Standard Horizon PS2000 vs ICOM IC-M504

[Morpheus]

I'd like some expert opinions on these two products.

My goal is that since the helm is already cowded to not mount a large VHF on the from of the HELM but to mount it inside with the radio and have the remote mic/speaker at the helm since it would be alot smaller.

When I emailed Jim at BOE he recommded looking at the PS2000. IT's exactly what I was wanting to do. Basically it is a VHF no face radio for mounting inside places to be used with a remote mic.

The ICOM does the same but has a full face.

The big difference I see so far is PRICE I would save ALOT with the PS2000

My only concern is quality and functionality. I've compared the documentation and it appears I get all the same features from both.

So you veteran boat electronics people what do you think of the two brands?

 

[fwebster]

I have owned both and they are top quality brands.

My experience with ICOM service was not so good. I had a simple electronic problem inside the case on a top of the line ICOM and they would not repair the radio without upgrading the whole set which turned a $100 repair into $395 cost. I had sold the boat and was not interested in upgrades, but that was the only way to get the ICOM component needed to fix the radio.

I also have 2 Standard Horizon radios and have found their service and technical people to be a breath of fresh air. They fixed a radio that was out of warranty for free just becasue "it should have lasted longer". I UPS'ed the radio to them on Monday and had it back Friday afternoon.

Perhaps the ICOM story has changed in the last few yeas, but if I were making this decision today, I'd buy the Standard Horizon, besides, their black box radios are really a neat way to clean up the helm area.

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks... I didn't need much of a shove to go for the PS2000 as Jim at BOE already offered it up. JIM ROCKS instead of letting be blow a bunch of money he offered up something way cheaper then did what I want and now you have just indicated service is great at Standard Horizon so it's a no brainer then.

:thumbsup:

 

[AWBoater]

I have a M504, and one of the best features I like on it is that the channel changer is a knob. Many of the lower priced radios have an up and down button for changing channels, which I don't like all that much.

This is not unique to ICOM or the M504, but I think just about all of the manufacturers offer this style of radio.

To each his own, I guess.

 

[Morpheus]

I have a M504, and one of the best features I like on it is that the channel changer is a knob. Many of the lower priced radios have an up and down button for changing channels, which I don't like all that much.

This is not unique to ICOM or the M504, but I think just about all of the manufacturers offer this style of radio.

To each his own, I guess.

Thanks for the tip. Although that would sway me normally for the application I'm doing it won't matter because I'll be using the remote mic.

Because I have a smaller boat and no room at the dash my plan was to install the VHF in an out of the way place like where my radio is in the storage behind the helm and then have the smaller hand held remote mic up at the helm with me.

 

[AWBoater]

Yes, the SH is a nice way to save helm space.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

I purchased the PS2000 and remote Mike from Jim. Sorry as I can't give you any details about usage yet since I have not installed it yet. :smt009 Bought a house in the spring and there have been a few things in the way of getting that taken care of. But by this fall I will have it installed.

:grin:

 

[wadebmadden]

I did the same exact thing only with a Standard Horizon Matrix, then I attached the RAM+ mic. It worked out great, Everything needed came with the ram+ It even had a wall mount plug on the end of the included 20 foot cable, I opted not to wall mount it so that I can make use of the 20 foot of cable.

Just a couple of thoughts

1, The speaker on the RAM+ is rather low, you may want to think about an external speaker.

2. The Matrix is only about $100 more. Depending on where you want to hide it, it may be handy to have a second station. In my case, I mounted the radio down below in the cuddy. I like this idea because if I am up on the bow I dont have to scramble to the radio, also, a second station will give you a redundant system at least for the mic, something happens at the helm, you still got the whole setup down below, could be overkill but you have it.


Here is a picture of my helm, you can see the RAM+ just on the right side of the shift/throttle lever
http://www.land-shark.net/P1030205.JPG

As for the RAM+ itself I love it It has all the functions of the radio, I highly recommend the setup!


Wade