Which handheld ( again )

PeterM · 04 January 2009, 13:33

I've spent the last few hours reading all the posts about handhelds, having dropped mine (ICOM M31) in Yarmouth harbour yesterday - I'm annoyed with myself as it was in theory 'clipped' to my lifejacket for safety (until I leaned over to tie up) Well worth the loss for the run over & back with everyone.( Any keen divers out there - I can easily direct you. Its probably still OK but 10ft down)

So choices seem to ICOM or Standard Horizon . I know everyone has thier favourite , but I'm after details from people who use them about what is good or bad - the sort of thing you only realise after you start actually using them .Whats fiddly with gloves , the scans are hard to set up etc.

It really will only be a back up for main boat , and in the small one when most will be 2miles off land ( solent /IOW ) and then only be ch16 - so I dont need to scan all the channels at once , have tri -watch etc.

Really after this info on :

Std Hor HX270 - about £70
Nexus NX1500 - about £88 - never heard of the make !
Icom M31 - about £88 - had one worked well -but clearly sinks !
Icom M33- About 117 - floats
Std Hor HX750 - about £117 - floats
Icom M71- about £135

I know its a very very thrashed out topic , but it will come down to the details - thats where you guys help ! , cost is not vital ( cheaper is better, but there may one day be a situation where my life depends on the thing so its worth getting something half decent) . Not included cobra as I've never seen or heard anything good about them.

Always been an ICOM man for planes & boats but I'm willing to open my mind !

Nektarios · 04 January 2009, 15:02

Always had the M71 for 3 years now as backup for main northstar 710, no prob so far, works well for small distances.

Never tested it if it floats. I think its worth the extra bucks as I am icom man myself, and trust these devices to come through.

However have heard that the HX270 is a good buy for its value.

Steve_B · 04 January 2009, 15:42

Pete

I have had a look around as I am replacing mine in the near future. I have settled on the Entel HT640. The main reasons as follows;-

Waterproof to 5m, but does not actually float
It has the option of attaching to life jacket and using a seperate hand mic/speaker, useful for Streaker.
Has a Li-ion battery
3 year warranty
It came out top in a recent Motorboat monthly test

I have seen it on the net for about £127, but will see if on offer at the London Boat show next week.

Steve

RAD · 04 January 2009, 17:14

Here Here, don't rush to buy one.

Icom are launching a new radio that will compete with the Entel its the Icom IC-M35
Click here

Forgot to say, the Icom Floats!!!

The Entel is good but it needs to be washed if using in salty weather.

PeterM · 04 January 2009, 17:21

Saw the new M35 , but as its launching at the boat show in a few weeks I think it will be over priced compared to the others ( for the extras you will get)

MIssed the std Horizon HX500 of the list , but not sure the extras over the 250 will be worth it for me.

I'll check out the entel also - any experiance of actually using any of these out there - really after knowing abu the little niggles people have with them - thats the proof of what works well or doesn't for me .

Nos4r2 · 04 January 2009, 18:14

The M-71 doesn't float (got one) but I've added a longer tether so it doesn't get lost if it comes unclipped. The clip wasn't quite man enough for it to stay clipped on after I did the dying fly off a jetski last year but the tether supplied held it OK.

The M33 does float quite well but is noticably bigger (and lighter)than the M71.

Jon Brooks · 04 January 2009, 20:29

The HX-750 is about the best value for money at the mo.
I have had one since just before X-mas and love it.

Floats, 6W, great audio, temp sensor and 3 year warranty.
Combines the Icom M71 and M33/35 in one box for less money.

Also the Icom M33/35 float upside down so very little of the unit is on show if it does go in the drink, the HX-750 floats on its back. I seem to remeber the Icom book saying somehing along the lines of "easy to recover in clam seas" or words to the effect!

PeterM · 04 January 2009, 21:14

Definately coming round to std horizon - seem to better value for money & not sure noise cancelling is worth it on the M35 . Question for any owners - is the 'strobe' really worth it - can you really see it ?

May come down to which Std hor if no-one comes up any other feedback on usage .

towersje · 05 January 2009, 07:47

With the M71 you can give the channels silly immature names (so ch69 is "Your Favourite Channel", ch71 up here becomes "The Voice of God" etc). Hold on, you want sensible advice?

Our M71s were used in a commercial enviroment, 6 of them (and another 8 at a different centre). Overall, we like them, a lot more than the M31s or even the M90es (the hard as nails commercial ones that are now dying slowly).

