Hand Held Icom

yoyo · 27 November 2005, 02:40

Hi Guys,
I’m presently on a business trip to the west coast of USA. The local down town chandlery has got the Icom M32 hand held radios on offer. These are working out at under £70 a pop.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...10001/542/64/3

Q: Is this a good price for a Icom M32?

Q: Has anybody used these M32 radios in the UK?

Q: will they work in the UK??

As usual all info gratefully accepted.

Thanks.

Sammo · 27 November 2005, 04:47

I've heard of the Icom M31! and they work fine in the UK!

Never actually heard of the M32!!

The person you need to speak to is Jon Brooks!!!

Pete7 · 27 November 2005, 07:53

Jon Brooks published dire warnings about radios from the States a while back. Something to do with type approval, different frequencies and not CE if I remember correctly. Not worth the risk, buy an echo sounder instead and smuggle that back without paying the duty.

Pete

Cookee · 27 November 2005, 07:54

I think you'll find that some of the channels are different and it isn't approved for use in the UK and hence you would be breaking the law. The models are different in the US and elsewhere - if you do a search for VHF or Jon Brooks's posts I think you'll find the same answer.

roycruse · 27 November 2005, 08:33

I think all the icoms switch between International (for use here) and USA mode - well at least my M31 & M421 do.

If you check here it would appear that this model has this option too. In fact it looks exactly the same as my M31

Cookee · 27 November 2005, 08:54

Just to clarify ................

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

It isn't approved for use in the UK and hence you would be breaking the law.

roycruse · 27 November 2005, 09:14

Cookee

This is an interesting subject.

Clearly all the ICOM units are built to be used globally (ie can be switched to use any chanel group depending on area used)

Does it simply boil down to then which units the importers for a region have had certified for use in that region.

If so the difference between a radio purchased in the states and one purchased in europe would simply be the sticker !!!

Bummer - you would be breaking the law for having the wrong sticker on your radio.

Could you not just peal off the sticker and be happy ???

ashbypower · 27 November 2005, 10:51

You must understand that although radios are built for all over the world as cookee say's YOU WILL BE BREAKING UK LAW. They are international foe world wide use however only if used on an American registered boat in UK waters. But Illegal if used on a UK resident craft.

Trust this is of help.

Brian

yoyo · 27 November 2005, 13:20

It seems a little harsh that if I were to use this type of radio in UK waters I would be breaking the law, especially considering that radios are very important pieces life saving kit!!

Pete7 · 27 November 2005, 16:06

Is that one of the reasons though that they are tested to ensure that they transmit on the right channels when it really matters.

Pete

roycruse · 27 November 2005, 16:17

But what we are talking about here with Icoms (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that they are identical units - i have searched high and low on the icoms websites of the uk / america / japan and I can find no evidence that there is any difference what so ever in these units as they are all interchangeable from international to us channel groups with a simple press and hold of a button on the front panel (in fact I have accidentally switched both of my Icoms to US channels several times)

hank · 27 November 2005, 16:29

the Icom 32A is $179 in Canada
we have a couple of Icom M1V handhelds great radios
I've had them submerged a few times and they still work fine
there are two different size batteries for them I like the larger
hank

yoyo · 27 November 2005, 16:44

Hi Pete 7
If it’s a case of flicking a switch to international channels it must work. I wouldn’t be too worried about using it in a real bad situation would you?

If Jon Brooks can supply one at under £70 I would buy one of him today! Come on Jon what do you say......

marknj · 27 November 2005, 21:33

Icom are good kit but forget any UK Waranty if you buy it in the US!

jwalker · 28 November 2005, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

... (in fact I have accidentally switched both of my Icoms to US channels several times)

Yeh, me too. Isn't that a fekkin pain?

Jelly · 28 November 2005, 08:41

Gents
From where I stand on this yes the hardware is rather similar, but the programming is different and the tests to be approved are also different.
There is also the support issue, this all costs.

The test for compliance are rather steep and expensive here and the specifications on the frequencies are also different.
I will admit that most of the VHF frequencies are common world wide but the uses vary. There is also the issue of frequency modulation and tolarences. I could power up an old spark HF set and be heard on it, but it would radiate over the whole band - hence why they are not used except in dire times.

As for the hardware well look at it like a PC, yes you can buy the bits and build one yourself and write the code - in that case my I recomend the RSGB foundation course http://www.rsgb.org.uk
You could buy the same box in varous places in the world but the software options are different.
As for service support sorry you get what you pay for.
If you look at all the players models you will notice a difference between UK/ EU and other markets.

I'm not an Icom employee before you ask, once did some work with them for PMR when I working in that industry.
Jelly

yoyo · 28 November 2005, 12:34

It would seem that I have opened up a right can of worms with this thread!!!:-))

Richard B · 28 November 2005, 12:38

Not half the can of worms you would have opened up if it was a (US-imported) DSC set you were considering!

yoyo · 28 November 2005, 13:12

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the great debate concerning this topic.

After reading with great interest all the posts, on balance I have decided to wait until I get back to the UK to make my Icom purchase.

I do not wish to operate a radio illegally in British waters no mater how much the saving maybe here in the USofA.

Thanks once again.

Jon Brooks · 29 November 2005, 08:12

Sorry Guy's I have been away.

Just to clarify the points.

We and other make our kit to meets different needs.
The US type approval route is much easier than that in the EU.
They do not have to worry about CE marking as we do here.

The M31 and M32 look very simular but internally are very different.
Also the channels are very different.
We don't use weather channels like that have in the US.
The US dont use M1 (37a) and M2 (P4) as we do here in the UK.

We are the only Icom company to offer 3 year warranty.
We do not support products brought in the US.

As Richard mentioned DSC is different again.
The US are only just starting to use Class D as we do here.
The mainly use Class F or SC101.
Both are a lower standard to Class D.

Ok the legal stuff.
You must, by law, use the radio euipment approved by your country of origin.
If you have a US set here in the UK and you are not from the US or have a US flag vessel you are can be in serious trouble.

You are in fact committing two offences.
First, having the euipment available for use.
Second, using it.

Both carry a fine of about £5000, confiscation of the radio and maybe your vessle.
You can also face 18 months inside!

Hope that helps a bit.

Regards