Icom: IC-905

[bearcatrp]

Fail before it starts. That’s one expensive radio.

 

[prcguy]

Fail before it starts. That’s one expensive radio.

Yes, there will be a very limited audience for this radio. My hats off to Icom for breaking new ground but its going to cost them a bunch if sales are what I think they will be.

I'm known for buying ridiculous radio stuff and and trying to hang with the high end guys, but not with this thing.

 

[palmerjrusa]

So $3,499.95 for the transceiver, $999.95 for the 10GHz module and you need antennas so the three recommended run $349.95 each for a grand total of $5,549.75. I think I'll pass for the moment on a 905. Not because its expensive but because its stupid expensive.

Actually, when you add up the costs for this functionality via other means it compares favorably.

I'm sure Icom have done their homework re the financials.

 

[prcguy]

Actually, when you add up the costs for this functionality via other means it compares favorably.

I'm sure Icom have done their homework re the financials.

I'm not saying its too expensive to engineer or produce or that the features are not pricy to come by. I'm saying very few hams will be able to justify the price or afford it outright. Everyone will want it but everyone wants a Ferrari 250 GTO, just very few on this planet can afford one of those.

 

[palmerjrusa]

I'm not saying its too expensive to engineer or produce or that the features are not pricy to come by. I'm saying very few hams will be able to justify the price or afford it outright. Everyone will want it but everyone wants a Ferrari 250 GTO, just very few on this planet can afford one of those.

Just got a tax refund that would more than cover it, but will wait and see, this is completely new RF territory for me.

 

[prcguy]

Maybe someone can make a poll to see who will commit to buying an IC-905 now that the pricing is finalized. That would give some indication of its potential sales. I suppose people could add comments on this thread if they plan on buying one.

 

[vagrant]

Maybe someone can make a poll to see who will commit to buying an IC-905 now that the pricing is finalized. That would give some indication of its potential sales. I suppose people could add comments on this thread if they plan on buying one.

Several months ago I seriously considered purchasing the 905. After a few seconds of thought I concluded I would need to purchase two in order to communicate with someone else. In less then half a second I realized how often we would use them. A few milliseconds later it lost to all of the other fun toys I would enjoy more often.

I truly would love to use one at 7000’ ASL in the Sierra Nevada mountain range during the ARRL VHF contests, but things are slim on 900 MHz already, let alone 23cm and up.

 

[G7RUX]

So $3,499.95 for the transceiver, $999.95 for the 10GHz module and you need antennas so the three recommended run $349.95 each for a grand total of $5,549.75. I think I'll pass for the moment on a 905. Not because its expensive but because its stupid expensive.

It's an expensive beastie, yes, but I won't be placing an order until I know if I can fit the RF unit at a remote site and run it over our segregated network.

 

[G7RUX]

It's an expensive beastie, yes, but I won't be placing an order until I know if I can fit the RF unit at a remote site and run it over our segregated network.

By way of explanation, I am responsible for looking after a number of high rooftop installations in the London area and being able to install the RF unit at one of those would give me excellent coverage. However, I don't want to be "up there" to operate my radio but I would like to use our in-house network to control the RF unit from my workshop so I can have the control unit on my desk in the workshop but take advantage of the nice high antenna site.

 

[bearcatrp]

Just got a tax refund that would more than cover it, but will wait and see, this is completely new RF territory for me.

We will wait for you to buy it and tell us all about it. Will be interesting to here the review when whoever buys one. Does make me wonder since Icom made this radio if they will make a receiver up to 10 GHz. Myself, am hoping for a new handheld receiver with a nice waterfall display.

 

[palmerjrusa]

We will wait for you to buy it and tell us all about it. Will be interesting to here the review when whoever buys one. Does make me wonder since Icom made this radio if they will make a receiver up to 10 GHz. Myself, am hoping for a new handheld receiver with a nice waterfall display.

If Icom announce a new handheld receiver with a color display just take my $$$ now why don't you...

 

[G7RUX]

If Icom announce a new handheld receiver with a color display just take my $$$ now why don't you...

The ID52 has a colo(u)r display and a waterfall plot can be enabled if you wish.

 

[bearcatrp]

I had the 52. Sold it as it was neutered. Would love to have a R30 guts in the 52 body with that display.

 

[palmerjrusa]

The ID52 has a colo(u)r display and a waterfall plot can be enabled if you wish.

I know, own an ID52, it lacks some features the IC-R30 has though.

 

[palmerjrusa]

The IC-905 may be selling quite well.

DXEngineering indicated a status of in stock in a few days.

Now the projected ship date is Jul 3, looks like they may have already sold out their first shipment from Icom.

 

[vagrant]

The IC-905 may be selling quite well.

DXEngineering indicated a status of in stock in a few days.

Now the projected ship date is Jul 3, looks like they may have already sold out their first shipment from Icom.

Nice...eventually when operators do not make contacts on those higher frequencies, I expect the 905 will start popping up on QRZ at a much reduced price.

 

[G7RUX]

Nice...eventually when operators do not make contacts on those higher frequencies, I expect the 905 will start popping up on QRZ at a much reduced price.

Operating on the microwave bands is rather different to VHF/UHF even, with height becoming all the more important and diffraction becoming less pronounced. I have operated on 10 GHz for some years (since the early 1990s) and it works very well with some interesting propagation modes available at the right times and in the right places.
If people expect it to be "magic" like 6m then they will likely be rather disappointed.

 

[G7RUX]

I had the 52. Sold it as it was neutered. Would love to have a R30 guts in the 52 body with that display.

In what way(s) is it "neutered?"

 

[G7RUX]

I know, own an ID52, it lacks some features the IC-R30 has though.

Which features on the R30 are missing on the 52?

 

[palmerjrusa]

Which features on the R30 are missing on the 52?

The lowest frequency resolution on the ID-52 is 5 kHz.

Frequency resolutions on the IC-R30 (sub 5 kHz) = 3.125 kHz, 1 kHz, 0.1 kHz and 0.01 kHz