Shortly after the purchase, and on the first mission, an emergency call came in in the middle of the Baltic Sea, A sailor had engine failure. Using AIS in the radio we were able to quickly find the sailor and tow it to the next port. Conclusion...great handy radio with everything you need at sea. Unfortunately the charging function of the device failed a little later, but given SVB's excellent service that wasn't a problem. Absolute purchase recommendation And almost 100 pages of illustrated operating instructions speak for themselves.
Top handheld radio with easy operation, GPS, AIS, DSC
I use the radio on changing sailing yachts. However, you have to register it with an MMSI. If you don't own a boat, you can do that with Ofcom in England, for example.
In the previous model, the battery lock broke when it fell down, cannot be repaired! Now that can't happen anymore. Contacts are now also better protected against moisture. Otherwise it meets expectations
Since the HM 162 remote control microphone is no longer sold, the newly purchased device should replace it and be redundant to the permanently installed radio system, especially if the circumstances make it impossible to leave the cockpit. The device works completely independently of the permanent connection and enables radio contact in the vicinity if the yacht has to be left. Practical test is still pending.
Good performance for a lot of money with drawbacks
In itself an impeccable device, but it also costs accordingly. It's good that AISDSC functions are integrated. Great speaker. The display is a bit difficult to read in sunlight. It takes a long time for position data to appear, but that doesn't matter. Really annoying are the buttons that are much too small for operation.
Am disappointed. The part is huge and, above all, incredibly thick. The navigation function can be forgotten. Much too primitive. AIS works fine. Incomprehensible why is a 220V charger included and not 12V? You have to buy 12V separately, but you need it on board !!
Helpful?
by Roger A.
4/16/2021
Verified purchase
Not what I thought it was
I made a big mistake buying this transeiver. I thought that it was an upgraded version of the IC-M93, but it is not. it is totally different. It is primarily for AIS navigation. It has almost no navigation facilities. You can enter a Waypoint to navigate to, but the the Plotter screen that appears is the AIS screen and it just shows the direction of the waypoint as a flag on the screen without a bearing or distance to it. There is no DTW, BTW, SOG or COG, so as a navigation device it is useless. So lacking is the navigation information I cannot think of a use for this device beyond a VHF transeiver. For the average yachtsmanwoman it is utterly useless.
Helpful?
by Thierry D.
11/19/2023
Verified purchasein use on a Moody Yachts
Hello, unfortunately the device is on its way back to you. I expect information. Should arrive today or tomorrow. Agreed with your service. George Lonsdorfer