icom vs. uniden

[takefive]

Looking to install new vhf in flybridge overhead electronics box. Considering the icom 504/604 and uniden 525/625 are . Leaning towards uniden because of price, will also be using remote mike for salon and uniden has a wireless, so zero install woes. Any feedback greatly appreciated.

 

[Capt K]

Went thru the same thing a few years ago. Went with the Uniden for the same reasons. It has been a great unit and the remote mic works great . The auto fog horn feature has been used very extensively in the past few years, too.

K

 

[Passages]

See if you can get your hands on a "Powerboats Report" index. The rag went bust about a year or 2 ago but it was a great source of comparitive info. Kinda like a marine Consumer Reports.

 

[GJH]

Practical Sailor is still around, their sister publication, and did a mid priced VHF review a recently. I have found some of their test methods a little suspect at times (the VHF antenna test of a few years ago was fairly lame), but at least it is a reference point and they try to be fair.

I think Uniden still has the wireless mic concept to themselves, somewhat surprisingly, and I have not heard anything bad about their radios. They use Bluetooth, so there could be some range limitations depending on where you mount the radio.

 

[REBrueckner]

Comparing different brands of marine electronics is tough because there is so little objective comparison information available. I'd tend to go with a best price and then check around regarding that brand, and model if possible, for reliability and performance. An option is to question your local marine electronics installer asking something like "what vhf radio brands do you like" and of course "why".......and in return buying from that installer if they want to match your price....

 

[Will]

I wouldn't go cheap for a VHF radio. The more expensive ones can be water proof (important on flying bridge) have nice features like remote mics, hailers, fog signals, are highly reliable and most importantly, have larger, more powerful speakers. I prefer Standard Communications and ICON over Uniden. Look at what's installed in the commercial tugs, ships, etc. That's my two cents.
Will

 

[Trojan]

90% of my radios are Icom. I have 2 Uniden VHF and the remote repeater. I don't think to much them. They seem to work OK, but my next vhf radios will be something else. I don't think they hear very well. I got them cheap and they had the latest in bells and whistles. I was thinking about Furuno but I don't have any practical experience with there radios only there other electronics. I don't think that there is a whole lot of difference between any of them. It's more or less your choice in what you like. They all transmit the same. It's the receive that is important, But without sample radios to test I couldn't say which one is better. Go for the best price and the options you want. None are made in the USA.. Maybe now that Yassue has purchased Motorola There will be some new transciever on the market.
BILL

 

[Hattenuff]

Every time I've looked in one of the Coastie's boats, all I've ever seen was Icom. The only Uniden I ever had was junk-- one channel would bleed over into another.

 

[Genesis]

These two brands in the VHF universe aren't even in the same league. ICOM is IMHO heads and shoulders above Uniden in this regard.

This is a piece of SAFETY equipment. I want to KNOW that when I key up and need to get to someone, I have the best shot at doing so, and spend accordingly.

 

[34Hatt]

Yup I only buy ICOM!!!!!