Understanding VHF radio IP ratings
Oct 18, 2006 22:18:32 GMT -1
Post by martinw on Oct 18, 2006 22:18:32 GMT -1
Understanding the IP rating on your VHF radio.
An IP rating consists of up to 3 digits, corresponding to the products ability to resist solid objects, liquids, and mechanical shocks. In practice, the third digit is rarely used and, where waterproofing is the big issue, the first digit is often missed out as well - replaced by a cross to give a rating such as IPX7.
In simple terms, the higher the number, the better the protection. For boat use, IPX4 or IPX5 is just about OK in the cabin or under a sprayhood, IPX6 is OK in an open cockpit and IPX7 is enough to withstand swilling around in the bottom of a dinghy, or in our case, sea kayaking.
If you ever need IPX8, you've probably lost the radio anyway!!!.
Take a look at this to give you a better understanding.
IP 1st
digit. Protection against solid bodies
0------- no protection
1------- protection against objects>50mm diameter
2------- protection against objects>12.5mm diameter
3------- protection against objects>2.5mm diameter
4------- protection against objects>1mm diameter
5------- limited ingress of dust, so long as no damage caused
6------- totally protected against ingress of dust
IP 2nd
digit protection against harmful ingress of water
0------- no protection
1------- protected against drops of water falling vertically (but limited ingress permitted)
2------- protected against drops of water falling vertically, while tilted 15 degrees (limited ingress permitted)
3------- protected against water sprayed at up to 60 degrees from the vertical (limited ingress permitted)
4------- protected against water splashed from any direction (limited ingress permitted)
5------- protected against low pressure jets of water from any direction (limited ingress permitted)
6------- protected against strong jets of water
7------- protected against immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes
8------- protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths
So to put all of this into context, if you have the Icom M71 which has an IP rating of IPX8 that means its 'protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths'
Or if you have the Entel HT640 like Kev hatter and George have, its got a rating of IP68 which means its totally protected against ingress of dust and its protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths.
If you are looking to buy your first vhf radio or even upgrading to a new one take into account the IP rating, because don't forget, you will fall off your yak!! I would say that any radio with an IP rating of 6 and up will do the job for the conditions we put them through.
An IP rating consists of up to 3 digits, corresponding to the products ability to resist solid objects, liquids, and mechanical shocks. In practice, the third digit is rarely used and, where waterproofing is the big issue, the first digit is often missed out as well - replaced by a cross to give a rating such as IPX7.
In simple terms, the higher the number, the better the protection. For boat use, IPX4 or IPX5 is just about OK in the cabin or under a sprayhood, IPX6 is OK in an open cockpit and IPX7 is enough to withstand swilling around in the bottom of a dinghy, or in our case, sea kayaking.
If you ever need IPX8, you've probably lost the radio anyway!!!.
Take a look at this to give you a better understanding.
IP 1st
digit. Protection against solid bodies
0------- no protection
1------- protection against objects>50mm diameter
2------- protection against objects>12.5mm diameter
3------- protection against objects>2.5mm diameter
4------- protection against objects>1mm diameter
5------- limited ingress of dust, so long as no damage caused
6------- totally protected against ingress of dust
IP 2nd
digit protection against harmful ingress of water
0------- no protection
1------- protected against drops of water falling vertically (but limited ingress permitted)
2------- protected against drops of water falling vertically, while tilted 15 degrees (limited ingress permitted)
3------- protected against water sprayed at up to 60 degrees from the vertical (limited ingress permitted)
4------- protected against water splashed from any direction (limited ingress permitted)
5------- protected against low pressure jets of water from any direction (limited ingress permitted)
6------- protected against strong jets of water
7------- protected against immersion in water up to 1m deep for 30 minutes
8------- protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths
So to put all of this into context, if you have the Icom M71 which has an IP rating of IPX8 that means its 'protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths'
Or if you have the Entel HT640 like Kev hatter and George have, its got a rating of IP68 which means its totally protected against ingress of dust and its protected against longer periods of immersion or to greater depths.
If you are looking to buy your first vhf radio or even upgrading to a new one take into account the IP rating, because don't forget, you will fall off your yak!! I would say that any radio with an IP rating of 6 and up will do the job for the conditions we put them through.
