ICOM R20 Owners

[SCPD]

Hows the HF performance hooked up to a Loop?

Surprisingly good. I was expecting it to overload the R20's frontend but it doesn't.

The R20 doesn't really have much in the way of a filter for weaker signals so they tend to be very weak. Strong SSB signals are just fine.

AM mode is very good. The audio quality is limited from such a small speaker but it's not terrible. It's relatively good considering the small package.

 

[parnass]

A 9-year old review I wrote of the original ICOM IC-R20 may be downloaded here: http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtscan1104.pdf

 

[Para47]

I would say get the rechargeable version.
You can then use normal batteries if you wish as you get a spacer thrown in.
Best of both worlds makes it a no brainer lol

 

[wbswetnam]

I like my R-20 that I bought a few years ago, it is a solid performer. It can be very complicated to program the memories and set up the banks without software, though.

 

[SCPD]

R20 OWNERS Question

Can you enter a frequency at will then tune around with the tuning knob or do you have to hit VFO first or can this not be done?

Can you do the same with up+down arrow keys?

Is the audio loud?

Do you receive decent on all bands with the stock antenna?

 

[mancow]

Can you enter a frequency at will then tune around with the tuning knob or do you have to hit VFO first or can this not be done?

You have to exit memory mode and go to VFO like most radios. It won't start free tuning off a parked memory channel.

Can you do the same with up+down arrow keys?

Yes

Is the audio loud?

Yes

Do you receive decent on all bands with the stock antenna?

Yes, except HF which is to be expected of any radio.

 

[SCPD]

vfo

You have to exit memory mode and go to VFO like most radios. It won't start free tuning off a parked memory channel.


if I goto VFO and enter 100.3 Mhz,can I tune with the knob and arrows from there?




Thanks for your replies!

 

[SCPD]

Is the audio loud? Do you receive decent on all bands with the stock antenna?

Actually the audio is decent on VHF/UHF but rather low, IMHO, on HF. I attached it to the perfect antenna and had to play with the gain settings a bit but the audio was still fairly low.

The stock antenna does a decent job with HF in an outdoor setting, such as park, etc. If you're near any bad RF spots and/or bombarded with RFI, then it won't work as well. A 60-ft wire antenna (with matching un-un) (and short coaxial lead) would probably be ideal for the radio. (Ideal in that you can have maximum gain.)

I've listened to CB AM, CB SSB, HAMs and utility stations with no problem. It's all about having realistic expectations... that being said, it is VERY good for a wide-band *portable* radio.

 

[SCPD]

Icom r20

Well I hope the audio is as good as the AOR8200 's was....

 

[SCPD]

The audio is low on this and the receive is way less than my Yupiteru,I have the recharegable version and it is continous,I put a garmin GPS speaker out of a c550 and the quality has went up alot.
Im gonna try and make it more sensitive with the Service mode,I'll let you know how it works out.
I am listening to shortwave,it holds onto the signal quite well,I just wish it was more sensitive.

 

[wbswetnam]

For me also, the volume can be very low on HF frequencies. I use mine with an AOR WL500 active HF antenna and it works so much better than with the stock antenna. Performance on VHF and UHF is exceptional, in my opinion. It is my MOST SENSITIVE radio on VHF / UHF, even better than my Pro-96 scanner. As with most radios, you'll get much better performance if you upgrade the antenna.

 

[K2KOH]

I got mine a few years ago for aircraft monitoring. What's great about it is you can listen to VHF/UHF and HF with a portable belt clip radio. I bought a spare battery and have yet to use it. Enjoy it!

 

[Turbo68]

I got my R20 when it first came out it does an excellent job monitoring hf,vhf aircraft...

Regards Lino..

 

[SCPD]

Dead from factory

I got mine a few years ago for aircraft monitoring. What's great about it is you can listen to VHF/UHF and HF with a portable belt clip radio. I bought a spare battery and have yet to use it. Enjoy it!

Well after a few hours of playing with the service menu,my icom R20 now actualy receives and has ok audio,I swapped the speaker with one from a Garmin C550 and its "liveable" now,the speaker that comes
with this is screechy and distorted!After playing with the service menu ,I was able to use the bnc antenna
that comes with it to receive 40meter,80 meter,10 meter,and shortwave on 4,6,7Mhz,14mhz and wayyyy better am radio receive,I am getting CHML 900am out of Ottawa Canada at night with RF gain set to 5 using the bar antenna! Yay! The FM broadcast band works better but is not selective at all.Oh well,it works better now and thats all that matters,the battery lasts forever (all day).

 

[SCPD]

yeah?

I got my R20 when it first came out it does an excellent job monitoring hf,vhf aircraft...

Regards Lino..

You should see mine ! It really gets aircraft now! I actually have to turn down my Rf gain.

 

[K2KOH]

What did you do in the service menu?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mancow]

You have to exit memory mode and go to VFO like most radios. It won't start free tuning off a parked memory channel.


if I goto VFO and enter 100.3 Mhz,can I tune with the knob and arrows from there?




Thanks for your replies!

yes

 

[mancow]

You should see mine ! It really gets aircraft now! I actually have to turn down my Rf gain.

Can you help us out with fine tuning ours as well. Mine works fine but if I can eek out some more performance I will.

 

[SCPD]

The way i got into the service menu is get a 3.5MM audio jack,short the two INNER pins on mine it was red and white wires(YOUR TEST JIG).Then plug it in from the speaker jack on the side.hold down 8 and BAND,MR+MAIN+POWER or (the three in the corner) and power on.Next you wanna write down all YOUR values.You navigate the ITEMS with SCOPE .You lock in values with 8 + LOCK quickly! Knob changes some values.
the way i do it is adjust for highest signal values with squelch OPEN and test jig out while adusting.I would leave squelch open .
Anyone that cant do it,and you want me to you can PM me.The HF frequencies is all that I would mess with,dont touch anything else.
My hf now works,before I would say i would need to attach a real antenna to get what I get now. I will post my values when I mess with it again.
You are supposed to do this with a frequency generator,but you know what?It doesnt make a difference.

 

[WB2KTG]

k2rty-

The R-20 Service Manual, and User Manual as well as the manuals of many other ICOM radios can be found at Icom receivers

The Service Menu goes into detail about the "test jig" (shorted plug) and all the other details beginning at page 5-1. From the detailed instructions given, it appears that you need to hook a multimeter to various test points and measure values, input various frequencies from a signal generator, measure frequencies with a frequency counter. I, personally, would not feel comfortable working on a radio of this complexity without following procedures exactly. Only one way to make it right, all other ways make it wrong. And probably the adjustments don't just change one parameter, like HF operation, they will probably affect other performance - Perhaps if you just adjust for HF optimization, other frequency bands will be maladjusted. Just sayin'...