Icom 2820h HAM dual band...

[LandCruisers4Life]

I have been debating in my head the different HAM radios for the rig. I really like this Icom radio.... I know the Yaesu radios are popular. However, this is a dual band, with 50W on either channel, and has this Diversity function if you run two antennas... it's pretty cool. Wondering your thoughts on this radio:

IC-2820H Dual Band FM Transceiver - Features - Icom America

[dfmorse]

Looks like a good rig. Might look into it myself.

The nice thing about Icom is the manuals; well written - Yaesu are poorly done.

...

[e9999]

I think stuff that have a Japanese-sounding name are more reliable...!

[LandCruisers4Life]

Oh man...

[Flyingdog5000]

Originally Posted by LandCruisers4Life

I have been debating in my head the different HAM radios for the rig. I really like this Icom radio.... I know the Yaesu radios are popular. However, this is a dual band, with 50W on either channel, and has this Diversity function if you run two antennas... it's pretty cool. Wondering your thoughts on this radio:

IC-2820H Dual Band FM Transceiver - Features - Icom America

I have a 2820 and love it. It's easy to use and has good selectivity (blanks out spurious signals such as pagers). The only problem, and they may have fixed this, is that the backlit LCD screen is biased toward a right hand drive vehicle. In other words you need to look at it from straight on, or slightly to the righ in order to be able to see it well. The Japanese being a RHD country, apparently didn't think about this when they started selling them here. I solved the problem by using a mount that points the remote head at me when I'm sitting in the drivers seat.

F-Dog

[LandCruisers4Life]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll check into that, and also that may also determine how I will mount it when I get to that point.

[LandCruisers4Life]

I just read that some users were having intermittent problems with the PTT (push to talk) function. Ridiculous considering the radio costs around $700.... I just as well, emailed Icom telling them I am not buying a radio with problems right out of the box, especially at that price. There is just NO excuse for their product not performing as it should.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Ok update on this radio. I got back a reply from the Icom representative. Here is his message:

The intermittent PTT issue was never an issue
statistically. We were
never able to reproduce it here after testing
hundreds of radios (and
although there was much chatter on the internet, no
customer ever sent
the radio in with a reproducable problem) until
finally we found one
radio that allowed us to see it about 1% of the
time. The issue was
taken care of in firmware and all radios were
updated immediately quite
some time ago.


Sincerely,
Gregg Hake
Icom Technical Support Supervisor

[LandCruisers4Life]

Now, that said I think I know what was going on. In the industry I work in, we carry Standard Horizon radios with mics around with us on the decks of platforms etc while running winches or whatever. Often, people get into a conversation and are not depressing the button all the way and either transmitting part of their message, or none. The reason it happens is they are concentrating on something else, and trying to talk at the same time and push a button. Sounds funny, but it happens. So I think this is the answer, and I plan to go ahead with this radio when the moment comes.

[spressomon]

LC4L: What do you like about the 2820H that say for instance the Yaesu 8800R does not feature? I have the 208H...but it would be nice to have a dual display dual bander.

[LandCruisers4Life]

I have not sat down with side by side comparisons, but I see that the Icom will monitor two antennas if you want to tune to a single channel, and will take the signal from the best source. Also, the Icom is 50W on both VHF and UHF bands.
I'll do a more in depth comparison today after lunch time.

[LandCruisers4Life]

I'm looking at the two radios now.

The Yaesu 8800R:

Welcome to Yaesu.com


The Icom 2820H:

IC-2820H Dual Band FM Transceiver - Features - Icom America


Icom 2820H Diversity reception (best signal - 2 antennas)...

ICOM IC-2820 Diversity Reception

The Icom seems to have all the features the Yaesu has, and a few more- as well as having the optional Dstar function if you want that.

I have also read online various users complaining the Yaesu's buttons and knobs were too easy to move, whereas the Icom's felt more sure, and didn't move from where you set them as easily. Also read that the buttons on the face of the Yaesu didn't have any sort of protection against dust etc.

Pretty sure I am still going with the Icom when the time comes.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by LandCruisers4Life

I have not sat down with side by side comparisons, but I see that the Icom will monitor two antennas if you want to tune to a single channel, and will take the signal from the best source. Also, the Icom is 50W on both VHF and UHF bands.
I'll do a more in depth comparison today after lunch time.

Like all specs keep in mind the power rating is a manufacturer's spec. I saw an indy test of output power somewhere (sorry I can't find the link now) that proved the ratings from the manufacturers (HAM mobile equipment) were not totally accurate. I wasn't trying to dissuade you from the Icom...just curious how you arrived at your decision because I might one day be in the market for a dual display dual bander.

[brokenparts]

I just recently picked up a yeasu 8800r and love it so far. Good quality and more functions that I know what to do with but still easy enough to use for a newb Ham guy like me.

[LandCruisers4Life]

I agree that most of these radios are way more than a 4 wheeler needs

Dan-

Power output can, and will vary from radio to radio. As I think I had told you before, I used to work on microwave transceivers, and a lot of that stuff is tuned by hand and a watchful eye on an oscilloscope. I am sure it's the same with these HAM radios as well. In this case the HAM transceiver is only a few hundred bucks, while the microwave stuff I worked on was $300,000 per radio Each circuit board cost about $5,000.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Like everyone else, I am constantly wondering where I am going to put the things I want to eventually install. With the HAM, since I will have a unit with a remote head, I think that gineric lc's install location was a nice idea. I don't wear sun glasses anyway because I need prescriptions, and the location he used gets rid of the useless (to me) flip down sunglass holder in the Cruiser. Now, another location I am seriously considering, is actually attaching a RAM type mount to the front of my ashtray, and placing the radio head on the other end. This would allow me to position it near the mother unit and give me a good view and easy access. I am almost positive I am going the ashtray mount route, but I'll know more when I get the radio in hand to check it out.

Here is gineric LC's mounting location (swiped from his thread)