Adding a second station microphone to ICOM M323

[superheat6k]

My boat has a fairly recent ICOM M-323 VHF set positioned near the lower helm. However, it seems the most common need to use the VHF is to call up Marinas and Harbourmasters when navigating into moorings / locks, etc, from the flybridge in restricted waters, so a quick nip down to the lower helm is not very convenient, also requiring me to bring the boat to a near stop so I can change the throttle control position over.

I do have a hand held, but would rather use the installed set.

ICOM do not offer a remote microphone option, so I wonder if there is another way I could attach a second microphone to the same input. The set does have a remote speaker option so I can hear the received communications, via an installed speaker.

I was thinking of a small switch box into which the cable from two microphones could be passed. Any other ideas.

 

[baffled9]

It is unfortunate that whoever specified this installation seems to have overlooked a fundamental need in your type of craft and I appreciate your difficulty.

There are other excellent sets in the range that allow the fitting of a dedicated remote microphone. Importantly, those remotes include a display screen on which the marine channels are displayed for selection. With your present set up the microphone has no such facility and the channel information is displayed on the base set only. Working 'blind' in the way you suggest (with the microphone remote from the display) would be somewhat restricting - the need to switch channels at another station's request, for example, would be difficult to achieve.

Personally, I would either continue to use the hand-held for close quarters operating or, at some stage, upgrade to a more suitable installation. I would not be happy with a lash-up solution where vital safety kit is concerned.

 

[pvb]

For marinas, etc, a handheld works fine. Replace the Icom if you're not happy to use a handheld.