Handheld VHF Icom M93d

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wolfmanjack

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Hi everyone , newbie boat owner here

I am in the market for a handheld VHF , and think that it would be prudent to get one with DSC .

I already have an Icom fixed Vhf fitted ... so i was looking at the M93D to keep menus and terminology etc similar .... sort off , I think .

Problem is ... I cant really find any hands on user reviews or impressions / comparisons etc for the M93D .... which bothers me more than a little .

There seems to be plenty of recommendations for the Std Hor 870 / 890 .... but nothing at all hardly for the Icom .

Does anyone have any experience actually using this unit ?

All i have read is that the menu system needs many presses of the arrow buttons to select even simple operations etc .... and it isnt especially intuitive etc .

All my senses are telling me to go for the SH 890 .... but , the Icom " looks " nicer and cleaner , less chunky and more modern etc ....

Help , please

cheers , Ian
 
Hi Coopec

Thanks for the links ..... Tho I have already read most of these .

As i originally stated almost all of the info i can find on the internet are these same type of subsidised cut n paste " reviews "

I would really like to reach out to real people who own and use these paid with their own money if possible .

I am still hopeful .........

cheers , Ian
 
wolfmanjack said:
Hi everyone , newbie boat owner here

I am in the market for a handheld VHF , and think that it would be prudent to get one with DSC .

I already have an Icom fixed Vhf fitted ... so i was looking at the M93D to keep menus and terminology etc similar .... sort off , I think .

Problem is ... I cant really find any hands on user reviews or impressions / comparisons etc for the M93D .... which bothers me more than a little .

There seems to be plenty of recommendations for the Std Hor 870 / 890 .... but nothing at all hardly for the Icom .

Does anyone have any experience actually using this unit ?

All i have read is that the menu system needs many presses of the arrow buttons to select even simple operations etc .... and it isnt especially intuitive etc .

All my senses are telling me to go for the SH 890 .... but , the Icom " looks " nicer and cleaner , less chunky and more modern etc ....

Help , please

cheers , Ian
Click to expand...

It seems the M93D radio was first developed for the american market so please read the manual for the UK version very carefully,
Although you may be able to set the radio to international sometimes these radios retain the scan systems of the american sets which means dual watch might be a problem and you will have tri watch which covers frequencies not used here. Also check that is is programed with M1 and M2 which in Icom speak are P4 and possibly P5.

This radio has soft keys so on the lower screen are four instructions and these relate to the buttons below . To get to some functions can be a lot of button pushing . Check how in DSC you designate Type of Mayday ? Might not be intuitive!

The manual suggests that like some Standard Horizon portables the Euro version comes with all the data required to operate in the various countries programmed into the radio however although the manual specifies that each country is Identified with a code ie UK code 33, it does'nt appear to instruct how to set that code. Double check that any online purchases will be sent programmed accordingly or that the coding instructions are included with the radio. Standard Horizon enclose a wee coloured sheet with these service instructions which some seem to dispose of with the packing before realizing their importance and then have to ask here . :) :) :)
 
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wolfmanjack said:
I already have an Icom fixed Vhf fitted ... so i was looking at the M93D to keep menus and terminology etc similar .... sort off , I think .
Click to expand...

It could well be the case that there are similarities in terminology, menu structure, etc, which you might find familiar. The Standard Horizon is probably more popular (usually due to pricing), but the Icom is still likely to be a fine radio. The UK version of the M93D Euro is programmed with M1 and M2, if you ever need them.
 
pvb said:
It could well be the case that there are similarities in terminology, menu structure, etc, which you might find familiar. The Standard Horizon is probably more popular (usually due to pricing), but the Icom is still likely to be a fine radio. The UK version of the M93D Euro is programmed with M1 and M2, if you ever need them.
Click to expand...


But have they been activated? This may be a dealer job and not dealt with as happened with some other radios. The radio has to be set to Country code 33 for M1 and M2 to work hence the reason for my comment.
 
Bilgediver said:
But have they been activated? This may be a dealer job and not dealt with as happened with some other radios. The radio has to be set to Country code 33 for M1 and M2 to work hence the reason for my comment.
Click to expand...

RTFM... UK versions come with M1 and M2, according to Icom. Or do you know differently?
 
Thanks pvb , they are expensive , but i dont think i want to buy the std horizon " just to save 40 quid " .... i know 40 quid is 40 quid .... but at the 200 mark , i dont think its as important as getting the right radio i want ..... and the credit card will just have to deal with it.

Bilgediver , you are saying that these radios , that are being sold by UK Marine stores , may not be " fit for purpose " that dosent seem right to me .... surely if that were the case .... they would be getting a lot of people sending them straight back as unwanted returns ?

cheers

Ian
 
wolfmanjack said:
Thanks pvb , they are expensive , but i dont think i want to buy the std horizon " just to save 40 quid " .... i know 40 quid is 40 quid .... but at the 200 mark , i dont think its as important as getting the right radio i want ..... and the credit card will just have to deal with it.

Bilgediver , you are saying that these radios , that are being sold by UK Marine stores , may not be " fit for purpose " that dosent seem right to me .... surely if that were the case .... they would be getting a lot of people sending them straight back as unwanted returns ?

cheers

Ian
Click to expand...


