Handheld VHF Icom or Entel

[SeaMist]

I am looking to purchase a handheld VHF and are currently looking at the Icom M21 and Entel HT640. With current promotions they are both at the same price. Can anybody please advise on which is the best product with regard to quality and value.

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[jhr]

Dunno about the Entel, but I have an M21, which is a solidly built and (so far) reliable bit of kit. Icom have a good reputation, which this particular model seems to be upholding. I'd recommend it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[balladsailor]

I have had an Entel for 18 months and I am really pleased with it. Battery life is better than most I have seen.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have an ICOM, an old 12 channel unit. It is as simple as they get and still going strong. It is from circa 1988 or so so now 16 yrs old.

Recently with a little help from John Brooks I was able to buy a new battery container to enable the use of AA batteries as well as the LioN battery fitted from new.

I write this to bring attention to the fact after 16 years I was still able to get hold of some optionals available for the unit. Not many electronic items that you can say that about, usually 3 years tops!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Nick_Pam]

We've recently bought an Entel and so far it seems reliable, effective and robust....time will tell.
Well made though...
I've also used ICOM gear as a radio amateur for years, and there is no doubt that they produce well made robust gear too....
You pays your money.............
Nick

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[JonBrooks]

I would recomend the Icom everytime!!
Well I would say that wouldn't I?

Regards

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

 

[Anthony]

I would have bought the Icom based on their excellent repuation, BUT (Jon please take note...) I refuse to pay that sort of money and only get a nicad battery pack, so last week I bought the Entel which has LiIon, (and so doesnt suffer memory effect etc).

Personally I feel insulted that supposidly high spec electronics are still coming with such old battery technology (mobile phones went from Nicad to NiMh and then LiIon a long time ago).

My theory is that it doesnt matter how good the unit is if the batteries are flat, with LiIon the Entel should last a lot longer.

Of course I dont have the benifit of having both units side by side to test, so can only make a decision based on experience with Nicad and LiIon, not on the induvidual performance of each radio.

Jon if there is a really good reason Icom still use Nicad then I am honestly open to hearing it, and would welcome you to publish a FAQ or independent test to help us make a more educated decision?

Anthony

<hr width=100% size=1>The difference between men and boys, is just the price of their toys...

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

ooops, sorry, it had a Nicad battery or at least it still does.

Mind on other things.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[JonBrooks]

Anthony

Thank you for your comments.
I will and always do take on board any and all feedback.
It is also always passed up the line.

We were the first radio company to go Li-Ion.

I can't give the actual reason for not going Li-ion with the M31 as I don't know at this time.
I feel, with some authority, that it was cost
It would of added more to the price of the radio, at least £20 and the aim was for a sub £160 waterproof radio from Icom, a first!

I am aware that the Entel has Li-ion and is also well priced.
Most radio's at this end of the market are still Ni-cad or Nimh.
Most still are not using Li-ion at all

Nimh will as Ni-cad still suffer from memory effect.
Both are still very popular in many fields not just phones or radio.
I am also aware of people who have had radio's with Ni-cad batteries that are still going strong after 9 or so years.
If looked after properly they will last.

With regards to "flat" thats why we supply an AA case as standard, just in case.
Although 8 hours on a 90:5:5 ratio is more than enough for most day boater.
This is where the product is aimed.
Ours still stays waterproof when the AA unit is fitted, unlike some.
Ours comes with 3 year warranty unlike most.

Whilst I understand your comments, I have to say that 1000's of end users can't be wrong!
We have sold 1000's of M31 since its launch this January.
I can say that others makes are not as popular although can't give exact figure for other companies.
But I do chat to my dealers and know what they sell of ours compared to others on the market.

Kind regards

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

 

[Anthony]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your comments, you make some fair points, and I dont doubt that there are many happy Icom customers running on Nicad, and maybe I could have been one of them.

I just wanted to feedback that rightly or wrongly I decided not to buy your product based on the fact that it was Nicad based, when for the same money I could get what I believe to be another quality radio that had LiIon. It not just about how long the unit will last on one charge, as you say, most will last long enough for the short use they are likly to experience, but also the self discharge rates, the LiIon will likly still be charged next time I go to use it, the Nicad would have self discharged more, and if I have to keep toppping it up then the memory effect comes into play.

