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I have to get a VHF radio and was thinking of this one - GX1000s
Your opinions will be greatly appreciated. :)

It is available at Bass Pro Shop

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Roger,

I used the step up from that radio which was the quest series. Very clean transmitting capabilities but the speaker was horrible. You either had to lean in close towards the radio to hear it or come off plane. The screen needed to be bigger as well.

My father has an icom IC-M504 and I love it. Large display screen and the speaker has amazing sound quality and is LOUD. You have no problem hearing it no matter what the surrounding decible rate is.
[img]http://www.icomamerica.com/images/products/large/M504_1.jpg[/img]
Prices

The radio works out great on his Guardian because he created a Stainless Flush mount panel but on a standard console I would just mount the radio on the top of the console.

Besure whatever you get is DSC and can be linked to a GPS.

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You don't say what your GPS is, but the Standard Horizon only understands NMEA 183 so you need to confirm what your GPS puts out.

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Wow, I'm glad I checked in here before ordering. My GPS is the Garmin 178c.
I didn't realize it should connect to the GPS.
Last time I was stuck, I called Sea Tow with my cell and was lucky enough to figure out how to get my coordinates from my gps. :o
Looks like I have more research to do.

Thanks guys!

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While you are shopping consider one of the "phantom" models.

What you see in this photo is everything "above deck". The main body of the radio is inside the console.

Outrage VHF

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I was planning to buy a PS1000, but I didn't see it on the Standard Horizons site so I assumed it was discontinued.

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I have heard the PS1000 suffers the same volume issues as the quest.

Also Roger your VHF and GPS do not need to be the same brand just be compatible with eachother. You will need this for making DCS calls and the all important MAYDAY call. The MAYDAY button will transmit a GPS location to the USCG along with a mayday call with the push of a button so long as it is connected to the GPS.

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After reading this post, I went to look up the PS1000 price and see they have discontinued the 1000 and 2000 models. I see that they now offer a command mic for their new units. I liked the black box feature. Hmm...interesting.

Jeff - Are you saying the volume of the speaker on the remote mic is less than adequate?

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Looks like you are right. What a bummer, I really like them.

A quick check of the internet found a few still out there for sale.

PS 2000

If I was doing it again today I would probally still mount the mic the same way. I like the speaker and display at eye level.

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Phil,

Yes, overall volume and the voice clarity were lost at high volume settings. I never heard it in person while under way.

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I also have the PS2000 on my Montauk. I think the volume and sound quality is no better or worse than any other VHF I have had on my boats. The best part is the plug in mike, the rest hides away in the console

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From a connection standpoint you should be fine. Your Garmin transmits NMEA 3.0 and the radio understands NMEA 2.0 or higher. It's not hard to wire them together, just remember your old stereo, the in on one component has to go the out of another component. I usually connect them by adding a connector to the wires, rather than physically twisting them together. That way, I can unplug and remove the electronics for the winter.

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Thanks for all of the replys.
Does anyone know of a fixed mount marine radio that has a better speaker and that would work well with a Garmin 178c?

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add an external speaker. I could never hear the VHF in the t-top so I purchased an external speaker. Even though my VHF is noe mounted on top the console I added the external speaker, zip-tied to the console rail. Works great, and is really loud even at speed.

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The Standard Horizon GX1000S is only $99 and it comes with a microphone.
I have a feeling that since I plan to install it in the console, I would have a problem hearing it no matter which one I use. So, I'm thinking that maybe I could buy the external speaker to go along with it and it would work well for a resonable price.

This is a safety item so I don't have a problem paying more if I will be a lot safer using a better one.

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I added a 4" square external speaker (10$) to my Navman VHF so I could hear traffic. While it will help while docked or idle, in an open boat going 30+, the wind noise drowns everything out anyway.