Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Icom M31 hand held, less than £100 now, are they any good? How powerfull are they?
Thinking about one as a back up, for the grab bag etc.
Thinking about one as a back up, for the grab bag etc.
Icom M31
- Thread starter Sans Bateau
- Start date
PeteCooper
Well-Known Member
I've got one and like it. If it is for your grab bag then bear in mind that it is always draining the battery and therefore after a while it will be discharged. I use rechargeable 'AA' batteries in mine - when I bought it I got the cheaper version with no rechargeable battery but a tray for ordinary 'AA's. Other than the battery running down issue it is a fine piece of kit, decent sound quality, robust and waterproof - but I don't think that it floats - I think that you need the M33 for that.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
Good set, powerful, waterproof and easy to use.
One downside is that even when switched off the battery slowly discharges - important consideration for grab-bag use! Having said that, we keep ours in the grab bag with the battery out (replaced by the [empty] AA battery holder, which is a useful plus). Battery is also in the grab bag in a separate container - takes seconds to swap over.
Battery itself holds full charge for over six months if kept separate from radio.
- W
One downside is that even when switched off the battery slowly discharges - important consideration for grab-bag use! Having said that, we keep ours in the grab bag with the battery out (replaced by the [empty] AA battery holder, which is a useful plus). Battery is also in the grab bag in a separate container - takes seconds to swap over.
Battery itself holds full charge for over six months if kept separate from radio.
- W
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. Cactus have this radio with Li-On battery + battery tray + 12v lead and of course normal charger for £89!!
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
I bought one specifically for the grab bag, along with the holder for AA cells (same as the torches and gps).
I was disapointed to find that the life of the cells is only 4-5 months, and so I would not buy one again. However, I have put a strip of thin plastic between one of the cells and the holder, ready to be pulled out should I even need to use it.
John
I was disapointed to find that the life of the cells is only 4-5 months, and so I would not buy one again. However, I have put a strip of thin plastic between one of the cells and the holder, ready to be pulled out should I even need to use it.
John
webcraft
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I was disapointed to find that the life of the cells is only 4-5 months, and so I would not buy one again. However, I have put a strip of thin plastic between one of the cells and the holder, ready to be pulled out should I even need to use it.
[/ QUOTE ] We keep the empty holder in the radio with the fully charged rechargable battery plus the AA batteries kept separate in a waterproof container.
- W
I was disapointed to find that the life of the cells is only 4-5 months, and so I would not buy one again. However, I have put a strip of thin plastic between one of the cells and the holder, ready to be pulled out should I even need to use it.
[/ QUOTE ] We keep the empty holder in the radio with the fully charged rechargable battery plus the AA batteries kept separate in a waterproof container.
- W
chrisgee
Well-Known Member
Excellent bit of kit specially at the new lower prices.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
Think I might just exercise the Visa card!
DinghyMan
Well-Known Member
Do the other ICOM's M33, M71/2 discharge the same?
RobBrown
Well-Known Member
Believe the M31 is the only one that self discharges- but it is slow. I have had one for 3 seasons & like other posters above, store the radio between uses with the battery out and have had no problems at all- an excellent HH , especially with the Li battery & the AA option- I keep the AA pack in the grab bag as a back up.
