Choosing an Icom handheld VHF

Handheld marine VHF is capped at 6W by type approval, so output power separates the range far less than the specification sheets suggest. What actually differentiates these sets is buoyancy, ingress protection, battery endurance and whether DSC is fitted. The IC-M25EURO, IC-M37E and IC-M94DE float and flash if they go over the side; the IC-M73EURO and IC-M85E do not, and are specified instead for submersion depth and run time. Only the IC-M94DE carries DSC with an internal GPS receiver, which makes it the one handheld here capable of sending a position-stamped distress alert independently of the vessel's fixed set.

Icom handheld VHF specification

Operating times are Icom's own figures at a 5:5:90 transmit, receive and standby duty cycle, which is optimistic against a race day or a night watch. Derate accordingly and carry a spare pack where the battery is removable — note that the IC-M25EURO's is not.

DSC, GPS and AIS receive on the IC-M94DE

The IC-M94DE combines Class D DSC, an internal GPS receiver and an AIS receiver in a buoyant handheld. The AIS function receives and plots target vessels on the display; it does not transmit, so the set makes other traffic visible to you but does not make you visible to them. That distinction matters when the radio is being considered as grab-bag equipment. DSC requires a programmed MMSI before a distress alert will carry identity or position.

Icom model suffixes explained

Icom's suffixes are not cosmetic. E and EURO denote the European variant, with ITU Region 1 channels and, on most models, ATIS for the inland waterways regime. D and DE indicate DSC — the IC-M94DE is the European DSC version of the IC-M94D. PLUS and EVO mark later revisions; the IC-M73EURO PLUS, for example, adds bidirectional active noise cancelling and voice recording over the base set. Buying a non-European variant leaves you with the wrong channel set.

Black box installation and the HM-195 CommandMic

The IC-M400BBE separates the 25W transceiver chassis from its controls. The chassis goes wherever there is space — a locker or under the chart table — and the IPX7 HM-195 CommandMic carries the full interface, keypad and speaker to the helm or nav station. It provides Class D DSC with a dedicated Ch70 receiver, a 10W hailer with public address and foghorn output, and NMEA 0183 for an external GPS feed. It suits a cockpit second station where a conventional fixed set will not fit.

About Icom

Icom Incorporated was founded in Osaka in 1954 and manufactures at its own plant in Japan, producing amateur, aviation, land mobile and marine equipment from a shared engineering base. It is one of the established manufacturers in leisure marine VHF alongside Standard Horizon, Cobra and Garmin. Upffront carries the marine handheld and black box range only, not Icom's amateur, aviation or commercial land mobile lines.

Icom FAQ block

How do I set the MMSI number on an Icom VHF radio? 

The MMSI is entered through the radio's DSC settings menu and confirmed twice. On Icom sets it can normally only be entered once. Once stored, it cannot be changed from the front panel — a change of vessel ownership or a mistyped digit requires a reset by an Icom dealer or service agent. Enter it carefully, and check it against the licence document before confirming.

Can I reset the MMSI on an Icom radio myself? 

No. User-level MMSI entry is a one-time operation by design, to prevent a registered identity being altered casually. Clearing it requires dealer or service-level access. If you have bought a used Icom set, assume the previous owner's MMSI is still stored and have it cleared before the radio is put into service — transmitting a distress alert under another vessel's identity is a serious problem.

Do I need a licence for a handheld VHF radio in the UK? 

Yes, two things. The equipment needs a Ship Radio Licence or, for a handheld not tied to one vessel, a Ship Portable Radio Licence — both issued by Ofcom and free of charge, and both carrying an MMSI. The operator needs a Short Range Certificate. Operating without a licence is a criminal offence with a maximum £5,000 fine and six months imprisonment.

Does the Icom IC-M94DE transmit AIS? 

No. The IC-M94DE has an AIS receiver, not a transponder. It shows you AIS-equipped traffic around you on its display and gives range and bearing to targets, but it does not broadcast your own position on AIS. To be seen on other vessels' plotters you need a Class A or Class B AIS transponder, or a personal AIS beacon for man-overboard use.

What is the difference between DSC, AIS and a standard VHF radio? 

