Questions regarding F70DT 11

[N6RPU]

I'm interested in buying an IC-F70DT 11 portable radio (for amateur use), but I have some questions about the unit and its programming.

First, I'm wondering just how fast the radio can be set to sample the priority channel while receiving on another frequency? IIRC my old Bendix/Kings and Motorola radios could be set to sample about once every second. Does that sound right, and is this feature included with the F70 radios? And would I be able to scan analog and digital channels at the same time in the same group? I guess I'm wondering if the radio can switch modes on the fly or if that's something I have to manually change myself?

Also, can this radio be configured to transmit/receive GPS data while in digital mode? You'll have to forgive me, I'm a digital newb! I didn't see anything about that in the on-line pdf instructions... only that this feature works while in analog mode. Is this something that can be done with a third-party solution or is this not possible yet?

Lastly, I'm hoping someone can give me an idea of what I should expect to pay for this unit plus the programming software. I would want a digital enabled version with a full-keypad... maybe even a FPP option if this is available. I wouldn't need any kind of encryption enabled. The model # I got off Icom's website is IC-F70DT 11... is that correct? When I look at various on-line vendors the prices vary quite a bit. Often, the websites list the radio simply as F70... hard to tell if it's digital enabled. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction with some on-line vendors?

I really appreciate any insight you have to offer.

Regards,
Trace, N6RPU

 

[bezking]

Hi and welcome to RadioReference, Trace.

I believe that the radio can be FPP-enabled for free, but it would require entering the restricted section of the programming software. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1200-$2500 depending on options and the dealer. Unfortunately, the radio seems to be a bid hard to find. The dealers I usually use (Pactronics and GMRSOutlet) don't carry the F70 at all.

The programming software and cable will probably run you about $100 for both the software and cable. I don't know much about GPS but I do know that if you want GPS you will need to use the Icom HM-170GP GPS-enabled speaker microphone.

Due to the price and rarity of the radio, that's about as much as I know .

HTH

 

[N2DLX]

Just because a dealer doesn't list it, doesn't mean it's not available. Unless it's not a legit dealer selling a small selection of radios, any dealer with a real account with Icom can order just about anything. It generally doesn't pay to sell such high-end radios. How often do you see Motorola XTS5000's listed on online stores, excluding eBay?

Ask around!

 

[N6RPU]

Okay, thanks for the help guys. I'll keep looking and do some additional checking to make sure I find something legitimate. One site I found prices the radio (with digital) unreasonable low... makes me wonder if it's a scam.

By the way, I'm really glad I found this site. Lot of great information.

Thanks again,

Trace

 

[bezking]

Hey N6,

You may consider waiting for the F9011 - it looks like it is about to be released in the near future...

 

[N6RPU]

The F9011 looks like a really nice radio, but I suspect it will be a bit out of my price range. $2000 is a lot to pay for a portable amateur radio! I had to bribe my wife with some jewelry so she'll look the other way if I buy a couple of F70's. The on-line vendors I've come across list the F70DT 11 RC for between $1200 and $1400. I'm not sure if I could spend too much more than that, especially since I'll never use the trunking feature of the F9011.

I will say the F9011 looks like a great rig. The 1W audio output would be a welcomed improvement over the 200mW I get with my ham dual-band! And the F9511 HT looks like it would make a great mobile or base radio. But I might have to settle for the F1821D 11, which is priced similar to the F70DT 11.

Either way, I'll be interested to see what they go for. Do you have any idea when the F9011/F9511 will be released and what the ballpark pricing might be?

 

[tc792]

F9011 and F9511 is set to start shipping in December 09.

Retail Pricing:
F9011 $2,450.-$3,605.
F9511 $3,010.- $3,880.

