Customer Reviews

Icom IC-M72 Waterproof VHF Marine Radio

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great little portable radio. I've seen reviews complaining there is no squelch knob; there isn't a knob, per se, but one push on a side button allows you to increase or decrease the squelch with the up/down "arrow" buttons... you can actually work the squelch with one hand. I bought this radio for safety and traffic alerts while on my small boat, plus the 6-watt output was a nice issue although my opinion of the higher wattage is to make up for a decrease in antenna size. The radio tucks nicely into my float-coat inner pocket and used with the waterproof speaker/mic clipped to the collar I've got good reception; for transmitting I hand-hold the radio on my knee and use the extension microphone that's clipped to my collar. The scanning is quick but not quite as sensitive as I'd like... sometimes an active channel is skipped but it may be due to my squelch setting. Since this is a portable unit with relatively low power I squelch out more distant traffic, which I get a lot of being close to Seattle. All told, this is a really nice unit and I recommend it to anyone looking for an additional radio. (I haven't float tested it yet--hope not to-- but it's been in heavy enough rains that I really appreciate the water-tight integrity.)

We now have 2 of these marine radios. They work very well and are easy to use and set up. We had to buy a separate "float" bag, however, because we were afraid the radio might fall out of our sailboat and sink. It does not float by itself--something you need to consider when using it.

I've owned this M72 for a bit over a ear and out of the three VHF waterproof radios I have, it's the best. It's used for windsurfing, kayaking and boating and is IN the saltwater at least three times a week, so it gets a LOT of use.

I religiously wash it off after use, and occasionally spray it with Corrosion X, like I do a lot of electronics I have. However, it is going back for service for the second time, for the same thing. The little springy contactors that line up with the battery occasionally stick. However, considering the use, I don't feel this is too bad. My others have had more service.

The Icom tech guy recommended a product called DeoxIT to spray on occasionally to prevent corrosion and keep things lubed, which I'll try.

As for performance, I'll get 5 miles line of sight to another VHF handheld, and over a mile to a base station through buildings and trees, and over 10 miles to the Marine Patrol's big antennae.

I also have the M32, which is ok, but fair for range, and the M1V, which was tops in it's day, but is on its last legs. I'm planning on a second M72, only considering the Standard Horizons HX751S also, but don't have enough reviews on it, yet.

I purchased Icom VHFs many times and I recommended them to my colleague also because I was sure of their exeellent quality and preformance. And I have never heard any complaint regarding thier quality and performance.
Icom VHF gave me and my colleageu full satisfaction.

I take this with me on fishing trips just in case I get into trouble and I usually just monitor, It's been 2 years and I still haven't recharged the battery.

I work in the marine industry and wanted to spend the extra money for a high quality radio instead of the cheap $99 radios the company issues. I decided to go with this ICOM, what a mistake. I can barely receive transmissions from .5miles and sometimes less. The transmitting capabilities are fine but for the price it is a let down. For a weekend warrior its probably not bad. I switched back to my $99 Standard Horizon which blow this out of the water.

Stay Classy.