ICOM M801E Vs 802

[stevewrye]

Hoping someone can help my confusion on the difference between an ICON M 801E and the ICOM 802. From what I read the M 801 E is sold in Europe and the 802 is not or does not meet the European standards for an offshore yacht. I also noticed that M 801 E has more features and is considered in Europe marine grade where the 802 is not. The M801 E is about a thousand Euro more expensive than the 802. Almost everything we are buying for the new boat being built in France must be bought in Europe so clarification in understandable terms would be helpful on this item.

Thanks

[Paul L]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...1-a-29270.html

[IslandHopper]

While i can't comment on Europe i posed the same question to ICOM in Australia and the reply is below...

Hi John,

The IC-M801E is type approved for use in Australian waters and it is the only marinised H.F marine radio that Icom sells in Australia.

The IC-M802 is an overseas model and is not type approved for Australian waters if the vessel is going to be registered in Australia.

Yours Sincerely

Grant Fernando
Land Mobile Sales & Support specialist
+61 (3) 9549 7507
grantf@icom.net.au

Icom (Australia) Pty Ltd
Unit 1 / 103 Garden Road,
Clayton, Vic, 3168
Phone: + 61 (3) 9549 7500
Fax: + 61 (3) 9549 7505
Web: www.icom.net.au

.....i would hazard a guess that the above may apply to you aswell, but i would suggest you contact your local ICOM yourself for clarification...

[stevewrye]

Thanks for the leads and info on the ICOM's. I found a company in the UK that sells the 802 for non EU boats, Sail Com Marine.

Must say that the M801E is a nicer radio. But at close to a thousand Euros more there is just no need for us to own one.

Thanks again.

[AllanR]

Hi Guys,

I have also been trying to determine the difference between these two radios for some time, hoping to understand why communications and marine authorities in places like the UK/Europe and Australia would choose to remove the M802 off their list of HF/SSB radios approved for new installations/purchases. The price difference is significant so why do it and generate a lot of flack from boat owners?

From what I can determine, the principle difference is that the M802 relies on a fan to draw air - salt and dust laden - through the radio components to cool them. Beacuse the radio box has slots to allow the air through, these can aslo let water, coffee etc inside.

The M801E has a completely sealed container with the radio components inside. That container is aluminium and functions as a heat sink. There is no fan to consume electricity, and no holes to let in water, coffee etc. Apparently it weighs about 10kg; considerably heavier than the M802.

I understand it's this robustness, and therefore the ability to keep working when circumstances are at their worst, which is the reason communications and maritime authorities specify it over the M802.

The M801GMDSS is another step up again, Apparently the difference from the M801E is that it has a completely protected power supply, so no spikes from alternators, generators and other electrical equipment can get through to damage the radio. The M801E is the cheaper version of the full GMDSS radio. The authorities think they are doing recreational owners a good deed by approving the M801E for sale/registration; which is much lower cost compared to the full GMDSS radio.

My understanding is these decisions have been made by people who are familiar with the causes of common marine radio faults and the consequences these have for Search and Rescue operations. This is to help make sure that the official maritime safety communications service (ie: HF/SSB with DSC) used around the world, can perform for people as they might reasonably expect, when they need it. Like a lifejacket, it needs to work when things go wrong; not when everything is perfect and it is not actually needed.

Hope that helps your deliberations.

Perhaps other people have more information to contribute on this topic?

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by AllanR

Hi Guys,

I have also been trying to determine the difference between these two radios for some time, hoping to understand why communications and marine authorities in places like the UK/Europe and Australia would choose to remove the M802 off their list of HF/SSB radios approved for new installations/purchases. The price difference is significant so why do it and generate a lot of flack from boat owners?

From what I can determine, the principle difference is that the M802 relies on a fan to draw air - salt and dust laden - through the radio components to cool them. Beacuse the radio box has slots to allow the air through, these can aslo let water, coffee etc inside.

The M801E has a completely sealed container with the radio components inside. That container is aluminium and functions as a heat sink. There is no fan to consume electricity, and no holes to let in water, coffee etc. Apparently it weighs about 10kg; considerably heavier than the M802.

I understand it's this robustness, and therefore the ability to keep working when circumstances are at their worst, which is the reason communications and maritime authorities specify it over the M802.

The M801GMDSS is another step up again, Apparently the difference from the M801E is that it has a completely protected power supply, so no spikes from alternators, generators and other electrical equipment can get through to damage the radio. The M801E is the cheaper version of the full GMDSS radio. The authorities think they are doing recreational owners a good deed by approving the M801E for sale/registration; which is much lower cost compared to the full GMDSS radio.

My understanding is these decisions have been made by people who are familiar with the causes of common marine radio faults and the consequences these have for Search and Rescue operations. This is to help make sure that the official maritime safety communications service (ie: HF/SSB with DSC) used around the world, can perform for people as they might reasonably expect, when they need it. Like a lifejacket, it needs to work when things go wrong; not when everything is perfect and it is not actually needed.

Hope that helps your deliberations.

Perhaps other people have more information to contribute on this topic?

I would think the additional price for the IC801GMDSS would be worth it if "the protected power supply" would stand up to lightning but suspect that could not be true.

[AllanR]

Hello again, sorry, but I cant give a definitive answer about the M801GMDSS power supply and its lightning protection properties. That could be a very good question to ask ICOM. Trying to think why the marine and communications authorities would choose to permit a lower standard DSC radio for recreational use - apart from trying to give us a loer-cost radio - perhaps its related to the assumption that recreational vessels are not used as constantly as commercial vessels, and perhaps too, that recreational vessels do not have lots of hevy demand electrically powered machinery to create spikes etc. If this is correct, then a full-time cruiser with anchor winches, refrigeration etc might be prudent to choose the M801GMDSS; to save money in the loger term, and reduce the effort of dealing with faults and repairs.

[stevewrye]

Thanks Allan,
The info you have given is helpful, now I know the big differences. I feel totally comfortable with the 802 as we use our SSB usually for nets on passage, time readings and occasionally to listen to the BBC. We use sat phone for weather downloads and email.