I know PBO did a handheld review a while ago and commented on the battery type each had, but Kim if you read this, please lets have some better tests, what was its power on time, what did that drop to after sitting on a shelf for a few weeks? I think when we have comparisons like that, i.e. how most people actually use them, we would be in a much better position to make decisions as to what one to buy.

Thanks for listening to our feedback, its great to see manufactueres watching these forums and taking note.

Anthony

<hr width=100% size=1>The difference between men and boys, is just the price of their toys...

 

[bigmart]

Entel, as I understand it is a division of Standard Horizon. Icom is Icom we already know. I would say that Standard are as well known & of similar quality to Icom Internationally. I would say that they are too close to call regarding build quality but the better battery of the Entel may sway you.

Martin

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[JonBrooks]

Entel are a company in its own right with re-badged Standard radio's.

Standard are part of Yaesu.
As I understand some of Entel new kit is not Standard but made in the Far East for Entel only.

Their early hand helds were exactly the same as the Standard unit.
There is no Standard equiv of the new Entel.

So whilst there older units were from a good background I can't vouch for the new radio with the Li-ion battery.

Just for info Standard Vertex, Yaesu and Standard Horizon are all one in the same just diff market area's.

hope that helps.

Regards

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

 

[bigmart]

Ah, all is now clearer.

I must confess to owning a Standard Horizon hand held & it is very good.

When your company lowers its prices on the M601 I hope to become a customer of yours too!

Martin

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[JonBrooks]

Martin

What would be a good price for you?

Regards

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

 

[bigmart]

Last Boatsshow it was on offer for £535.00 inc VAT with the Command Mike, a Speaker & an Aerial. Knowing the way electronics drop in price I will be looking for around £450 for that kit or the equivalent for any part offers. Of course I then have to persuade SWMBO that I really "need" the kit. I am a master of persuasion of course.

Why have you got any deals in the offing?

How about factory reworks?

Martin

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[Koeketiene]

I know it's not one of your options, but in the same league -> Simrad HT50.

Bought it at £239, had it for one season (dropped over the side once) and still going strong, no problems at all. Very robust, great reception, when in continuous use I recharge it every 36 hrs.

Wel worth consideration.

PS: no, I don't work for them & too poor to own shares

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Anwen]

I have a 601 on my boat, bought at Southampton last year for around £545 inic command mic but not speaker or aerial. Three different instructors who have been on board have commented on how nice the 601 is, what a great idea the command mic is, and generally drooled. For this reason I'll be buying an MC31 for my grab bag when funds allow. I have no problem with nicads, and the AA adaptor is a really useful feature.

Jon

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[JonBrooks]

Martin

Thanks for the feedback.
No offers at this time.
Was just interested to see what price you thought.

There are no plans to do anything with the price.
We think, mind you we would say that, that for what you getting it is already a good price.
The next nearest radio with the same features is some £765 ex Vat approx.

Sorry to say no reworks at this time either.

Regards

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

 

[bigmart]

Jon

Yes I know about the competitors products but yours has a reccommended price not too far from the competition & some of their products offer advantages over yours.

A few years ago a recordable DVD Player cost over £1000. I recently got one free bundled with a TV & you can now purchase them for around £200. It wasn't so long ago that your Hand Helds were the province of the profesional & the rich. Now you are offering quality reasonably priced products. Why won't fixed mount sets follow the same pattern?

I can be patient.

Martin

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[JonBrooks]

Martin

What is more likely to happen, IMHO, is that we will introduce o fixed all in one DSC to compete at the lower end of the market.
This will be price to compete with the Silva, Raymarine, Navman etc.

The M601 will stay around the price it is because of what it offers.
It is better than the lower end product, in terms of feature and as you say, does not have all the feature of the higher level Simrad and Raymarine products.
This is why it is price towards the middle high end.

It is cheeper that buying a mid range DSC and then having to buy a standalone loud hailer/foghorn.
It is still the cheepest dual station at this time.
Even more so when we give away the Command Mic.

Am sure I am preaching to the converted though.

Regards

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