Icom 402 and command-mic deal

[Beefcake]

I missed out on the Boater's World sale over the winter, but I found a few of the Icom 402's on clearance at West Marine at Delta Park today (two left as of this evening afer I got mine). They were $169 minus 15%, so about $144. Also, they had several of the "Command Mic" remotes for the Icom VHFs - cheap! I think it was about $24 after the discount! I walked out with a huge upgrade to my current VHF for only $165, and I'll be able to use it from the back of the boat while fighting a fish (probably not necessary on a 19' boat, but I couldn't pass it up). Just wanted to pass it along in case anyone else was looking to upgrade to a DSC capable unit.

PS. I have a nice Uniden Solara and an older Standard Horizon VHF that I'd sell pretty cheap if anyone needs one (like, $40 for the SH or $60 for the Uniden; sorry, no spare antennae).

[tracker]

The problem is that they only talk one way as to DSC. Will not talk back to the plotter to get the location of a buddy to show up!

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have the 402 and the command mic, I love it.

You have to have the command mic hooked up when you turn on the 402 or the handshake doesnt happen and they dont talk. Took me a bit to figure out why it wasnt working at first.

My only complaint is the radio easily gets switched over to International or canadian and off the USA channels. You find yourself out there talking to nobody till you figure it out and get it switched back

[Jet Drifter]

That's a terrific deal on the Icom CommandMic"I" if you can get 'em. I just paid $100 delivered for mine and am installing it at my "Kicker Station" this weekend. Yeah my boat isn't big either, but there are times when I'm stationed at my Kicker either trolling or controlling the boat while my jet pump is temporarily clogged or my main engine won’t start, that I can't leave my hand control on my kicker and I find myself unable to attend to VHF communications at the windshield without the CommandMic extension. My hand held VHF on my PFD might work, but I've reserved my hand held VHF for when I go overboard or loose electrical power.
Redundancy is a good thing. One of the many things I've learned from Pilar, Salty Dogs and Ifish.net for safe passage.