VHF is voice. DSC is a digital calling layer on Channel 70 that sends your MMSI, and your GPS position if the radio has it, at the press of the distress button — it initiates the alert, then you speak on Ch16. AIS is a separate reporting system on two dedicated VHF channels that continuously broadcasts vessel identity, position, course and speed for collision avoidance.

Which Icom handheld VHF radios float? 

The IC-M25EURO, IC-M37E and IC-M94DE are buoyant and use Icom's Float'n Flash function — the set floats and the display flashes so it can be recovered. The IC-M73EURO and IC-M85E do not float. The IC-M73EURO is rated IPX8 to 1.5m for 30 minutes and the IC-M85E is IP67, so both survive immersion, but they will sink.

What is the range of a handheld VHF radio? 

Range is governed by antenna height, not by the 1W difference between models. A handheld held at around 1.5m has a radio horizon of roughly 3nm, extended by the height of the station you are calling — typically 4–6nm to a ship and more to a coastguard aerial on high ground. A 25W fixed set with a masthead antenna at 15m will reach 20nm or more. A handheld is a backup and a tender radio, not a substitute for a fixed installation.

What do the E, EURO, D and PLUS suffixes mean on Icom radios? 

E and EURO indicate the European version with ITU Region 1 channels and, on most models, ATIS capability for inland waterways. D and DE indicate DSC, so the IC-M94DE is the European DSC model. PLUS and EVO denote later revisions of an existing model — the IC-M73EURO PLUS adds active noise cancelling and voice recording. A US-market set will have the wrong channel group for European waters.

What is ATIS and do I need it? 

ATIS is an Automatic Transmitter Identification System required on inland waterways covered by the RAINWAT agreement — the Rhine, the Danube and connected European inland networks. The radio appends an identifying code to the end of each transmission. European E and EURO Icom models are ATIS-capable, but ATIS must be switched on and programmed with a code obtained from the national authority. It is not needed for coastal or offshore use.

What is the difference between IPX7, IPX8 and IP67? 

The first digit covers solids and the second water. IPX7 means 1m immersion for 30 minutes with no dust rating declared; IP57 and IP67 add dust protection at level 5 and level 6 to the same water test. IPX8 is the most demanding here — the IC-M73EURO is tested to 1.5m for 30 minutes. None of these ratings imply buoyancy, which is a separate design property.

Can the IC-M85E be used as a land mobile radio? 

Yes, that is the point of it. The IC-M85E transmits on the marine band and also covers 136–174 MHz with up to 100 programmable PMR channels, so one radio serves both the boat and a shore or yard team. The PMR side must be programmed, and the land mobile frequencies you use need their own licence — the marine licence does not cover them.

Which Icom handheld should go in the grab bag? 

The IC-M94DE is the logical choice: it floats, flashes, has its own GPS and can raise a position-stamped DSC distress alert without the vessel's fixed set. Against that, it has the shortest quoted run time in the range at around 10 hours, so a charged spare BP-306 belongs in the bag with it. Where budget rules, the IC-M25EURO floats and is the lightest at 218g.

Is Icom better than Standard Horizon? 

Both are long-established marine VHF manufacturers and the specifications overlap closely — comparisons such as the IC-M94DE against the HX890 come down to detail rather than category. Compare the things that vary: buoyancy, IP rating, quoted battery endurance, whether the battery is user-replaceable, display legibility and whether DSC and GPS are fitted. The specification table above gives the Icom figures to compare against.

Where are Icom marine radios made? 

Icom Incorporated is a Japanese manufacturer, founded in Osaka in 1954, and produces at its own facility in Japan rather than outsourcing assembly. The company builds amateur, aviation, land mobile and marine radio from the same engineering base, which is why part numbering for batteries, chargers and speaker microphones is shared across product lines.

Which batteries and chargers fit my Icom handheld? 

Packs are model-specific: BP-296 for the IC-M37E, BP-245H for the IC-M73EURO, BP-294 for the IC-M85E and BP-306 for the IC-M94DE. The IC-M25EURO uses a built-in cell charged over USB and has no removable pack, so it cannot be kept running with a spare battery. Check the BP- and BC- part numbers against your set before ordering, as physically similar packs are not interchangeable.