely the VHF55s Plus, a portable, waterproof radio which is a very easy to use and portable device, available at a fairly small price tag.



The number of compatible channels is a very important feature in the case of any such radio, and the VHF55s Plus works with most of the radio communication channels out there, whether we're talking about US, International or Canadian ones. Furthermore, it can even be used for receiving the broadcasts transmitted on the 10 channels with NOAA weather alerts, thus keeping the sailors informed at all times, regarding any incoming bad weather.



Moreover, the Humminbird VHF55s Plus also sports a built-in radio communicator, which works on the 156.025 - 157.425 mHz (transmission) and 156.050 - 163.275 mHz (receiving), and even allows the users to choose between the two available power output settings (1W or 5 W).



Additionally, the VHF55s Plus also has a waterproof design, which means that it can resist water to a depth of down to 1 meter for around 30 minutes (a feature that could prove to be somewhat useful should the boat capsize, but not sink). The device won't even occupy too much space around the cabin, as it measures just around 2.5 x 6.25 x 1.5 inches.



The communication system from Humminbird can be found at several retailers for an estimated 100 US dollars, which is actually quite an acceptable price point, given the fact that this device is also accompanied by several very useful and interesting accessories, as for example a NiMH battery, charger with AC/DC adapters, and alkaline battery compartment for back-up power.