Icom m402 vs M411-same size? Or any alternatives?

[Nos4r2]

Does anyone happen to know if the M402 and the M411/M421 are the same hole cutout?

Or... Is there another VHF that's the same or slightly larger cutout that anyone would recommend?

[whisper]

Hi mate,

No I don't think so, the M411 & M421 are both 149 x 61.6 cut out and the M402 is 139 x 53.

To find out for sure search for the icom user manuals as they have the template on the last page.

Hope that helps

[Nos4r2]

Thanks mate.
At least it's not a problem making a bigger hole-making one shrink is a bit harder...

[willk]

NOS, would you be tempted to be adventurous and go for a Radio Ocean RO4800? Their dimensions are 147x161x71 and they have built in AIS reception/display.

For less than £200...

They are marketed by Furuno in France but I've not been able to get any reviews of them. I think they might be a rebadged Navico. You could be the guineapig

[Nos4r2]

Very tempting. It's not particularly aesthetically pleasing though.
It'd certainly save the hassle of an extra ariel and wiring.

I have to say,I'm rather taken with the look of the Standard Horizon STD-GX2100. Anyone know if they are going to be imported into the UK?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's not particularly aesthetically pleasing though.

Zees ees veree true, mon ami. Per'aps zey make zem wees zee old Renault dashboards, non?

[Nos4r2]

The design is definitely Renault 4 van...

Thinking about it I'm not really sure there's much of an advantage to having the AIS display on the set though-if you're going to hook it up to your plotter it'll make the set display look like a game of Pong

[willk]

I think it toggles on/off. I presume the thing feeds the AIS signal out? It's a bit like the speed, position and bearing that so many DSC radios display - fairly redundant on a well appointed rib console, but nice if that's all you have....

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by willk

but nice if that's all you have....

If it's all you have you might as well not buy it though.
It's pointless if you haven't got a GPS for it to talk to- it doesn't have any way of fixing its own position so the AIS is pointless without the plotter.

[Chris]

Having had the Icom I prefer the Standard Horizon GX1500.

You get a surface mount kit FOC (£20 for the icom) and it has a nice chunky dial for selecting the channel as opposed to buttons ont he icom which I found much better to use.Especially with gloves on.

[Nos4r2]

Well, I've found a UK outlet for the SH GX2100 with inbuilt AIS reciever at £300... Now, do I go for that or stick £100 back in my pocket and get the Radio Ocean...?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Now, do I go for that or stick £100 back in my pocket and get the Radio Ocean...?

Ahem! cough *finder's fee* cough