Icom comparison

What do folk think about the 421 and the 601? Is the 601 worth the extra money and space required?
I have finally gave up on the Silvas and am going to spend the extra on the Icom but what I want is reliability, any thoughts on these two?
Are they both generally available, I need one by the end of next week.

you maybe plesantly supprised with what you find

What show?
I have another query if anybody can answer it. Is is possible to have a commandmic fitted to the front instead of the standard? On the net is says no but then also mentions mods to place the standard mic round the back.
A command mic would be better for where my radion is sited, it isn't too easy to see the display but there was no room to put it anywhere else.

RIVA is referring Southampton Boat Show which starts this weekend and finishes next Sunday.

This sounds like another request for Superradioman (Jon Brooks). If I were you I would either wait for him to see this (he has a look most days :D ) or PM him.

HTH :hi:

Hum, live in Oban pop down to Southampton to by a radio!
I think not!
Do people bother to look at where people live?
Nick

I thought that too, Nick! :rolleyes:

Rupert Bear - many of the dealers will have special offers on for the boat show and will often honour these for internet/mail order. Worth a try! :hi:

no does not intrest me were people live , and i bet all the people traveling from europe dont bother were the show is thats why planes were invented :hi:

The best deal I have seen so far is for the 601 with command mic, loudhailer speaker and aerial for £549, anything better out there?

ok, in the strongest terms i think you may be plesantly supprised by what you find at the show , keep your money in your pocket untill you see whats there :D perhaps this may help you hold off :cool: only trying to help if you want to blow money then fill your boots

The show is a non starter for me, Oban is far too far away, even getting to the nearest airport is still a 200 round trip so I can't see any possibility of saving enough to make it worth while unless they gave me it for nothing!
Plus I don't really have the time to wait for too long, I need a radio that works soon.
Just back from Cape wrath last night and was on the west side of Coll a couple of weeks ago, working radios are a must out here, not an option.

whish i did £200 per h

??

The best deal I have seen so far is for the 601 with command mic, loudhailer speaker and aerial for £559, anything better out there?

ICOM 601 £539 inc vat and delivery
ICOM 421 £239 inc vat and delivery

http://www.jgtech.co.uk/shop3.htm

I have nothing to do with jgtech but have used them once before and was extremely pleased with the price and service.

HTH

Cheers

Phil

Edit: not sure if the 601 price includes command mic, loudhailer speaker and aerial - but worth a phone call ?

if you have got the space go for the 601. excellent radio, very clear speaker.

Details of 421 on web site now
http://www.icomuk.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.cgi?location=000002000001&showitem=000001

What show?
I have another query if anybody can answer it. Is is possible to have a commandmic fitted to the front instead of the standard? On the net is says no but then also mentions mods to place the standard mic round the back.
A command mic would be better for where my radion is sited, it isn't too easy to see the display but there was no room to put it anywhere else. You cant fit it to the front panel but the c/mic comes with a long lead with a panel mounted skt on the end, this can be fitted anywhere the other end plugs into the back of the radio.........great radio, put a speaker on it and you have a tannoy and foghorn too.

Special boat show deal on seamark nunn website for 601 incl command mic/speaker and aerial for £549 - wish I had the cash :sick:

Any advantage to getting them seperate or combined? ie 601 DSC VHF or 503VHF plus 100DSC

you dont get the fog horn on the 503.

I have decided to buy the 503 with no DSC and buy an epirb instead. Later on I'll fit the DSC unit probably.

What do folk think about the 421 and the 601? Is the 601 worth the extra money and space required?
I have finally gave up on the Silvas and am going to spend the extra on the Icom but what I want is reliability, any thoughts on these two?
Are they both generally available, I need one by the end of next week.

Sorry i have not answered sooner was away yesterday.
Took my dad to the home of English football for his birthday.
He is a life long gooner and had not been to Hibury since before I was born!

Ah well enough of all that.

