List Price: $399.99 $199.00At Amazon on 6-22-2008.
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Fixed-mount marine VHF radio preprogrammed with all U.S., Canadian, and international channels
Receives all 10 NOAA weather channels with weather alert function; instant access to channels 16 and 9
Priority scan, Dual Watch, and Tri-Watch modes; Digital Selective Calling transmits automatic distress signal
NMEA-format GPS compatibility; doubles as public address system for onboard announcements
Submersible to 1 meter for 30 minutes; measures 6.47 x 3.06 x 5.47 inches W x H x D; 3-year warranty
Product Description
Built tough to withstand the punishing marine environment, the Icom IC-M422 fixed-mount VHF radio is a must for safety-minded boaters. The radio is outfitted with a host of valuable features, including a large backlit LCD display with a four-step contrast, an intuitive, easy-to-use keypad, and a rugged waterproof housing that's submersible in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. More significantly, the radio works with all 57 U.S., 61 Canadian, and 57 international channels, along with 10 weather channels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The VHF channels offer an ideal way to communicate with other boaters--whether exchanging information on a hot fishing spot or sending out a distress signal--while the NOAA channels notify you when inclement weather is approaching.
The radio--which mounts conveniently on your boat's dash using the included bracket kit--employs Icom's Force5Audio technology to boost the sound pressure levels and produce crisp, loud reception. The integrated microphone, meanwhile, is finely tuned to pick up voices while minimizing ambient background noise, such as a boat engine, wind, or seagulls. As a result, both casual conversations and urgent distress calls come through loud and clear.
The IC-M422 offers several scanning modes, including an auto scan function that starts scanning whenever no signal is detected, a traditional scan mode that searches through all the tag channels in sequence, a priority scan mode that does the same but also monitors the distress channel (number 16), and a weather alert option that immediately switches the radio to the appropriate weather channel when a storm warning comes through. Users will also dig the Dual Watch and Tri-Watch functions. The former lets you communicate on a channel of your choice while also keeping an eye on emergency channel 16, while the latter monitors two channels--channel 16 and another channel--while receiving a third channel. The pair of "watch" modes guarantee that you won't miss an important emergency call from a distressed boater while your attention is otherwise engaged.
And as with the best fixed-mount VHF radios, the IC-M422 comes with built-in Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which lets you send a formatted distress message in an emergency. DSC activates an instantaneous, continuous "mayday" signal that identifies your vessel, reports your position, and time stamps the message. But that's not all, as boaters can also use DSC to make contact with a specific boater of group of boaters in your area. DSC uses a unique ID (MMSI code) that's similar to a telephone number. To stay in contact with specific boaters, simply store each boater's unique address in your radio (the IC-M422 holds up to 100, each with a five-character name).
Another nice detail is the IC-M422's GPS compatibility. When connected to a GPS receiver, the radio can send your GPS position to other boats, or it can poll the GPS location of another vessel and display it on your LCD screen in seconds, provided the navigational device accepts the NMEA data format. The polling function also checks whether a specific ship is in your communication range.
Finally, the IC-M422 can double as a public address (PA) system for onboard announcements or ship-to-shore communication using an external loud speaker or hailer. The RX speaker function even lets you monitor the received audio from the loudspeaker or hailer while you sit on the deck or tower. Additional details include seven-step keypad backlighting, instant access to channels 16 and 9, and a low-voltage indicator for when the battery is running down. Housed in an attractive black case, the radio measures 6.47 by 3.06 by 5.47 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a three-year warranty.
Included with this Product IC-M422 radio, hand microphone, bracket mounting kit, power cable, user's manual.
Product Description
You could say its a little radio with huge features. Features like a built in hailer. Not to mention NMEA input/output which allows for full compatibility between your GPS to your radio and your radio back to your GPS. So not only can you send DSC calls in the time of need, but when you receive them they can be immediately plotted on your GPS (if you have a GPS with this feature). Not only does the M422 have ICOM's trademarked "Force 5 Audio" for loud and clear audio in almost any condition, but it also has a 4.5 watt front firing speaker making it the loudest in its class! The huge backlit display is easy to see in bright sun, or the dark of night. The M422 also has a built in intercom when used in conjunction with ICOM's second station COMMANDMIC, or the new COMMANDMIC2. And just like all of the radios in ICOM's Marine VHF line the M422 is submersible waterproof to IP-X7 standards insuring it will withstand the wettest conditions! Along with these great features you find everyday ICOM features as well! Features like Dual/Tri watch, ICOM's exclusive "tag" scan (which is the easiest to use in the industry), external speaker connection, all US - International - Canadian channels, NOAA weather channels with alert, electrical specs that blow away the competition, ICOM's rugged one piece cast aluminum chassis, and much, much more.