Icom America announces the new M304, a compact-sized fixed mount that offers top-end performance, durability, and value in a basic package.

The M304 is built using a one-piece, die-cast aluminum chassis for ruggedness, signal clarity, and durability. The chassis and its precision-mounted components are well protected by a watertight, tough polycarbonate housing. The M304 is rugged enough to pass military specifications.

The M304 also carries many of the features that boaters have come to expect in an Icom: Large LCD with highly readable channel numbers and scrolling channel names; One-touch channel selection; TAG scanning; One-touch channel 16 and easy access to channel 9 selection; Normal/priority scan selections; And dual/tri watch. NMEA input wires on the rear panel allows for simple, third party GPS connections (SC-101 DSC) for position request and position reports.

The M304 offers a front-facing speaker for loud output, and Icom’s Force 5 Audio for crisp, clear communications. Icom’s unique AquaQuake feature is built-in, using low frequency sound to remove water from the speaker, and allowing better audio. The hand mic comes with channel up/down buttons and a high/low power selection button. And the M304 survives IPX7 submersion tests – under 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without damage to the radio.

Of course, all U.S., Canadian and international channels are built-in, and there’s easy access to weather channels to monitor for impending storms or national crisis reports.

The radio is available in black, super-white, or gray and comes with a color-matching mounting bracket and power cord.

The Icom M304 has two major new features not found in the M302:

• "Favorites" feature.Simply put, "Favorites" allows the radio user to quickly isolate those channels that are used most, eliminating the scrolling through dozens of channels - similar in concept to a TV remote that's been programmed to ignore unwanted channels.
• AquaQuake draining function:The vibrating "buzz" sound clears water away from the speaker grill.

Icom M304 Features:

• Compact and submersible:Equivalent to IPX7 (1m depth for 30 minutes, except cables).
• Large easy-to-see LCD:Shows full size channel number with 4-step backlighting.
• Built-in DSC:For distress calls, or for position request/position report.
• New Force5Audio speaker:Delivers impressive audio output with powerful bass.
• Favorite channel function:Offers quick channel selection from the microphone up/down buttons.
• AquaQuake draining function:The vibrating "buzz" sound clears water away from the speaker grill.
• Weather channel with weather alert:Listen for important weather broadcasts.
• Dualwatch and Tri-watch functions:Monitors Ch.16 and/or call channel, while using another channel.

General Specifications

• Frequency range:
  • Tx 156.025–157.425MHz
  • Rx 156.050–163.275MHz
• Usable channels: USA, CAN, INT, WX channels
• Type of emission: 16K0G3E, 16K0G2B
• Power supply: 13.8V DC ±15%
• Current drain :
  • Tx 5.5A (at 25W output) (at 13.8V DC)
  • Rx 1.5A (at AF max.)
• Operating temperature range: –20°C to +60°C; –4°F to +140°F
• Antenna impedance: 50Ω (SO-239)
• Dimensions (W×H×D, projections not included): 153×67×133mm ; 6.00×2.625×5.25 in.
• Weight (approx.): 825g; 1.8lb
• NMEA formats: NMEA version 2.0 or 3.01 RMC, GGA, GNS, GLL

Transmitter Specifications

• Output power: 25W or 1W (at 13.8V DC)
• Modulation system: Variable reactance frequency modulation
• Max. freq. deviation: ±5kHz
• Frequency error: ±10ppm
• Spurious emissions: Less than –70dBc (at 25W)
• Adj. channel power: More than 70dB
• Audio harmonic distortion: Less than 10% (at 60% dev.)
• Residual modulation: More than 40dB

Receiver Specifications

• Intermediate freq.: 1st 21.7MHz, 2nd 450kHz
• Sensitivity: 0.22μV typical at 12dB SINAD
• Squelch sensitivity: Less than 0.22μV
• Adj. Ch. selectivity: More than 70dB
• Spurious response: More than 70dB
• Intermodulation: More than 70dB
• Hum and noise: More than 40dB
• Audio output power: 4.5W typical at 10% distortion with a 4Ω load

Supplied Accessories:

• Hand microphone
• DC power cable
• Mounting bracket kit