racin06...With such a big collection of very expensive name brand radios, that is really great to hear that you are impressed with the IC-R15 on airband. After some testing, let us know how the Alinco compares to the IC-R15
I do not understand why Alinco wouldn't come up with a way to decode VDL. This why I won't buy that radio.
I emailed Alinco USA about this. Said he had to ask corporate for an answer. Never heard back. That was 2 months ago. Am guessing it would be a hardware issue or prefer to come out with a new radio to sell. Maybe if allot of folks would ask this question to Alinco, we can get an answer.
Below are short videos of the R30 and R15 on an AWOS located at Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport which is 8.5 miles from my home. The antenna used is the Radtel Airband Antenna, which is a great antenna for the price! Volume is set to 25 on both radios. ANL is enabled on both radios. The R15 is receiving one bar of signal, the R30 is receiving 2 bars. Though I really don't know if that is that relevant. The voice is clearly more audible on the R15 versus the R30. Also, my Alinco DJ-X100T detected nothing but noise.
R15 AWOS
R30 AWOS
R15 AWOS
R30 AWOS
Have noticed the audio being better on my R15 than the R30. Now if Icom could pull there head out of there arse and make a R30 replacement the size of the R15, Icom would rule the handheld receiver market.
And ability to decode VDL Mode 2 to that list.
I sure hope Icom develops an R30 replacement (R40?). I would keep the current frequency range and analog modes the same, and add DMR, and Fusion to the current D-STAR, NXDN, and P25 digital modes. Also, add trunking capability! If Icom could do this, it would give Uniden a run for their money. I would pay $1500 for such a scanner/receiver. I can only dream 😀.
EuropeanUser
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I would also add TETRA because one can dream.
Icom will never do DMR. Have emailed them in the past as others have. Flat out NO.
One QOL improvement that I think would be kind of easy to do is to have a dark mode… I’d use that all day long 200% of the time 
vagrant
ker-muhj-uhn
I enjoy using the R30 keypad for direct frequency entry, quick key options and other features not available on the R15. The R30 is a receiver and the size is fine.
My valuation of the R15 remains at $300 or less. This is due to the other equipment I have and zero need for an R15. In a word: superfluous. Still, I am not advocating that the R15 is a poor device. Of course if one could control it remotely, like the R30, it would certainly increase my valuation for it.
What key pad is that? Have seen it before but can't remember where.
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
@vagrant I'm with you on the $300 valuation. My R30 is fantastic (plus I have R6s and R2s). While I love my icom handhelds...the R15 price continually makes me stop and think about what I'd be getting for my money. Only analog, no SSB, no keypad, and honestly that white background would be a problem after a while. It's priced nearly the same as the R30 was but with significant features missing vs possible minor performance gains over the R30. Not saying I'd never get one but not sure the value is there.
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