Fixed VHF set, which?

will_m · 05 July 2006, 13:43

Need a new VHF....

Raymarine RAY54E or Icom 421?

Reason for asking, is the pot has about £200 in it and not having purchased any sort of VHF for a good few years now, I find myself well out of touch and dam right bloody confused!

Whats the experiences and thoughts of you good folk?

Thanks.

jlanng · 05 July 2006, 15:10

Very happy with my 421

MeMe · 05 July 2006, 15:12

..my 401, however, I'm awaiting Jon Brooks to reply to my post and email regarding the same so, I'll withhold final comment until he does !

Hugh Jardon · 05 July 2006, 15:40

have an icom 421 and a m1v handheld, very happy with both as lots of folks rate them, and they have worked very well so far never looked at the raymarine so can not comment

will_m · 05 July 2006, 16:33

Ta for the comments...

Have hit the old search function here and the 421 appears to have received good press, so much so that I think thats what i'll go and get.

pop · 05 July 2006, 16:34

all the new icom are good, make sure you get DSC if you are getting new you might as well.

I have a older icom one that works well i just needed to change it for the MCA to DSC if anyone wants to throw 20 quid my way ill post it to you. i have a stainless surrounding for it so looks good fitted

codprawn · 05 July 2006, 16:43

Raymarine is great - usually comes out neck and neck in all the tests with the Icom - Raymarine may be a little easier to use.

Whatever you do don't buy from Cactus or MES in Bristol - they use grey imports as I have found out - they are very quick to take money off you but that is all they seem to be interested in!!!

rbw156 · 05 July 2006, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Whatever you do don't buy from Cactus or MES in Bristol - they use grey imports as I have found out - they are very quick to take money off you but that is all they seem to be interested in!!!

I can't comment on these two suppliers, but when I purchased my Icom 421 I phoned Icom to verify that the serial number was from a UK sourced set. They were very helpful and confirmed that it was.

matt h · 05 July 2006, 19:46

421 all the way, look good,simple to use and operate, £200 is a good price for one,

will_m · 07 July 2006, 09:56

Well brought the ICM421 VHF set yesterday, will bung it on the RIB at the weekend.

Got it for a fraction less than £200, yes its a UK sourced set. All be it the Marine Super Store at Portsolent dont answer emails!!!! They are able to do good deals, so well worth a shop.

Am replacing one of these the Shipmate VHF which all works ok, just has an infrequent fault that means it turns itself off every once in a while. To be fair may be wiring, I dont know.

Anyways, anybody interested in it?

mark-f · 07 July 2006, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Raymarine is great - usually comes out neck and neck in all the tests with the Icom - Raymarine may be a little easier to use.

Whatever you do don't buy from Cactus or MES in Bristol - they use grey imports as I have found out - they are very quick to take money off you but that is all they seem to be interested in!!!

Prey tell more? I bought an E series off them at last years boat show. anything i should be worried about?

Mark

Jon Brooks · 07 July 2006, 10:26

Be worth a look at the new M505 too.
Bit more money than the M421 but has some great feature ideal for the rib/open boat market.

M421 SRP £249.95
M505 SRP £299.95.

Also our radio's are built by us in our own factories.
We never rebadge of have the radio's built for us!

3 year warranty and support second to none in the VHF world!!!

Best regards

CJR · 07 July 2006, 18:10

I'd suggest downloading the instruction manuals for each (manufacturers website) and checking out which you prefer in terms of method of operation. The ICOM has a one touch DSC distress system which some people seem to like and some don't.

codprawn · 08 July 2006, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark-f

Prey tell more? I bought an E series off them at last years boat show. anything i should be worried about?

Mark

Grey imports and can treat their customers very badly - me included - will spill the beans later on. don't worry though Raymarine themselves are great and I love their equipment.

Jimbo · 08 July 2006, 08:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by will_m

Am replacing one of these the Shipmate VHF which all works ok, just has an infrequent fault that means it turns itself off every once in a while. To be fair may be wiring, I dont know.

Did you ever have any issues with your shipmate on channel 80 calling marinas? I didn't on my set, but was out on a motor cruiser the other day where it appeared the duplexing wasn't working.

houser · 12 August 2006, 23:16

Hello,

Anyone tried the Ray 240E then?

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/P...roduct_id=2006

Just curious, I am looking at one of those.
best
Janne A.

codprawn · 13 August 2006, 03:21

I haven't any experience of this actual set by the Raymarine 54E is great as is all my other Raymarine stuff - their backup is excellent. I read a review of the 240 and it was full of praise.

spynappels · 13 August 2006, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by will_m

Well brought the ICM421 VHF set yesterday, will bung it on the RIB at the weekend.

Got it for a fraction less than £200, yes its a UK sourced set. All be it the Marine Super Store at Portsolent dont answer emails!!!! They are able to do good deals, so well worth a shop.

Am replacing one of these the Shipmate VHF which all works ok, just has an infrequent fault that means it turns itself off every once in a while. To be fair may be wiring, I dont know.

Anyways, anybody interested in it?

How many beer notes?

Regards, Stefan.

Lostboy · 13 August 2006, 13:58

Silva S10 for £99, INCLUDING DSC!!!!!! Currently available all over the place.

Jimbo · 13 August 2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostboy

Silva S10 for £99, INCLUDING DSC!!!!!! Currently available all over the place.

I wouldn't fit a Silva anywhere it is likely to get wet. On a boat, for example.

I use 2 Silva sets for teaching, and find that their menu system is by far and away the nicest of any of my training sets (I have Icoms, Navmans and Simrads), and feedback shows they are the easiest to operate. However, they are definitely not the most robust units out there, and everyone I know who has/has had one has had it fail within a very short space of time. The only radio I rate lower is the Cobra - in that price bracket I'd be taking a very close look at an XM.