TESTCENTRE
Float and Flash
Icom IC-M25 EVO VHF Marine Transceiver
COMPANY: ICOM PRICE: £ 179.99 TEL: 01227 741741 WEB: WWW. ICOMUK. CO. UK
Measuring 140mm high, 60mm wide and just over 30mm deep, the first thing that struck me about the IC-M25 EVO was its distinct lack of weight. It felt so light that I wrongly assumed it must require a separate slot-in power pack of some description.
That proved not to be the case, however much I looked among its packaging. So I just switched it on. With an internal, fully-sealed battery, the unit weighed in at around 225g. As a comparison, my own hand-held is two-thirds smaller but 65g heavier. Even an iPhone 15 Pro Max is only a few grams lighter.
The IC-M25’ s USB Type-C charging port is accessed via a hinged, waterproof locking door, and the radio can provide up to 14 hours of operation in power-saving Eco Mode( reducing transmit power from 5W to 2.5W). Choosing this option is ideal for longer trips and it’ s a simple task to revert to full power again if required. A full charge takes around three hours, but in practice you’ ll simply top it up after every trip.
Radio, live transmission
If you’ re new to marine VHFs then it’ s very easy to get to grips with, both ergonomically and technologically. The unit is a nice fit for hands of all sizes, and its lightweight so you won’ t be fatigued by prolonged use. The layout of the unit is clear and concise, with a mono 32mm x 24mm LED display nestling above an array of six push buttons, three either side of a central rocker switch. An on / off button is located on the left side, just below the transmit switch. If you’ re familiar with handheld or fixed VHF transceivers, then the radio will have a familiar feel to it.
Moving clockwise from the top left button we have the Channel 16 / Call key; Favourite Channel key; Channel key; Transmit / Power Lock key: Scan / Dual key and finally Volume / Squelch key. The central Up / Down keys are used for selecting channels, changing volume and squelch levels or in Set Mode, for choosing options.
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