 

[ElroyJetson]

My shop has a pair of demo F70s with the P25 option and they're VERY nice radios. I've used them
to demonstrate full P25 conventional mode interoperability with Motorola (XTS5000 and Astro Saber) and M/A-Com P7100IPs. All radios are fully interoperable and get along nicely. The F70's speaker
audio is as good as the XTS5000's and dramatically superior to the P7100. The F70's transmitted
audio is as good as the P7100 and better than the XTS5000. Battery life is good and the radio
appears to be quite adequately rugged, with a good display and controls that are easy to operate.
It's a solid choice and comes in considerably cheaper than the competition without sacrificing quality.

It does lack the "I can beat your head to a pulp with this radio and not even dent the case" sold feel of the XTS5000, but it's a solidly built radio and it does have the virtue of being pretty light.

I can investigate the questions you asked, and do know some of the answers right now. You can scan analog and digital channels in the same group of channels.

Priority sampling rate SHOULD be adjustable, but that adjustment is in the reserved section of the programming software. I'd have to take a look.

It is also front panel programmable if you enable the right options in the reserves section of the
software. Once it's enabled, you just have to figure out what buttons to hold down while turning
the radio on to access them. It's not all that tough to figure out once you know it's there, really.


Elroy

 

[N6RPU]

Thanks ElroyJetson. Sounds like the F70 would work great for me. I don't plan on beating anyone's head to a pulp, so I should be okay! I know what you mean, though. I had an old Bendix-King that could have been certified as a weapon... great radio. Have you had a chance to play with the 1821's? I'm planning on getting a couple of those as well (maybe non-digital versions) in the next couple weeks. I'm hoping they function similar to the F70s.

This is probably a silly question, but does anyone know if it will be possible to upgrade these radios so that they are P25 phase 2 compatible (6.25kc bandwidth FDMA)? Will it be as simple as upgrading a hardware component like the UT 120, and adding a software patch? I'm guessing the answer is no, but I wanted to check. Icom's website doesn't really address this, just that it's under development. Do you think Icom will release a radio that is compatible with both types of digital (phases 1 and 2)? Maybe the new 9011/9511 series? I guess I'm wondering if I'll need to spend another $2000 if I want to use a P25 FDMA type radio.

By the way, I really appreciate all of the feedback.

 

[ElroyJetson]

At this time, Icom has not announced any plans to join either the P25 trunking world or make entry into the 700/800 MHz markets. Icom is totally absent from the 800 MHz world and when I last spoke to
Icom reps at the Las Vegas IWCE show, they seemed to be set against going into that market.

I told them flat out that this was a mistake. They CAN get their share of that market IF they work at it.

I have an F1821 mobile radio in my car at this moment. I'm field testing it in what I think of as my own
acceptance testing process, prior to (possibly) replacing my Motorola Spectra with the F1821.

Since I can get upgrades at dealer cost, adding the P25 board to it is by no means cheap but at least
it is manageable in my limited budget. Its receiver seems to be at LEAST as good as the Spectra,
and I need to spec it out on the bench. Its transmitter is good at 40 watts, which should normally
be quite sufficient, but the Spectra is running 25 watts at low power and 125 watts in high power. It
reaches out and touches a long way.

The Spectra, not being an Astro model, doesn't do narrowband channel spacing and it doesn't do digital, while the F1821 does both.

Others say the Spectra has better tx audio quality than the F1821, and that's with me using the heavy
duty MB158 mic on the Icom, which is the best sounding Icom hand mic. But I'm picky about audio
quality.

I haven't decided yet. What I do wish is that the F1821 had more than five assignable function keys.
Zone, scan, scan add/delete, monitor, and selectable tone (MPL) are what I have assigned right now,
but that's not really enough. I'd also like to have repeat/direct, wide/narrow, and high/low power available to me on dedicated buttons, at the very least. With the Spectra, I have all that I need as
any button on the keypad can be assigned as I wish.

I'd also have to totally change my antenna cable runs if I were to switch over to the F1821.
But not if I were to install the optional head separation kit, turning it into a remote mount
radio. If I go with the 1821, there is no doubt that I use that kit. Remote mount IS the
way to go, for me.

