vhf radio

The radio I pack on the ocean is an ICOM IC-M72. Does anyone else have the same radio? How do you like it? I have trouble hearing other radios, and they hearing me. I know it's a line of sight thing, but it seems like something is wrong. I also don't really know where to put the squelch on the thing as well as choosing the transmit power.
I'm going to read the manual again and see if I can figure it out.
Thanks.

Juan I remember something about I-Coms going into sleep mode

Also check the antenae. That can be the source of a weak signal on any radio.

Im pretty sure I have that same model, and ive experianced the same thing. I was yaking near other guys and I could hear there radios going off but mine wasnt.

Andy, think you have an M34, like my old one.  Check to see if you have a High/Low feature on that one.  It was on my M34, and set to High it def. worked farther.  But I also had a cheap WM used radio, 5W, that out brodcasted that ICOM hands down.

Thanks for the input, it might have been the antenae. We'll see...