Icom Help

ian parkes · 16 March 2006, 19:35

Iam looking to buy a handheld VHF

On ebay there is new IM 32 looks just like the IM31

On the icom website the 32 doesn't exist

is it an ebay misprint or is the 32 an old model or something . ?

Solent Ranger · 16 March 2006, 19:43

IM 32 is a US model. No doubt Jon Brookes will pop in and clarify. But I suspect that it is not CE approved.

ian parkes · 16 March 2006, 20:27

hence the reason its £99 on ebay thanks for that

Jon Brooks · 17 March 2006, 07:59

As if by magic the Icom man appears

Hi Ian

The M32 is indeed the US version.
Channels will be missing.
Only 1 year US warranty.
We will not repair or service here in the UK
If you buy a UK M31 you get 3 year warranty.

No CE marking, no UK/EU approval thus for not legal to own or use.

£5K fine confiscation of radio and vessel, 18 months inside at Her Majesty's Pleasure!

Hope that helps.

Regards

ian parkes · 18 March 2006, 16:56

Thanks Jon
I gave that 32 a miss .

Think I just had a bargain .

New icm31 for £87.

Ok don't get too exited it comes minus the Li Ion battery pack and charger . Instead it has the AA batery pack.
Just what I wanted , with nowhere to charge while at sea and the fact that I intend camping from the boat I can just carry a dozen AA bateries and use rechargables If I want .

radio was reduced from £109

Iam confused about one thing which I can't find in the manual .
On top of the radio between the arial mount and on/off switch is a metal pad called the top plate in the description . In the box there is a little self adhesive plastic thingy the manual refers as top plate cover .

Whats this for ??, do I stick on the cover ???

Also after unwrapping the radio for the first time there was a tiny red o ring lying on the table , did it fall out of the radio somewhere ? it seems to fit on the ariel thread so all i can presume is that it was on the ariel screw and serves to prevent the ariel unscrewing easily when in use. ??

Jon Brooks · 20 March 2006, 09:37

Ok the top plate is a water tight seal.
This gives engineers access to the radio for programming of private channels and service work.
DO NOT REMOVE or the unit will let water in.

The red "o" ring is off of the antenna.
Near the top you well see a grove where it fits.
No vital.

Hope that helps

Regards

benc · 20 March 2006, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

Think I just had a bargain .

New icm31 for £87.

Care to share where you got it from? was it another ebay purchase?

Thanks

Ben

Scotty · 21 March 2006, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

We will not repair or service here in the UK
If you buy a UK M31 you get 3 year warranty.

No CE marking, no UK/EU approval thus for not legal to own or use.

£5K fine confiscation of radio and vessel, 18 months inside at Her Majesty's Pleasure!

Leaving out the channel differences... why would icom uk not repair a US radio if the customer is willing to pay ? This is a little like bmw Ireland (owned by bmw UK) being pissed off as I saved €6000 on a R1200rt by buying in Germany

. A service manager said he would not be able to work on imports...... untill I pointed out that all the bikes were imports

I wonder how many boats were impounded last year and how many fines of £5k were collected ?

Jon Brooks · 21 March 2006, 08:48

Unlike the BMW or the bike it is not legal to use a US approved set anywhere the EU unless on a US vessel.

As such we would be seen to be helping you to break the law.
That is something we will not do.

Icom does not offer a world wide warranty and our warranty is a back to base warranty so if you have a US radio it has to go back to the US.

Hope that helps to clear it a tad for you.

Regards

David Hickman · 21 March 2006, 18:49

Just to confirm, ICOM warranty and backup is 100% superb.
I have had 2 problems with the 601 mike and both times within 48hrs the problem was fixed.

Whatever the man from "Del Monte" says... I mean ICOM says....trust him.

Dave

ian parkes · 21 March 2006, 22:11

I got the radion from Yatchparts at Queen Annes Battery Marina Plymouth .
www.yatchparts.co.uk
01752 252489

They had 3 on the shelf I think really helpful people . Lots of other offers on electrical stuff .
They asked if I was a member of RYA etc and offered a discount on the other stuff I bought . I said I wasn't and still got some discount without even asking.

