Replacing ICOM VHF.

[capttonyf]

One of the our VHF Radios an ICOM IC-M127 just died. A few months ago the screen started going but the radio radio itself still worked fine and since it was a secondery radio I wasn't overly concerned. Now it doesn't work at all. I don't know alot about radios so was wondering if someone could recommend a new VHF that would be plug and play with the exisiting wiring, power supply and antenna that's already wired all the way up into the tower. The antenna is in good shape and I just want to unhook the old radio and put in a new one without reinventing the wheel and turning this into a big job. The radio itself always worked great and I liked it, I just don't know if they still make this model or something comprable, if so I'd be happy with a clean swap. Any help would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks

Tony.

 

[brian4190]

every vhf radio i ever had all use a common antennae connection. so unless i missing something any one you choose should work.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Pretty much all VHF radios plug in the same. It took me about twenty seconds to find an identical radio, new in the box, on eBay- there is an Icom M127 there for sale. So if you like the one you have and don't want to make a different bracket etc, you are in business, looks like.

 

[capttonyf]

Pretty much all VHF radios plug in the same. It took me about twenty seconds to find an identical radio, new in the box, on eBay- there is an Icom M127 there for sale. So if you like the one you have and don't want to make a different bracket etc, you are in business, looks like.

Thanks I'll look into it.

Tony

 

[dottieshusband]

I just replaced my Pilothouse icom with a Standard Horizon gx2360s and added a remote handset on the flybridge. A word of caution about de mounting the icom. I had never seen an install like the icom. Most radios come out case and all. The icom, mine anyway, was strange in the the radio "innenrds" came out independent of the case. The case then had screws through side into the wood... To get it out, I had to remove all the screws from the rear of the radio case, pull the radio faceplate with exposed inner works out, then remove the screws through the side of the case housing, then remove the case and put the radio back together. The Standard Horizon fit back in the same cut out with no adjustments.

 

[dottieshusband]

I did have to stand on my head to do it..

 

[capttonyf]

I did have to stand on my head to do it..

Thanks, House your head feel? You must be athletic.

Tony.

 

[dottieshusband]

I'm 1.0 when it comes to social media. I took the pic with an ipad...it shows in the picture "roll" correctly, but uploads upside down... So obviously I'm doing wrong...hey, the radio works great. The remote handset is like having 2 radios on the flybridge...the mounted VHF, and the remote for the pilothouse VHF.

 

[bobk]

I replaced my top of line Icom when it died in 6 years. Reading reviews led me to Standard Horizon, and to make sending distress calls easy, I got the model with built in GPS. Reception and transmission is very clear. The only negative is if it is off a long time, the GPS is slow to acquire location and one sometimes gets the lost signal alarm. You just have to press any key to silence it, but it can be a PITA if you leave the bridge.

Bobk

 

[thoward]

I replaced my ICOMs with new ones but it was not a direct fit, the new ones were substantially smaller.

 

[capttonyf]

I replaced my ICOMs with new ones but it was not a direct fit, the new ones were substantially smaller.

I was looking at getting a new one also but like you said it's much smaller. I was about to have the the panel pulled so I could cut a new one that would fit the new smaller ICOM. Then I got lucky, I came across a guy who sells new and used marine electronics. The used stuff is off of boats that get new entire electronic packages. He goes through the old electronics, checks them over, fixes and cleans them up and puts them back up for sale for situations just like mine. Now I don't have to tear my whole panel apart. He had my exact same unit, it came out of the pilot house of a motoyacht so it was like new, alot less money and I don't have to redo my electronics panel. A win, win. If anyone is interested his name is Max and he's in Pompano Beach FL. I believe his website is www.maxmarineelectronics.com Seemed like a nice knowlegable guy and bench tested it right there on the spot. For all of those that replied, thanks for the input.

Tony

 

[drburke]

X2 on Max (aka Julian Stein); just bought a big radar from him and he was really good with mix-and-match and free shipping. Good staff in Mike and Tiffany.

He lists most of his inventory on eBay, but contact him directly if you have special needs.

DAN