Hand held VHF

[Richard B]

Earlier this year I couldn't decide between the Icom M21 and the Garmin 725. So I downloaded the manuals for both from the web. The Icom manual warned that the user should be careful with the waterproof battery seal, whereas the Garmin manual emphasised the toughness of the unit. So I bought the Garmin, and a waterproof bag which has a nice strong lanyard. Add a cork to reduce the stress on the clamp/seal and maintain the air volume in the bag and it floats too...

Don't just take my word for it, look at this:

[Keith Hart]

And I thought MY SIB was small!!

Keith (Opps, I suppose that is the kitchen [galley] in your RIB) Hart

[batfalcon]

I see you started using the 2003 model

[Flanker]

Pepper

I have the Garmin 725, it is a great radio and submersable to 1mtr, we got it at the Chandlers in Brighton Marina, Russell Simpson marine or something I think, it came with 2 batteries a free Nicad battery and an extended life Li ion battery, what is good though it comes with an insert that takes normal AA batteries and can be used if you can't recharge the other two batteries, it is the same size as the battery and when inserted you would not know the difference. The cost was £220.

The icom was too small and fiddly, this is a neat size with good screen, if you are in the water you can operate it with one hand using the buttons, no knobs to turn. The other good thing is that the recharging lead / cigarette lighter cord is the same as our other Garmin stuff.

Pete

[Scubakid]

I have just bought a Icom M15e does anyone have any views on this VHF

John

[Brian]

John
Is this the same as mine?
Mine says IC-M1EURO V on the front.
If so, mine was bought on the recommendation of Hugo and after a good writeup in RI mag.
I have always been very happy with it.
It works fine-
Have had it for 18 months and although it is only a backup and I don't transmit on it very much, I have only (last week) had to put it's second battery charge in. Pretty impressive huh?
It's been through the wars, nearly always kept in my drysuit top pocket and never failed in any shape or form.
Waterproof, has dual and tri-watch and is easy to use. What else can I say?

[Jelly]

Hi John
IC-M15e are great though tie a lanyard on it mine slipped off my belt whilst tying up in the marina
Luckally found a friendly bubbley who recovered it for me 3m for 30minutes and still works 6 years later.
IC-M1v also good, icom do a protective case like a mobile phone pouch, coastguard have them, if you want pt.no. email me.
Hint for both wash the salt off them - in the manual
Also put a dob of silcome grease under the knobs on the M15 and between the spindals on the M1v stops the salt build up sticking the two together.
On those two if you want to hook up to an external antenna its an SMA connector.
Rgds
James

[Scubakid]

Thanks gents

Brian

No I have the IC M-15e which I think is different

James

What do you think of the manual it says you can program channels in but I cannot see how and the "calling" channel comes up as 37A but this does not seem to be listed in the manual or on the normal channel selector

Thanks for any info

John

[Jelly]

Hi John
Calling channel is set to 37a (M1) as the normal default, after pressing memo p4 is M2
Extra private frequencies that are in the marine band can be added through the frount pannel using a combination of buttons pressed ( Don't try to discover the combination as the first combination people normally find is the total reset )
Other freqs in the marine range can be added using a programmer (which is great fun -NOT)
Legal speaking in UK any non public freqs you need a licence (from RA) for and you often need to produce this licence when you take the unit to a dealer for them to program.
Drop me an private email if you want to discuss this further.
Rgds
Jelly

[Tiger]

If you are buying a standard, make sure it is fully programable to any channel you want. My one has two row of buttons on the front, the single roe of buttons version is not programmable in the same way im told.

My points about the Navico is that the axis I used are large, questionable battery over time, speak and mic were poor compared to Icom or standard.

I found hard to use at night as many small buttons on the front at odd angles and no light.

What i cannot argue with is that they are very tough and waterproof.

Depending on how you intend to use it, consider a float!