Handheld VHF from the US

[ChrisL]

Am going to US & as things are usually cheaper over there I thought about buying a HH VHF there. Silly questiion maybe but are they the same over there or will I have compatibility problems? Anyone got experience?

Thankyou

Chris

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[rich]

Do a search, you will be suprised how many times this has come up..

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.jersey-harbours.com

 

[ChrisL]

I did, honest!
but then did another one just now - looks like you need to look for the US/intl changeover switch.

Thanks

Chris

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[bruce]

check with www.westmarine.com, they should be able to answer your question, but gen, the radios over here have U.S. freq/channel and international freq/channel as well as our weather freqs.

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[Solitaire]

Unless the H'H carries/is marked with a CE mark it will beillegal to use it here in the UK.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[bruce]

the 'CE' mark is showing up over here, most have no idea what it means, but is here on many products

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[sofia]

check with www.darwinadventure.com, they should be able to answer your question, but gen, the radios over here have U.S. freq/channel and international freq/channel as well as our weather freqs.

Sofia


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[Solitaire]

That's great for us if it is! I'm heading State side end of Oct so I'll keep my eyes peeled. Going to Hilton Head - they got a Westmarine store there so will spend a few idle hours no doubt!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[discoduck]

Hi
The hand helds from the US do not have the same frequency range. You will miss out on channel 8 and few other of the low ones. Does not have the CE mark so is illegal,but then who checks. With Dollar /pound at 1.78 you will get a cheaper radio, but you will sacrifice on some of the cannels.
The RYA VHF course gives the american channels in the back.
good luck


I just like spinning CD'S

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[JonBrooks]

As well as breaking the law you will be missing channels inc M1 and M2.
Also you need to look into warranty.
We (Icom) will not cover warranty on US products.
As the radio's can be very diif especially Fixed we do not carry spares for them.

The DSC class in the US is very diff to.
It is class SC-101 and not class D

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741

 

[Ships_Cat]

I would suggest that the USA radios from mainstream manufacturers, especially Icom, are much closer to Class D now with the new ITU standard for Class D (IEC 62238) than the EU/UK ones are (unless the EU has moved at a speed unusual for it /forums/images/icons/smile.gif).

I would be surprised if there are any sets from USA (ie international sets as used everywhere else in the world) that do not significantly exceed the requirements of SC-101 and Icom radios have done so for a quite a number of years. I suspect that the current Icom radios as available in USA and the rest of the world (eg IC-M502A, IC-M402A, as well as the IC-M602) all meet the new Class D standard.

However, as you say, they are illegal, a problem I fortunately do not have to worry about (my yacht is flagged outside of the EU).

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[JonBrooks]

M302, M402, M402S and M502 are deff Class SC-101
These are meant for class U.S.C.G SC 101 only not Class D, old or new.
M602 is Class D and meet int Standards, although is not CE marked and has a number of channels diff and missing
Major Diff is no dedicated watch keeping RX built in.
This is a must for class D

So no most of the Icom America sets do not meet the EU/ITU standard
The only one that is close is the M602.

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741

 

[Ships_Cat]

I think that you may be referring to the old series of radios, not the new "A" series ie 402A, 502A and which have manuals but not up to date sales brochures it would seem.

It may also be that you are also thinking of the requirements of the old standard for Class D, and not ITU IEC 62238 which was ratified last year. While I would be very interested in what the implementation is in the new radios claiming to comply with it, 62238 does not specifically state that a seperate watchkeeping receiver is required and it seems its test set up for simultaneous reception of telephony and DSC signals (which is required) allows the signals Y coupled into one receiver (so I assume that the dual watchkeeping method of the previous 502's etc with a single receiver complies with that, assuming they discriminate to the level required, of course).

It is my understanding that most countries, if not all, outside the EU will accept these radios for pleasure vessels and now the new standard has come out, also for non SOLAS commercial vessels (for which the more complex old "Class D" was often required eg in Canada).

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Ships_Cat]

In case anyone has lasted this long and is interested, Icom USA have started putting videos of DSC radio operation on their internet site (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.icomamerica.com>http://www.icomamerica.com</A>, look under marine radios). A bit commercial and brief but give the idea for things like group calls, position requests, etc.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.