I think my question about the top cover was badly worded . There is a little plastic self adhesive thing in the box with the radio . The book describes it as a top plate cover , and was wondering if iam supposed to peel off the backing and stick it over the top plate , also why . Iam guessing that its to insulate the top plate if thats used for engineers to change settings ??

Jon Brooks · 22 March 2006, 05:55

Ian

The one in the box is a spare.
Its there if needed by an engineer.

Regards

Scotty · 22 March 2006, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

Unlike the BMW or the bike it is not legal to use a US approved set anywhere the EU unless on a US vessel.

As such we would be seen to be helping you to break the law.
That is something we will not do.

Icom does not offer a world wide warranty and our warranty is a back to base warranty so if you have a US radio it has to go back to the US.

Hope that helps to clear it a tad for you.

Regards

Fair enough. Thats sorted in my mind...... The Irish hate compliance though and thats why a fair number have US radios etc

Jon Brooks · 22 March 2006, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty

Fair enough. Thats sorted in my mind...... The Irish hate compliance though and thats why a fair number have US radios etc

Intersting you say that but the Dept of Radio in Ireland (equiv of OFCOM here) are hotter on "grey" imports, they even issued a notice to mariners regarding this very issue.

Regards

roycruse · 22 March 2006, 10:54

On the subject of the ICOM IC-M31.

I have the lithium ion version (i use it purely as a backup radio so it has never been used other than for a radio check)

I bought the lithium ion version for the main reason that lithium ion cells have a very low self discharge rate and if left fully charged should last months before needing a top up.

Anyway - yesterday I get my ICOM IC-M31 out for a top up charge - as it had been 2 months since I put it in the emergency dry bag with the flares etc. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.

I am now wondering how long it was dead for - and am thanking my lucky stars I did not need it.

Do I have a fault with my radio and/or battery or is this normal for this radio. If so it is useless as a backup and I too now wish I had saved some money and bought the AA battery version. I could have just kept a pack of duracells in the boat for that one day when I will need the bloody thing.

Jon Brooks · 22 March 2006, 11:01

The M31 has a battery discharge system built into it.
It was there for people using Ni-cad batteries.
It is so the radio was dead prior to re-charging so as not to build up the memory effect caused by partial discharge.

To stop this happening you should remove the battery from the radio.
The battery will then hold its charge for at least 6 months.

There is a sheet advising of this in the box with every radio.

Regards

roycruse · 22 March 2006, 11:12

Thanks for the quick reply John - Not what I wanted to hear though - damn it...

Which Icom has lithium battery and was designed for lithiums so I can leave it in its assembled (and therefore waterproof) state and not worry about it going flat on me?

Anyone want to buy an IC-M31 with lithium-ion battery and charger

Superb radio if you use it regularly - but not recommended if you want to leave it on your boat for a couple of months and expect it to work when you get back.

Used once - As new - £120

roycruse · 22 March 2006, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

There is a sheet advising of this in the box with every radio.

Its a shame its not ICOM policy to advise you of this before you part with your cash.

I love hidden surprises

Ian - better watch out for your AA batteries they will probably get flattened by this radio also - what a ridiculous feature

roycruse · 22 March 2006, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

There is a sheet advising of this in the box with every radio.

Ive just dug the box out of the loft for my M31 - I'm afraid there is no sheet explaining that the unit is going to drain my battery at all.

I have the main manual, a separate sheet for the charger, the warranty card and 2 yellow post it note sized pieces of paper one warning me not to wash it in water if i suspect the seals are broken and another telling what accessories are in the box.

DGR · 22 March 2006, 12:16

Roy,

I haven't touched my M1EuroV since last September - I just turned it on - still fully charged!! I'll leave it on for a bit to see if it stays that way - or just falls over...

D...