What concerns me is that the manual lists the frequencies as PVB says however on another page it infers that the radio has to be set to a country code IE 33 for UK to activate the particular odball frequencies used . There are other codes for other European counties. I was curious as to why they indicated this code table if the radio is coded when purchased and also why they mentioned the code table but not how to put the radio into coding mode. A wee call to Icom will confirm the situation. On the other hand one of our club members has a current Icom DSC with GPS which I only saw yesterday and M1 and M2 are activated however MJ is shown as 37A and M2 as P4 . You will probably be OK.

This radio was supplied in exchange the Standard Horizon equivalent and at no extra cost which was returned due do a badly fitting battery compartment cover. The Icom certainly look a Better product but no idea how it operates.
 
"This radio was supplied in exchange the Standard Horizon equivalent and at no extra cost which was returned due do a badly fitting battery compartment cover. The Icom certainly look a Better product but no idea how it operates."


Interesting.

My Standard Horizon HX270 felt very well made but let water in through the battery housing the first time it faced a test.
 
Well, I have the Icom M91D, so although not the same model, maybe it is representative of the quality / ease of use? I find it an excellent radio (with GPS), is waterproof (been wet quite a few times), floats (apparently, haven't tested that!!), with very good battery life.

My family has quite some history with a range of Icom transceivers (in non-marine markets) and they are certainly a quality manufacturer. I have no commercial connection to Icom, or Icom sellers, just a satisfied customer!
 
wolfmanjack said:
All my senses are telling me to go for the SH 890 .... but , the Icom " looks " nicer and cleaner , less chunky and more modern etc ....
Click to expand...
I have pondered upon your post and conclude that the Standard Horizon 890, which I bought last week, is quite handsome.

It is rugged, waterproof and looks like it ought to look - like a tool.

The UI is fairly easy to use and within a day or two I could navigate the menus not only without a problem, but without having to think about it.

It does exactly what it says on the tin.
 
I just bought an M93D EU and been deceived by the GPS.
When walking it needs many minutes to get a fix. Walking because a boat in distress drifts. Also tested a friend's M93D, same problem. I asked Icom: the chip has only 12 channels and is single frequency.
Since 2018 smartphones have 66 channels and dual frequency.

Switch the VHF on in port and leave it on, or, better, get a PLB and fix it to your life vest.
 
mirseb said:
I just bought an M93D EU and been deceived by the GPS.
When walking it needs many minutes to get a fix. Walking because a boat in distress drifts. Also tested a friend's M93D, same problem. I asked Icom: the chip has only 12 channels and is single frequency.
Since 2018 smartphones have 66 channels and dual frequency.

Switch the VHF on in port and leave it on, or, better, get a PLB and fix it to your life vest.
Click to expand...

Very interesting point. I have been leaving it off as the plumbed in one does the work so to speak but from now on I will leave it on with the volume down.
 
mirseb said:
I just bought an M93D EU and been deceived by the GPS.
When walking it needs many minutes to get a fix. Walking because a boat in distress drifts. Also tested a friend's M93D, same problem. I asked Icom: the chip has only 12 channels and is single frequency.
Since 2018 smartphones have 66 channels and dual frequency.
Click to expand...

The similarly-featured Standard Horizon HX890E has a 66 channel receiver, as has my previous generation HX870E. Seems like Icom are lagging behind.
 
mirseb said:
I just bought an M93D EU and been deceived by the GPS.
When walking it needs many minutes to get a fix. Walking because a boat in distress drifts. Also tested a friend's M93D, same problem. I asked Icom: the chip has only 12 channels and is single frequency.
Click to expand...

I just turned on my IC-M93D it got a fix in under a minute; that was with a good view of the sky to the west, but buildings and hills to the east. It was last powered on perhaps a month ago at the same location.

Note information in this link
"Using GNSS memory data, the IC-M93D EURO can fix positioning within 8–12 seconds after the radio is powered ON."

If the GPS receiver is making use of GPS Almanac information to aid TTFF, perhaps the radio needs to be powered on periodically to update the data?
I'll find the manual and see whether there is any mention of this.

As an aside, many DSC features are configurable on this radio, and may not be enabled off-the-shelf. IcomUK provided excellent service and customised the options on my radio.
 
I’m a lifelong ICOM man. They are superb radios. However, I just bought a Standard Horizin HX890 with DSC, not the ICOM M93D. The price difference was too great given that the ICOM does not come with a 12V charger cord That will add another £20 to the price difference and the Standarc Horizon also has a promotion bundling a remote mic at no extra charge.

Having studied the HX890 manual, set up the MMSI directory and favourite waypoints, I do find it very easy to use. I’m impressed. If money was no object then I would have stayed with ICOM but in this case the price premium was too much for me to justify.
 
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I had a Standard HorizonHX270E which looked very nicely made and was excellent in service, for a time.

Said to be "submersible" however the first time it got a ducking it was finished off. So don't rely on the waterproofing. On these units there is nothing keeping the water out apart from the neoprene gasket around the battery.


.
 
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