If you think small is beautiful, the ultra compact Icom IC-M71 could well be your pick of the current range of marine VHF handhelds.
The stylish and ergonomic transceiver fits comfortably in the hand and feels rugged and durable. The controls are simple and straightforward, with just six big buttons, easily navigated with wet or gloved hands.
At £185 the radio is a little more expensive than some of its larger competitors, but the price is matched by bigger than average performance: output power of 6 watts rather than the standard 5. It is also waterproof to IPX8 standard - surviving immersion to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes instead of the more usual IPX7 (one metre for 30 minutes).
The radio also features Icom's Aquaquake draining function which ejects water from the speaker grille with low frequency sound. The loud and clear quality of sound from the internal speaker also impresses.
Staying with the small is beautiful theme, the radio also has an antenna just 115mm long - 30 per cent shorter than previous Icom antennas on comparable models, but claimed to be just as efficient.
The IC-M71 comes with a 2000mAh Lithium-Ion battery pack which provides up to 15-16 hours operating time, with a two-step power save mode for longer battery life. A four-level battery power indicator means you know how much charge is left.
A self-check function when you switch on tells you that the radio is functioning correctly and although not the biggest, as the size of the radio dictates, the high resolution, LCD screen is clear and easy to read, with a wide viewing angle.
The radio has all the programmability expected these days, with auto scan, a selectable beep sound for operating buttons, and so on. It comes complete with battery pack and charger, AC adapter, belt clip and handstrap.
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Good things come in small packages, says the proverb, and this neat and well-thought out radio, ideal for single-handed operation, seems to bear this out.
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For more information visit www.icomuk.co.uk
