Icom: Icom IC-2730

[kayn1n32008]

Well... This looks interesting. Although there is not nearly enough info on the website yet.

IC-2730A VHF/UHF Dual Band Transceiver - Options - Icom America

It seems they are continuing their thinking of 'here is the radio cheap, now we will rape you on all the bits and pieces you need for mobile mounting'


And true split tone... Looks like one manufacturers are actually listening... Besides CSI.



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[mrweather]

And true split tone... Looks like one manufacturers are actually listening... Besides CSI.

Indeed. My Motorola Sabers can do split tone. Welcome to 1987 Icom.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Indeed. My Motorola Sabers can do split tone. Welcome to 1987 Icom.

Now one just needs to make a dot matrix display that allows more than 6 alpha characters...


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[N8IAA]

So, it's an upgraded 2820 with a different screen, Bluetooth, less frequency coverage, and definitely less in the box. Oh, wait, no D-Star capabilities
Typical Icom:roll:
Larry

 

[kayn1n32008]

So, it's an upgraded 2820 with a different screen, Bluetooth, less frequency coverage, and definitely less in the box. Oh, wait, no D-Star capabilities
Typical Icom:roll:
Larry

Depending on what Icom asks for it, and what some of the features are, I may be interested in it. Unless you are doing much scanning, which you would be better off having a scanner... What does the frequency range really matter... It's ham gear...

 

[AK9R]

The IC-2820 is discontinued and it was an expensive radio. That leaves Icom with the D-Star-oriented and one band-at-a-time ID-880 and the very pricey ID-5100 to compete in the dual-band analog market against the Kenwood TM-V71 and Yaesu FT-8800. The IC-2730 may be intended to compete in that market. It will depend on the pricing.

 

[N4KVE]

Indeed. My Motorola Sabers can do split tone. Welcome to 1987 Icom.

Yeah, but the Saber, & System Saber have their own problem doing it. When your Saber has a freq programmed for split PL, & you need to go to "talk around" or "simplex" on that split PL freq, it will now TX the input PL tone, not the output PL which will be necessary to talk on the output freq. So your Saber will be transmitting on the output freq using the input PL. The Jedi's, & newer radios do not have this problem.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Yeah, but the Saber, & System Saber have their own problem doing it. When your Saber has a freq programmed for split PL, & you need to go to "talk around" or "simplex" on that split PL freq, it will now TX the input PL tone, not the output PL which will be necessary to talk on the output freq. So your Saber will be transmitting on the output freq using the input PL. The Jedi's, & newer radios do not have this problem.

I think the point was more or less most commercial gear has had the ability to support split tones for decades. I've got some rock bound radios from the 60's that can be set up for split tones.

Then again, I'm aware of very few amateur repeaters in the US with split tones (mainly closed systems). I probably know more with DOS than split tones.

 

[profiledescent]

Still doesn't have narrowband capability. SMH

Too bad that mil-spec doesn't extend to the mic. I've had to come up with work arounds on all of my Icom mic keys.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Still doesn't have narrowband capability.

Why is that a big deal... They are for ham band, not LMR.

Really, the scan speed is so slow, they make really lousy scanners for public safety listening to begin with.


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[Boatanchor]

Still doesn't have narrowband capability. SMH

According to the spec sheet, it does have Narrowband (NFM) and it also includes AM RX for those interested in Airband monitoring. The inclusion of AM, NFM and true dual RX, means this radio may well replace my trusted and virtually bulletproof IC-208h's.

For reference, a cut & paste from the spec sheet:

Selectivity More than 60dB/55dB (W/N)

Audio Output Power More than 2W (10% dist. 8&#937
External speaker connector 2-conductor 3.5(d) mm 1/8"/4Ω

Receiver sensitivity
FM/FM-N (12dB SINAD)
137–159.995MHz*
375–399.995MHz
500–550.000MHz
160–174.000MHz
400–499.995MHz*

AM/AM-N (10dB S/N)
118–136.991MHz
*Except amateur bands.

–10dBμ
–5dBμ
–5dBμ
–5dBμ
–10dBμ

The full Operating Manual is available here:
http://www.icomamerica.com/en/downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?Document=699

And yes, it seems Icom remain stuck in the late '90's with their crappy 6 digit alphanumeric channel naming function, Ughhhh! - Why in this day and age don't they spend a few more $'s and install a Dot matrix display???

 

[Boatanchor]

Icom IC-2730A, Icom IC-2730 Amateur Mobile Transceiver

$379.

A pretty sharp price IMHO.

Me thinks it might be time to update

 

[MTS2000des]

Looks like a decent competitor to the V-71A, has optional Bluetooth (hang onto your wallet..a C-note for the board, and another C-note and a half for their Bluetooth mike).