There are a few diffs between the two units.

The M601 is much larger and has a bigger display and much larger knobbs etc.
Makes it very easy to use and see at high speed IMHO.
It also has built in the loud hailer and fog horn feature.
In addition you can add the dual station Command mic.
The fist mic is also a speaker and the audio comes out of there in conjuction with the front speaker.

You can't fit the Command mic to the main mic socket.
You can mount the standard mic to the rear of the M601 (mod required).
This makes it very flush mounted!

If you were going for an M503 surly the 421 would be the better option as it has DSC?

All units are fully waterproof and come with 3 year warranty (as long as you fill in the card and return it.

Hope that all helps.
If you have any further question please do not hesitate to contact me

Regards

Sorry i have not answered sooner was away yesterday.
Took my dad to the home of English football for his birthday.


Regards


I hope you both enjoyed yourself at the Millenium Stadium

I hope you both enjoyed yourself at the Millenium Stadium

yes we had a great time at Highbury :D

Jon
Can this unit be interfaced with a Raymarine Plotter to give lat and long in the event of using the DSC facility?

Jon
Can this unit be interfaced with a Raymarine Plotter to give lat and long in the event of using the DSC facility?

Our Kit will interface with most GPS/Plotters inc Raymarine
This includes the new IC-M421

Regards

How robust is the 421? I have been through two Silvas in 10 months. :@

How robust is the 421? I have been through two Silvas in 10 months. :@

I can't give you facts and figures on that as its brand new.
I am sure it will be built to our normal standard.
We don't build fisher price toys!
Come and see it at the show and see what you think

Regards

I am in Oban, the show is just a tad far away :D
I haven't had many problems with any of my Electronics failing despite the hard use they get apart from the VHF, which in normal use is not used at all!
I will order the 421 and see how I get on, since I know a very nice man at Icom who will sort it if it goes wrong ;)

Mine arrived yesterday, very very nice normall Icom build - should last as long as the boat.

? Jon, can the speaker mic be fitted to the 421?
Thanks,
Mark.

Mine arrived yesterday, very very nice normall Icom build - should last as long as the boat.

How may years do you reckon you have left in your boat?

so i take it that although it is being launched at the boatshow it is available now. if it is im going to buy one tomorrow.

Try this link

http://www.bluev.co.uk/Icom_m421_vhf.htm


Chris

I can't give you facts and figures on that as its brand new.
I am sure it will be built to our normal standard.
We don't build fisher price toys!
Come and see it at the show and see what you think

Regards

Well I sell fisher price toys to most UK stores and our return rate is low as the Uk main distrubutor I must ask what are you saying !!! Are you refering to you do not build to as good a quality or simply implying its a stanard you hope to reach one day !!!! ( only joking Jon )

However on the 601 John as you are aware we are fitting them to many of our parker Ribs and I can say they are pretty good sets , easy to use and appear reliable. My own personal one has taken a pounding and has never failed. The only problem I have had as you know was removing the fist mike from the craft left the pins exposed and water could sit around the pins , however now rectified now you supplied a cap for me !May be worth a note not to remove and leave exposed to the elements without replacing with a cover ( although this would be common sense ) :D

A bloody good set and would recomend to anybody ( shame about price tag though ) :D :D

How may years do you reckon you have left in your boat?
Longer than me, and I'm only 33! :p

Dear Jon Brooks,

Many thanks for sorting our radio issue.

Very kind and helpful. Appreciate it very much.

Us :D

Dear Jon Brooks,

Many thanks for sorting our radio issue.

Very kind and helpful. Appreciate it very much.

Us :D

No worries, glad to have been of service.
Anyone recomend a good cure for being boatshowed out? :zz:

No worries, glad to have been of service.
Anyone recomend a good cure for being boatshowed out? :zz:

Jon Great to meet you on Sunday. In answer to the above, there is only one answer:-

GO RIBBIN :D

Best Regards

Brian :hi: