paulears
Member
I've been using Icom business, marine and ham products for a VERY long time - 1980, I think. I've bought lots, and in recent years sold many too, using an account I have with another big UK radio firm. I'm not an official Icom dealer, and have been very aware of Icom's opinion on counterfeits and grey imports, and do understand their brand protection. I had a call from a potential customer asking if I could remove the MMSI number from his hardly used Icom IC-M91D marine radio. I have Icom software form IC-M25,35,36,37 and a few others. I bought th software for the 91 and said I'd do it.
He arrived today and instead of the usual Icom 3.5mm socket, there was a 4 pin connector. A VERY familiar 4 pin connector and the radio looked like a Recent RS-38M - a chinese radio I've been selling for a long time - reliable and decent quality, with GPS. The Icom software, with the recent cable let me reset the MMSI, and then I tried the recent software - exactly the same! So the Icom box says made in Japan. The recent box says made in China. The software is the same, the radio is the same. Two production lines in different countries making the same radio? Hmmmmmmmm There is nothing wrong with the Recent product, but Icom make big noises about how their products are quality, made to high standards. If you covered the Icom stickers, and removed the Icom branding from the start up screen, nobody would know. Confirmation enough to confirm suspicions I've had a for a few years. Ten mins on Google will show this to anyone! The net profit from this job is zero, as I had to buy the software - which I already had!
He arrived today and instead of the usual Icom 3.5mm socket, there was a 4 pin connector. A VERY familiar 4 pin connector and the radio looked like a Recent RS-38M - a chinese radio I've been selling for a long time - reliable and decent quality, with GPS. The Icom software, with the recent cable let me reset the MMSI, and then I tried the recent software - exactly the same! So the Icom box says made in Japan. The recent box says made in China. The software is the same, the radio is the same. Two production lines in different countries making the same radio? Hmmmmmmmm There is nothing wrong with the Recent product, but Icom make big noises about how their products are quality, made to high standards. If you covered the Icom stickers, and removed the Icom branding from the start up screen, nobody would know. Confirmation enough to confirm suspicions I've had a for a few years. Ten mins on Google will show this to anyone! The net profit from this job is zero, as I had to buy the software - which I already had!
