Icom M55

[wufibugs]

I'm wondering just how far out of date this model is. All its basic functions work, but from looking at other VHF threads, I'm giving up a lot of recently available features and technology by continuing to work with it. From what I read, if I were to make a leap, it should be a big one, all the way to something like the Standard Horizon 2200 weighing in at a hefty $375.
Or are there really worthwhile steps along the way?

 

[woodster]

I'm wondering just how far out of date this model is. All its basic functions work, but from looking at other VHF threads, I'm giving up a lot of recently available features and technology by continuing to work with it. From what I read, if I were to make a leap, it should be a big one, all the way to something like the Standard Horizon 2200 weighing in at a hefty $375.
Or are there really worthwhile steps along the way?

you might want to do a Internet search on the SH2200 and note the features and work your way back down the scale to where you are now noting the improvements as you go down the scale and the price difference as you go and then see if the jumps make sence....noteing where you are it would be a nobrainer for me..... you are in a high traffic area and i would think you could use all the help you could get in all that traffic

regards

woody

 

[capta]

You pretty much get what you pay for in VHF radios. Icom is top of the line; reliable, sturdy and well designed. No other brand comes close for longevity.
In your case it comes down to what you need a VHF for; ship to ship/ship to shore communications, or all the bells and whistles of a more modern unit, for coastal and offshore safety?

 

[wufibugs]

As Woodster points out, without radar, the AIS capability adds some margin of safety, particularly with the large number of naval and container vessels that make their way into and out of San Diego bay, as far down as National City and NASCO shipyards. I guess the question Capta poses is how many useful safety features I'd get from the difference between a new mid-range product at about half the price of the 2200. Since all my other stuff is functional but pretty old, I am thinking that a lot of what you pay for in state of the art VHF is its ability to interface with modern instrumentation, autopilots, chartplotters and radars. Perhaps the 2200 is overkill since I doubt my 25+ year old production boat will ever see $5000 in new instrumentation.