IC-PCR2500 & Apco P25

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

Yeah Icom can not enable P25 on 800 MHz or 1.8/1.9 GHz because of all the P25 cell phones.

It seems like every recent Icom radio I look at has some stupid limitation or missing feature that makes me decide not to get it. I should have waited before buying the R2500 as it took awhile for the fatal flaw to be found. Otherwise a decent receiver although I find my AOR 8600 has slightly fewer images.

If ICOM has P25 limited on the 9500 then it is just not worth it. Given ICOM's track record it will be something else they do not get right.

I also think it is a great idea for Uniden to have a rep on the boards. I am sure it can be bothersome for him sometimes but there are bound to be a few pearls.

73 Eric

 

[KC1UA]

These little bugaboos are definitely disappointing ones. At least the 866.9875 limitation will be moot when rebanding is complete. At least nravid discovered the mod to make P25 work at 800 MHz or higher. I'd love a quality report on that John.

Speaking of quality, this is the kicker...the P25 audio quality through this radio when feeding it via the USB cable to the PC is absolutely INCREDIBLE. It is head and shoulders above Uniden, and to my ear superior to GRE. I've never had the pleasure of hearing P25 through a commercial radio but I expect that this is at least as good if not better. It's amazing how Icom can make this happen so well the first time they try it, but then completely disregard the bandplan for the place where P25 sees the most use. Ouch.

Edit: I should mention that the P25 audio is also far superior to the two AOR offerings, both of which I own. The ARD25 P25 audio is tinny, and the board that goes inside the AR8600 MKIIB sounds muddy to me. Icom nailed it...and then botched it! Paul Opitz...can you moonlight?

 

[N_Jay]

. . . It's amazing how Icom can make this happen so well the first time they try it, . . .

Maybe because ICOM has had some experience building P25 radios already?

 

[KC1UA]

Maybe because ICOM has had some experience building P25 radios already?

'Tis true, and I wasn't even thinking along those lines. I was talking purely receivers, but you're of course correct, they do obviously have quite an extensive line of P25 equipment. However, I haven't looked at the specifics of those radios, and given the blunder, I'll bet none of them work in the 800 MHz band. If I'm wrong, it's all the more mysterious.