Replacement handheld vhf.

Contest1

Contest1

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My 7 year old basic Cobra handheld is giving a few problems, sticks on ch 1 at switch on for a while and sometimes buzzes annoyingly after a couple of hours.
I, m just about to buy the new floating Cobra, but wondering if the Icom floating/flashing model is worth the extra?
 
My club uses Icom handhelds and they have been problematic, not holding their charge; though that may be a symptom of club use and an irregular charging regime.

With any VHF do try it first; I made the huge mistake of ordering a Silva S12 waterproof handheld without trying it - turned out useless, at one level the squelch is roaring static, next digital step down everything is silenced !

Now looking for a good value replacement.
 
Seajet said:
My club uses Icom handhelds and they have been problematic, not holding their charge; though that may be a symptom of club use and an irregular charging regime.

With any VHF do try it first; I made the huge mistake of ordering a Silva S12 waterproof handheld without trying it - turned out useless, at one level the squelch is roaring static, next digital step down everything is silenced !

Now looking for a good value replacement.
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Thanks, think I, ll get the Cobra.
 
I have had an XM 2000 handheld for ages, might well be 15 years on the original batteries. Thinking it was probably on its last legs I bought an Icom. Most disappointing - as already said its charge decays very rapidly but it doesn't receive when the XM does. Based on my two fixed sets I would have a Standard Horizon, assuming the XM is no longer made.
 
centaur1 said:
My 7 year old basic Cobra handheld is giving a few problems, sticks on ch 1 at switch on for a while and sometimes buzzes annoyingly after a couple of hours.
I, m just about to buy the new floating Cobra, but wondering if the Icom floating/flashing model is worth the extra?
Click to expand...

The organisation to which I previously belonged,Les Glenans, used Icom M-31s in Baltimore. They were bought about 5 years ago and had very rough treatment, in a keelboat-training environment, which they stood up to very well. They were still going at the end of last season but were taken to France (is there an icon for "spit"?) when Glenans closed down. Our new sail training organisation, Glenua Sailing Centre, will probably buy Icoms next season when we start running courses. (Remind me to change the name of my boat:) )
P.S. After use in a salt-water environment, always rinse and dry your handheld before charging.
 
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Seajet said:
What are they for then, if not at least a guide ?!
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They're to fill the gaps between the advertisements.

Most magazine "tests" are badly thought-out, cobbled-together filler pieces which often fail to include obvious alternative models. This is usually because magazines rely on what bits of kit they can blag for free. It's nothing like a "Which?" test!
 
pvb said:
Most magazine "tests" are badly thought-out, cobbled-together filler pieces which often fail to include obvious alternative models. This is usually because magazines rely on what bits of kit they can blag for free. It's nothing like a "Which?" test!
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Sorry, nothing like the truth. In every YM test that I have been involved in, not hand held VHFs of course, all the test pieces have been purchased. Far from being fillers, many of them have taken months of planning and are conducted very thoroughly. I agree that sometimes it might have been nice to test other alternatives but there are many reasons why this does not happen.

For larger items, such as tenders, windlasses, etc., manufacturers or suppliers are asked to supply kit for testing on loan, which is hardly 'blagging'. In the vast majority of cases they are happy to do so.
 
vyv_cox said:
I agree that sometimes it might have been nice to test other alternatives but there are many reasons why this does not happen.
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I can't remember which magazine, maybe you can, but there was a notable handheld VHF "test" which omitted the most obvious entrant.

Edit: Correction, it was a fixed VHF "test" from YM in 2011, which omitted the most obvious Standard Horizon model. See http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?284990-VHF-article-in-YM for discussion from that time.
 
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I'm surprised by the comments on ICOM batteries.

We have two IC-M33 handheld VHF radios. From March to October they live on the boat, one in the grab bag and the other kicking around for general use. They get little use and on more than one occasion each radio has not needed charging throughout that time.

In other words the IC-M33s seem to hold charge extremely well.

I expect that some other makes are good but unless ICOM has suddenly changed its specifications etc I would put the company amongst the best for such products.
 
iCOM M23 was best on test in YM. I thought the test was pretty comprehensive and am thinking of buying one. It outperformed the most expensive by a country mile.
 
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Coaster said:
I'm surprised by the comments on ICOM batteries.

We have two IC-M33 handheld VHF radios. From March to October they live on the boat, one in the grab bag and the other kicking around for general use. They get little use and on more than one occasion each radio has not needed charging throughout that time.

In other words the IC-M33s seem to hold charge extremely well.

I expect that some other makes are good but unless ICOM has suddenly changed its specifications etc I would put the company amongst the best for such products.
Click to expand...

Some earlier Icom handhelds had an electronic "on/off" switch, which continued to use battery power even when off (Icom recommended taking the battery pack out!).
 
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