HandHeld VHF - Page 2

tompaddock · 24 October 2010, 21:10

Unless I'm being really stupid, it's not the radio I thought it was.
It's not euroapprovedthingamybobby we talked about on my VHF course, so if I tried to use it in the UK bad things would happen.
Does this sound right?
T

Poly · 24 October 2010, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompaddock

Unless I'm being really stupid, it's not the radio I thought it was.
It's not euroapprovedthingamybobby we talked about on my VHF course, so if I tried to use it in the UK bad things would happen.
Does this sound right?
T

Potentailly - there are certainly a few headaches to using US radios in the EU. Not least of which the channels normally used by sailing clubs for the sort of work you do may not be set up correctly!

However probably more importantly it has NiCd batteries which are crap. I'm not sure if this is the Icom model which suffers from the self discharge "problem" (essentially it is always using some power even when turned off).

tompaddock · 24 October 2010, 21:49

Polwart, thank you.
Thought I was on for an awesome deal then! :'(

On the slightly plus side, the cobras seem to have a better reputation now

Apparently one guy dropped it over the side (on a bit of string) @30knts, and then accidentally dropped it out of the window of his truck at speed and it still worked. (apparently all by accident :s)

Tom

ashbypower · 24 October 2010, 21:52

US Radio's have different channel spacing and some are not switchable to Int channels. Additionally the M31 has a "soft key" on - off and WILL flatten the batteries in about 1 week. The only way to stop this is to remove the battery, hardly a user friendly system.
As polwart mentioned US Radio's donot have M & M1, be aware also some UK ones do not either however I believe I am right to say ICOM do althought the are label differently P & P1 i believe.
It's also worth mentioning that a operators certificate is not required tp use M or M1 only!

Pikey Dave · 24 October 2010, 22:01

agreed, NiCd are bad & virtually obsolete. NiMh also self discharge at about 10% a month but have little residual memory so can be recharged before they are flat. The Icom M71 has Lithium batteries which are currently as good as battery technology gets within the sensible price range.

tompaddock · 24 October 2010, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

US Radio's have different channel spacing and some are not switchable to Int channels. Additionally the M31 has a "soft key" on - off and WILL flatten the batteries in about 1 week. The only way to stop this is to remove the battery, hardly a user friendly system.
As polwart mentioned US Radio's donot have M & M1, be aware also some UK ones do not either however I believe I am right to say ICOM do althought the are label differently P & P1 i believe.

Thank you, ashby power.
I realised you couldn't use US radios because of channels and stuff (sadly after I posted the post and made myself look like a numpty :P)
I never really understood the M/37a/P1 thing, I have to say!
Tom

willk · 24 October 2010, 22:08

SJHooper (on here) had a 2009 M71 for sale recently for £100. I'd be dropping him a line if I were you!

Clicky

tompaddock · 24 October 2010, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

SJHooper (on here) had a 2009 M71 for sale recently for £100. I'd be dropping him a line if I were you!

Clicky

Thank you, Shall contact.

BogMonster · 25 October 2010, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Additionally the M31 has a "soft key" on - off and WILL flatten the batteries in about 1 week. The only way to stop this is to remove the battery, hardly a user friendly system.

Must be a contender for the "most crap bit of design ever thought up for a handheld radio" award!

What a completely stupid idea

I have always liked Icoms but I won't be buying one of those...

paul holder · 25 October 2010, 11:08

i have a icom + a knive + hand flares in a bum bag on my front .,i have used this for some years & it seems to work

Poly · 25 October 2010, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul holder

i have a icom + a knive + hand flares in a bum bag on my front .,i have used this for some years & it seems to work

Have you tried to get any of those out whilst bobbing in the water in your lifejacket? Sounds like a recipe for loosing things but I could be wrong.

9D280 · 25 October 2010, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

It's also worth mentioning that a operators certificate is not required tp use M or M1 only!

...I thought that was only if involved with an event at a registered club (i.e the club has a licence for using M1/2 for safety etc)?

Otherwise M1/2 would becoe the CB channels of the sea!

tompaddock · 25 October 2010, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

...I thought that was only if involved with an event at a registered club (i.e the club has a licence for using M1/2 for safety etc)?

Otherwise M1/2 would becoe the CB channels of the sea!

No, unfortunately.
Technically M1/M2 (or 37a, M, P1, P4..... (or whatever else you want to call them) are just private channels: they just happen to have been allocated by offcom for Marinas/Sailing Clubs/YCs and similar for the purposes of safety and race management etc.
to use them as general ship-ship channels would not be legal, as they're assigned for a specific purpose.

It would be somewhat akin to using channel 13 (Bridge-Bridge contact for matters of navigational safety) for general chit chat: Illegal (or at least highly discoureged), the channel has been allocated for a specific purpose.

As it is a private channel, an operator's license is not required, only in UK territorial waters: It is not part of the international channel numbering plan, or whatever it's called. Hence, you mustn't use it outside the UK (because they'll've allocated it for something else), but you also don't need a Short Range Certificate to use that channel.

The licensing you refer to is something different: in order to legally transmit or receive marine VHF ashore, you need a coastal station license. Sailing Clubs are eligable for a Coastal Radio Station (Marina), licence, which is either £50, or £80, and allows them to use ONLY Channels M, M2, and 80.

Crickey, I paid too much attention in my VHF course! :P

ashbypower · 25 October 2010, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompaddock

No, unfortunately.
Technically M1/M2 (or 37a, M, P1, P4..... (or whatever else you want to call them) are just private channels: they just happen to have been allocated by offcom for Marinas/Sailing Clubs/YCs and similar for the purposes of safety and race management etc.
to use them as general ship-ship channels would not be legal, as they're assigned for a specific purpose.

It would be somewhat akin to using channel 13 (Bridge-Bridge contact for matters of navigational safety) for general chit chat: Illegal (or at least highly discoureged), the channel has been allocated for a specific purpose.

As it is a private channel, an operator's license is not required, only in UK territorial waters: It is not part of the international channel numbering plan, or whatever it's called. Hence, you mustn't use it outside the UK (because they'll've allocated it for something else), but you also don't need a Short Range Certificate to use that channel.

The licensing you refer to is something different: in order to legally transmit or receive marine VHF ashore, you need a coastal station license. Sailing Clubs are eligable for a Coastal Radio Station (Marina), licence, which is either £50, or £80, and allows them to use ONLY Channels M, M2, and 80.

Crickey, I paid too much attention in my VHF course! :P

Exactly what he said!!
I was'nt your instructor/Assesor was I lol
Hope you got 22/22!! lol

tompaddock · 25 October 2010, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Exactly what he said!!
I was'nt your instructor/Assesor was I lol
Hope you got 22/22!! lol

Thank you, sir.
erm...I don't think so, unless you're a firefighter?
and I did (smileyface).
Tom

tompaddock · 26 October 2010, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

SJHooper (on here) had a 2009 M71 for sale recently for £100. I'd be dropping him a line if I were you!

Clicky

Wilk,
Thank you so much for all your help

all sorted

(am very happy now)
Yours,
Tom

willk · 26 October 2010, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompaddock

Wilk,
Thank you so much for all your help

all sorted

(am very happy now)
Yours,
Tom

You're welcome. A long memory has beneficial uses too...

RAD · 26 October 2010, 22:29

I have an SH 280 (I think) that I use for Safety Boat work, and have dunked it a few times, it works well from the water.

I have the belt clip attached to my BA and also tied to me via a Lanyard so it remains attached to me but if needed can unclip it to pass to someone else should I need to.