The Cobra F75 has some unique features not found in other marine VHF radios we’ve tested. It couples a display sized for a more expensive radio with a speaker in the microphone handset instead of in the main radio case where it would normally be located.
The F75 has two scan modes, memory scan and Tri-Watch. Tri-Watch monitors channel 16 and channel 9 and whatever channel you were on when you pressed the Tri W key to initiate the scan.
Cobra MR F75-D
The radio will also scan all memory channels in order by pressing the M Scan button. At least three channels must be entered into memory for the memory scan mode to function.
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The Cobra F75 has basic hailer, called Public Address in the manual, it provides voice and radio reception over a public address horn.
The system is operated by going into the set menu and turning the PA on. This will transition the unit to PA mode and annunciate PA onscreen in place of a channel number.
Use the microphone normally and your voice will come out over a connected hailer horn. When the microphone is not being used received incoming radio traffic will come out over the hailer horn.
Performance
Performance of the F75 transceiver earned an excellent rating for frequency stability but only a fair rating for transmitter power stability. The output varied somewhat during a number of transmitter tests. Receiver sensitivity was rated good while selectivity carries a specification of 60 dB. Audio output was average at 87 dBA in our audio output testing.
The F75 has a large screen for a radio in this price range, it measures 2.2 inches long and 1.5 inches high. Channel numbers display in large block-style numbers on the right side with the Cobra Marine logo below.
Messages onscreen indicate the channel group selected, transmitter power setting, when the radio is transmitting. There are no channel comments displayed but designated alpha channels are listed. When connected to a GPS unit the radio will display date, time, and position onscreen. We rated the display screen good.
Operation
The F75 provides for one-button operation of a number of features including: a DSC distress call, quick selecting channel 16 or 9, memory scan mode on or off, transmitter power to high or low, setting channel group, using Tri-Watch scan, and opening the menu page.
Channel selection is made with up/down arrow buttons located on the radio front panel and microphone. The microp