Re: [Paddlewise] "Waterproof" VHF Radios

JIS is "Japanese Industry Standard" I believe.  I've worked with some JIS
loudspeaker specs.  Icom M1 and M1+ (bigger battery) are two additional JIS-7
products.  Icom was fairly responsive to my problem, with a bit of prodding ; )

Fred

JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 98-07-06 00:15:44 EDT, Robert Cline <rcline_at_onramp.net>
> writes:
>
> <<
>  My brand new "Waterproof/water resistant" hand held VHF-Icom 3A was in one
>  of the "waterproof" plastic bags, in my deck bag this afternoon when I
>  decided to do a couple of rolls in Saltwater.  (I have the same set up as
>  you do John).
>
>  When I got home and started cleaning up, I found not just moisture, but
>  water in the plastic bag... the radio was wet.  Moisture had gotten inside
>  the battery case AND inside the radio.
>
>  So much for waterproofing radios.  Anyone know of a better method?  If the
>  radio is not handy, what good is it? >>
>
> It <shouldn't> happen.  Send it back --- get a new one, Robert.  And,
> depending on it's "waterproof" spec, your ICOM radio might not need a plastic
> bag.
>
> Problem is, which qualification?  There's "water resistant", "saltwaterproof",
> "weather resistant", and "watertight", to name a few.
>
> But there are "standards" --- the U.S. Coast Guard has worked with a spec for
> "waterproof-ness", CFR-46, which requires the unit to survive being drenched
> with a fire hose at some "mil spec" waterflow for some period of time.  And
> there's a newer spec --- not sure whose ---, JIS-7, which is for "submersible"
> radios, requiring survival submerged in one meter of water for a half hour.
>
> Anything we take kayaking probably ought to meet at least the CFR-46 and,
> preferably, the JIS-7 specs.  I routinely take my old Apelco 510 (a CFR-46
> compliant unit) on open water, and will brace and roll with it clipped into my
> PFD lash tab (along with a redundant strap with quick releases).  The radio
> failed once, but I helped it along a good deal by bashing it into a concrete
> pier first.  The company still replaced it.  After use, I always wash it off
> in fresh water, clean the contacts for the charger, and regularly check and
> reseal the "o" rings and rubber stoppers.  (While I like redundancy, I don't
> like plastic bags.)  But I wouldn't buy another radio without the JIS-7
> standard --- just that much better chance of survival.  (Also would not buy
> one that did not have a "weather alert" function to automatically let me know
> about a weather warning on the local NOAA channel.)
>
> Apelco's 520 (list $460.00 US, Defender Marine $264.90 US) has these features,
> as does, I believe, the ICOM M15 (list $669.00 US, Defender Marine $329.95).
> (Have found Defender has generally competitive prices --- check around for
> better prices and sales.)  And there are probably others that meet the JIS-7
> specs and offer "weather alert" functions, too.  Maybe ICOM would let you
> upgrade at cost for your trouble when they replace your unit, Robert.
>
> Jack Martin
>
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