But what threw me back is NO BRACKET INCLUDED for the radio? Are you friggin serious? Another $30 for a stinkin bracket? Come on now, selling a radio without a mounting bracket is like selling a car with "tires not included".

This raises the price to $400. Alot of money for an analog dual band. And since it is remote mount only, you'll have to pitch in with your choice of speaker. Unless you mount the radio body somewhere nearby.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Looks like a decent competitor to the V-71A, has optional Bluetooth (hang onto your wallet..a C-note for the board, and another C-note and a half for their Bluetooth mike).

But what threw me back is NO BRACKET INCLUDED for the radio? Are you friggin serious? Another $30 for a stinkin bracket? Come on now, selling a radio without a mounting bracket is like selling a car with "tires not included".

This raises the price to $400. Alot of money for an analog dual band. And since it is remote mount only, you'll have to pitch in with your choice of speaker. Unless you mount the radio body somewhere nearby.

I wonder if it's just the bracket for the head unit that's not included…3M tape works very well for head brackets if you're just sticking them on the dash or something.

I honestly wish trucks and SUV's were sold like that. The tires offered by the factory are generally useless for anything but highway use. Then again, I live somewhere where you can get stuck on a county road after it rains, especially if you don' have 4wd.

Why is that a big deal... They are for ham band, not LMR.

Really, the scan speed is so slow, they make really lousy scanners for public safety listening to begin with.


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I don't see the need for narrow band on an amateur radio either. One could make the argument that narrowband amateur is against FCC regs but for listening, it really doesn't matter as narowbanding was announced 15 years out and in that 15 years radio use dropped significantly in most of the country. There really isn't a need to fill a lot of the in between channels that narrow banding created so listening with a wideband radio doesn't make much of a difference.

 

[kayn1n32008]

I wonder if it's just the bracket for the head unit that's not included…3M tape works very well for head brackets if you're just sticking them on the dash or something.

According to the manual it does not include ANY brackets... But does include a hook to hang the mic up... Another bone of contention... Using a hook... I LOVE my Kenwood simply for the real mic hanger.

I honestly wish trucks and SUV's were sold like that. The tires offered by the factory are generally useless for anything but highway use. Then again, I live somewhere where you can get stuck on a county road after it rains, especially if you don' have 4wd.

Agreed. Even for the highway they are almost useless... Becoming useless in the nice cold Alberta winters, and useless in the wet Alberta springs... Fine on dry, warm pavement though.

I don't see the need for narrow band on an amateur radio either. One could make the argument that narrowband amateur is against FCC regs but for listening, it really doesn't matter as narowbanding was announced 15 years out and in that 15 years radio use dropped significantly in most of the country. There really isn't a need to fill a lot of the in between channels that narrow banding created so listening with a wideband radio doesn't make much of a difference.

I guess that's ok for those that still have their public safety on V/UHF, but really, it's not like amateur radio is going to 'narrowband' like LMR had too.


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[MTS2000des]

I wonder if it's just the bracket for the head unit that's not included….

According to Universal Radio's page, the radio bracket is NOT included, it's the MBF-4, and it's another $29.99.

The IC-2730A comes with: HM-207 hand mic, microphone hanger, OPC-837 Controller cable (11.4 ft), spare fuse and CD with Owner's Manual and CS-2730 software (as free download - soon). Please note the mobile mounting bracket is not included (see optional MBF-4). Requires 13.8VDC at 13 amps.

Icom IC-2730A, Icom IC-2730 Amateur Mobile Transceiver

 

[profiledescent]

Why is that a big deal... They are for ham band, not LMR.

I konow of several amateur repeaters set up in narrowband mode. In time (next 30 years?) we will probably ransition to narrowband.

It would have been a simple add.

 

[profiledescent]

According to the spec sheet, it does have Narrowband (NFM)

So does my 2820 and 20 year old TM-V7, BUT NOT the narrowband splinter freqs. I should have been more specific. Being able to go into narrowband mode, but not being able to use the vacated bandwidth either side is a waste. Icom has to be leaving this out intentionally, with the market plan of selling us True Narrowband 5 years from now.

I love my 2820s, and will keep them for DSTAR. Other than that, I've moved on to commercial grade where I can play regardless of bandwidth (Hardware imposed) restrictions and not rebuild the flimsey mic key every 15 months. The 2730 is a nice looking rig, but offers nothing over the 2820 for me.

 

[kayn1n32008]

So does my 2820 and 20 year old TM-V7, BUT NOT the narrowband splinter freqs. I should have been more specific. Being able to go into narrowband mode, but not being able to use the vacated bandwidth either side is a waste. Icom has to be leaving this out intentionally, with the market plan of selling us True Narrowband 5 years from now.

Yet VHF ham band plans are 20KHz or 30KHz.

The ONLY users I know of using 7.5kHz splinter channels is Part 90 users.

 

[kayn1n32008]

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