VHF IC-M502 Radio US spec

[J C Hughes]

I have just been brought back from the States an Icon-M502 VHF Radio with built in DSC unlike the British version which has two units, is this set excepted in the UK,

[Richard B]

Is it CE marked,and does it have a certificate of conformity (usually in the manual).

If not, then not strictly allowed for use (legally).

Does it have international channel selection? If not, you're really done for. If it does, then you're OK. Probably.

[J C Hughes]

Not sure about the CE mark but it does have International Band.

[Bilge Rat]

This may seem like a stupid question and please forgive my ignorance but what happens if your say an American and your boat/ship is registered in the US and your boat is fitted out to US spec and one sunny afternoon you decide your going to take a trip over the pond to visit your cousin in the UK, so you do and you get to lands end, would your radio work ? or are you required to carry a second system to use in European waters or can you just flick a switch and hey presto the things transmitting on a different frequecy and your talking to cousin bert in the Uk ? if the answer is the later then whats stopping us buying VHF sets in the US and fitting them over here but instead of flicking the switch we just leave it permanently on european frequency ? surely the tankers, cargo and cruise liners and god only knows what else that travels the seas cant be violating any silly maratime law using equipment speced for the US market in international waters ?

Maybe i'm just not getting all this stuff !!!

Richard

[Richard B]

Originally posted by Bilge Rat
just flick a switch

Exactly! - usually labelled u/i/c (US/International/Canada)

Originally posted by Bilge Rat
whats stopping us buying VHF sets in the US

Nothing, except CE marking and certificate of conformity. And import duty, VAT, and weak pound against the dolar. And a long way to go for a warranty claim. Not worth the hassle nowadays.

[J C Hughes]

So silly me am out in the north sea and I end up on a big rock tide going out, I press the DSC button dose it work!! or do I wait for the US coastguard to arrive!!

[Richard B]

I reckon so - it's an ITU (International Telecommunications Union) standard, isn't it? Gingercoastie should know...


"The DSC radio feature is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This system was put in place by international treaty in 1988 and all seagoing nations including the US will be GMDSS compliant by 2005-6."

[Shaun]

HI,
I have a standard horizon intrepid plus, it is from the states and it works fine. All I had to do was to get a mmsi (maritime mobile service identity) number.You can register at WWW.radio.gov.uk hope this helps.

[David Hickman]

I have a feeling that this unit is not "Type Approved".