But, the 1821 also DOES fit DIRECTLY into the dashboard in the available DIN standard space
under the AM/FM/CD radio. My Spectra's head is already in that location. Nothing makes for
a neater installation than with the radio mounted in the factory provided DIN space under the
car's own radio.

Frankly, I'd switch to an Astro Spectra in a heartbeat. It'd solve the entire problem for me,
but I don't mean that as a knock against the Icom in any way. The Icom is substantially easier
to program and doesn't suffer from the absolutely retarded limitation on scanning that Motorola has
put on their radios forever: Not more than 10 (or 15) channels in a single scan list.

Also, Motorola typically doesn't do more than 15 entries in ANY list. The F1821 allows up to 40
PL tones in the continuous tone list, including DPLs. That's sufficient for almost everybody.

I like the F1821, I really do. But I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Motorolan, and my longstanding familiarity
with the Motorola way of doing things means that I can adapt to their quirks easily. If anything, the
F1821 may disappoint me because of its relative SIMPLICITY. But I'm definitely a special case when
it comes to any technical equipment that I deal with. Most people want simplicity, I want flexibility
and all the buttons, knobs, and menus that that implies.

I think the F1821 is a great radio for the vast majority of users, though. I would highly recommend it.

I see every brand coming across my bench. I rate Icom as having the best combination of features,
performance, reliability, and value.

Elroy

 

[N6RPU]

Thanks Elroy,

I ordered a couple F1821's last week and should have them in the next day or two! I'll be using one as a base station at my house, and the other will replace a Yaesu FT-8800 in my personal truck. I'm really looking forward to playing with these new Icom's. If all goes well, I'll be ordering a F70DT in the next week or so.

Thanks everyone for all the input!

Regards,
Trace, N6RPU

 

[ElroyJetson]

One thing to note about the F1821 is that it will not scan unless the mic hangup button is grounded. If you intend to use scan, be sure to ground your mic hangup clip.


Elroy

 

[N6RPU]

That's good to know. I just got the radios today but I didn't have a chance to install them. The clip included with the 1821 looks identical to the one I have installed for my Yaesu mobile rig. It's screwed down to a center console/bracket I fabricated which is attached directly to the chassis of my truck. I'm just waiting for the software and programming cable, then I should be good to go. The radios have the field programming enabled, but I'd rather learn all of the settings/features with the software first.

I will say these radios are a hundred times nicer than any amateur equipment I've seen. Based on looks alone (I haven't used them yet) they seem a lot nicer than the Motorola CDM 1250' s we use at work. Plus, I paid two-thirds what my agency pays for the 1250's.

Hopefully I'll get the cable/software soon so I can get these radios set up!

 

[ElroyJetson]

Having now acquired some experience with the F1821, I've got to say that it's an impressive radio. I like it. My only complaints about it are that there's no capability to assign functions to the DTMF keypad buttons, which would be nice, and it's not quite as good at rejecting interference signals (as in computer generated interference) as I'd like. So I have to set the squelch a bit tighter. Generally I like to set
the squelch as loose as possible to keep the receiver's effective sensitivity at maximum.

I guess 256 channel capacity is enough but frankly I wouldn't mind having more. The 1000 channel
capacity of my XTS5000 has spoiled me. But having the flexibillity to assign as many channels as I want to in a single zone is very nice.

I have one zone set up with every 2 meter repeater pair. It's close to 90 programmed channels.
I use the multi tone feature (40 entries!) to find the right tone for a repeater as needed.

There is a separation kit available for the F1821 and I think I'll be getting it. I really prefer remote
mounted radios because stuffing a 50 watt radio right into the dashboard can lead to a hot,
poorly cooled radio. I try to avoid that situation.

Elroy

 

[publicsafetyradio]

Icom f9011t 30 rc

I found the Icom F9011T 30 for $1175.00 on sale till the end of the month.

Icom IC-F9011T-10 P25 Portable VHF Radio