Patrick, Someone needs to stand up for Icom on this waterproof radio discussion. I just recently purchased the M15 instead of the M1. Based on past discussions on this list, I too thought the M1 was waterproof and was planning to buy it. Before making the purchase, however, I carefully read over the Icom brochures and web site, and found they both stated very clearly that the M1 was only water resistant. Based on this fact, I bought the much more expensive but truely waterproof M15. I found the Icom literature very clear on this point. I was disappointed that the less expensive M1 didn't provide the water proof qualities a kayaker needs, but I can't understand blaming Icom for this. Their literature was quite clear that the M1 is water resistent --- not water proof. If you purchased your radio based on old literature, that's a different problem, but not one you can blame on Icom. If the distributor you purchased the radio from didn't have up to date literature of if you didn't take the effort to get the up to date information, that's not Icom's fault. I feel sorry for you having spent money on a radio that doesn't meet your needs. But we live in a "let the buyer beware" society so you can't blame the manufacturer because you didn't do your homework. In fact, you should be singing praises for Icom. You used the product incorrectly and they still honored the warantee. That's quite decent of them. --Tim -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Maun [mailto:patrick.maun_at_duffy.com] Sent: Friday, August 14, 1998 2:55 PM To: PaddleWise Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Icom Revises Rating Dan Hagen wrote: >Sure they can--particularly if they are willing to provide a warranty >against failure due to water penetration. I'm sure that Icom will >repair or replace your unit under warranty. They did repair it under warranty. It's not the warranty that I'm complaining about, it's the fact that they present the M1 and M15 as having the same level of waterproofing. I did my research in the way that most of us do: I asked fellow paddlers, posted to the list, looked at various Internet specs and brochures, and finally, talked with the guys at US Marine. It just ticks me off that Icom is now claiming that the radio is "resistant" (the flyer is actually dated 1995) and not waterproof. I still know several people who have their M1's strapped to their PFD's and are rolling happily away with them. How long until these fail in the field, especially now that we (in the Midwest) are getting closer to the more dangerous fall season on Lake Superior. >If you want to avoid the use of a baggie, I recommend that you consider >an M15 or a Navico Axis. After I spent $250 getting the M1 just a few months ago? Anyone have an idea of how long after purchase US Marine will exchange a radio? And what is the price of the M15? And is the M15 *really* more waterproof than the M1? Too many questions, why can't the damn thing just work like it's supposed to. Hrumpf. -Patrick ************************************************************************** * While paddling in the Nipigon Bay area of Lake Superior last week, I noticed that my Icom IC-M1 had some condensation on the inside of the LCD display. For convenience, ever since I bought it last spring I had been carrying it on trips unprotected in a pocket of my PFD. During these trips I had frequently rolled and/or laid in the water, using a sculling brace, to cool off. This was the first sign of leakage. For the rest of the trip I carried it inside the day compartment of my Romany. When I got home, I put the radio in a sunny window to drive out the moisture. It still works, but I have decided to order a waterproof bag for it. On thinking it over, I wonder if it wasn't water vapor rather than liquid water that penetrated the seal, in the same way that water vapor passes through Goretex but not water in the liquid form. If so, it would be possible for the radio to pass the JIS-7 immersion test even though it admitted water vapor. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Sep 02 1998 - 10:37:58 PDT
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