The Unit I have is a CE approved M710 with ATU130e, which certainly didn't cost me ?4000 I can remember exactly but I think it was more like ?2000. To say that it is the only unit with CE approval must not be correct since prior to the GMDSS edition it was selling in Europe with CE approval so old units must have complied. Cetainly the open channel issue would cause a prob for approval.

However afterwards is another issue!!!!!

As for Ships licence etc you don't need one for a HAM radio. <G> Maybe this is the way around it all Joking aside a ships licence is a must, and cetainly there is quite alot of difference between the HAM Radios and the 710 I am not sure which I prefer certainly they both have different uses.

As for AT130 not as good as a yeasu one I have but certainly not bad and the construction is fairly solid.