The M71 aerial has proved pretty nasty in continuous use with us, all of ours are wrecked by now (and no one's admitted to chewing them or anything). On the plus side, they are pretty small and ergonomic, the units themselves are well enough built, the belt clip is sensible (unlike the M31s - which is a joke), the aqua quake water draining thing works, and the HM-125 speaker mic is rather nice (if looked after!).

That aerial really sucks though. If you were going to get one of these units, then try and fit an alternative.

Now off to the boatshow for me, I got £300 to spend and new VHF

Oh yes, the M71 definately doesn't float. But I say use the wrist strap to secure it, and get the fist mic. Its luverly it is

JSP · 05 January 2009, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

The M-71 doesn't float (got one) but I've added a longer tether so it doesn't get lost if it comes unclipped. The clip wasn't quite man enough for it to stay clipped on after I did the dying fly off a jetski last year but the tether supplied held it OK.

The M33 does float quite well but is noticably bigger (and lighter)than the M71.

Doesn't float but sinks slowly, but is with out doubt water proof! Great little radio the M-71 but like the man says, the clip is crap and as much use as a hardon at a funeral! I've done similar and added a long strap.

towersje · 05 January 2009, 09:54

Quote:

the clip is crap and as much use as a hardon at a funeral! I've done similar and added a long strap.

I dunno, the clip stays on my belt OK and holds it in place if I'm using it on my ba shoulder!

But yeah, would I use it as the sole point of contact? Nah

Jelly · 05 January 2009, 10:35

Hi
Please any ideas where is doing the IC-M71 for GBP135?
All the searches on line come out to more than that.
Many thanks
JAmes

PeterM · 05 January 2009, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly

Hi
Please any ideas where is doing the IC-M71 for GBP135?
All the searches on line come out to more than that.
Many thanks
JAmes

Hi James - try

http://www.marine-super-store.com/po...artno=99146504

not quite 135 - but close enough for me

Pete

JSP · 05 January 2009, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by towersje

I dunno, the clip stays on my belt OK and holds it in place if I'm using it on my ba shoulder!

But yeah, would I use it as the sole point of contact? Nah

I find it's too short. If it had been longer so when you move it has enough room to move with out forcing the clip open.

Steve_B · 06 January 2009, 16:31

Pete

Have seen the HX750E for £117 on www.redcar-fish.co.uk. They will be at the LBS

Channel Ribs · 06 January 2009, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackroady

Definately coming round to std horizon - seem to better value for money & not sure noise cancelling is worth it on the M35 . Question for any owners - is the 'strobe' really worth it - can you really see it ?

Yes

It is a fiendishly clever idea and works well. The Horizons are great radios and punch well above their price tags, I use one all day every day and would not swap it for anything else on the market.

prairie tuber · 06 January 2009, 18:30

I bought the HX750S this past summer and have been very happy with it so far.

PeterM · 06 January 2009, 19:35

Thanks for all the comments - the Std Hor 750 will get it I think - £122.99 delivered from redcar-fish ( cheers steve) .

I like the idea of a built in strobe, floats & an extra W of power. If any of this will make a differance I dont know - but at least I will feel better !

I suspect they may be cheaper at the boat show , but I cant get there this year , had no plans to go (as I have found they have all been pretty full of the same stuff that I'm not really interested in .)

PeterM · 15 January 2009, 20:35

Ordered a 270 & 750 from redcarfish.( one for each boat) Arrived in 48 hours and seem very good value & service from them as a dealer.

They seem nicely put together , simple to use & considerably lighter than my old ICOM. They also seem to be LOUDER than the ICOM was & have a 12v charge lead (270) so I can charge on & off the boat !

It seems you can program them to do specific scans , but dual watch is really all I willneed in this area. Impressed so far - just getting used to the bottons etc

The aerials are also more flexible than the M31 one ever was. Seems like the 270 is an easy replacement for the M31 but half (ish) the cost !

JSP · 15 January 2009, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackroady

Ordered a 270 & 750 from redcarfish.( one for each boat) Arrived in 48 hours and seem very good value & service from them as a dealer.

They seem nicely put together , simple to use & considerably lighter than my old ICOM. They also seem to be LOUDER than the ICOM was & have a 12v charge lead (270) so I can charge on & off the boat !

It seems you can program them to do specific scans , but dual watch is really all I willneed in this area. Impressed so far - just getting used to the bottons etc

The aerials are also more flexible than the M31 one ever was. Seems like the 270 is an easy replacement for the M31 but half (ish) the cost !

Glad your happy with what you bought. Have to admit they do look a nice bit of kit.