icom radios iraq

[Guest]

http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_iraq_shows_army/

The U.S. Army standard issue squad radio, described as the “Soldier's Intercom” is the Icom IC-F3S VHF radio. It was selected in 1998 as a COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) purchase to fill the Army's need for an intra-squad radio. Soldiers had “no confidence” in it and called its range unsatisfactory. A few soldiers used their own funds to buy handsets and longer antennas for the units. Instead, “everyone” had “Motorola-type” hand-held radios with “vastly better range and power performance.” The report doesn't specify if the soldier-purchased units were designed for business or personal usage.

 

[N_Jay]

http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_iraq_shows_army/

The U.S. Army standard issue squad radio, described as the “Soldier's Intercom” is the Icom IC-F3S VHF radio. It was selected in 1998 as a COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) purchase to fill the Army's need for an intra-squad radio. Soldiers had “no confidence” in it and called its range unsatisfactory. A few soldiers used their own funds to buy handsets and longer antennas for the units. Instead, “everyone” had “Motorola-type” hand-held radios with “vastly better range and power performance.” The report doesn't specify if the soldier-purchased units were designed for business or personal usage.

My understanding is the Army got what they asked for.

http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_clarification_2/

The units were SPECIFIED to be very short range (much less than FRS).
Of cource FRS went further, it had more power.

By the way, this is old news. Anyone here know if this is posted from the same IP as the other anti-Icom post?

 

[MrPfister]

My understanding is the Army got what they asked for.

http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_clarification_2/

By the way, this is old news.

Anyone here know if this is posted from the same IP as the other anti-Icom post?

Whoever it is sure seems to be pissed at ICOM, and wants to be taking it out on the 'net.

Free speech at work, eh?
Or just a disgruntled (former) employee...
See below and you can decide:


Messages posted to over a dozen different forums, all the same type, seemingly trying to make ICOM look bad. Most of these are
posted by "radionut" or "radio guy". They both tend to use the same fake e-mail addresses "x@xx.xx", "nut@nut.com", etc...

Postings all began around Dec 15.
Someone needs to get a life...

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000079

http://www.ku4ay.net/cgi-bin/YaBB/Y...action=display&num=1103334142&start=0

http://members4.boardhost.com/nb6z/msg/253.html

http://members4.boardhost.com/nb6z/msg/254.html
(posted in another name, but checkout the e-mail address on this one "nut@nut.com")

http://www.edumela.com/edm_forum_viewtopicdetails.asp?category=10&topicid=12654

http://forum.sstol.com/ShowMessage.asp?ID=2042

http://www.artscipub.com/messageboard/messageboard.asp?command=read&id=3466

http://www.popularwireless.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000825.html

http://www.paramotorsuk.co.uk/aspBoardDetail.asp?Id=326

http://www.hamforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2587&sid=35b0d154eb82a498411c1bd328828867

http://www.lawrencecountyskywarn.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1104262383

http://www.lawrencecountyskywarn.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1103247936

http://www.radioreference.com/modul...7842&sid=38db19b776d40db0ca2946229a7139c4


http://www.radioreference.com/modul...7453&sid=38db19b776d40db0ca2946229a7139c4


http://www.grovesinternet.com/stormtrack/product.asp?categoryid=1
(strange, this one is posted in a review of a yeasu product)

http://www.apcointl.org/theexchange/index.cgi?noframes;read=3841
(radio jax)

http://www.446user.co.uk/modules.ph...&file=viewtopic&t=1877&highlight=
(look down at the bottom for another one under "radio guy")

http://ham.rvamerica.com/cfforum/viewmessages.cfm?forum=1&topic=87

 

[blantonl]

Yep, it's him.

Interesting, I wonder what his problem his, he's really gotten active.

 

[flyingwolf]

Fired and is prolly just really mad.

 

[buttsrob]

Hi Guys...

Actually, we're using ICOM F-43s now (right this very minute) in 3rd Infantry Division, in Iraq. My assessment is that they're fine radios.

I'm always skeptical about reports of "poor range, low power output" etc...because, beyond pushing the PTT button, most GIs have no idea of the capabilities and limitations of these types of radios.

Right now at FOB Dagger, near Tikrit, Iraq, we have our Tactical Operations Center (TOC) F-43 connected to a simple 1/4 wave ground plane on the roof of the palace (that is the FOB - Forward Operating Base - we work from). I'm able to talk to my troops all over the Tikrit area - at adjacent FOBs (Danger, Remagen, etc) and on the road. This is a NICE little communications system because soldiers are not tied to their vehicles. But it's not secure...the F-43 has analog speech inversion and I've had to caution my superiors and subordinates repeatedly that it is NOT encryption and NOT secure...believe me.

Anyway, with ANY radio like this the primary limitation is often the "rubber duck" antenna. As soon as you put a decent antenna on it you can talk a surprisingly long distance.


As long as we're singing the praises of Icom radios.....my personal radio here is a modified Icom IC-T90A. What a SWEET little radio!

I can talk on our tactical net...to the F-43s. I can talk to the myriad of FRS/GMRS radios that are running around, I can talk to the Iraqi police, I can talk on the "Sheriff's net" and MEDEVAC net - our emergency nets on tactical FM (SINCGARS) Radios - this is because they are "plain text" (unsecure). I can listen to FM broadcast, scan from HF to 999 MHz and listen to HF.....ALL with ONE radio. Very nice!

Those people out there who protest against radio manufacturers who make their equipment easy to modify should spend some time in my job.

I REALLY appreciate Icom's engineering on this one.

If you have any questions, etc on what else we're using please email me, etc.


MAJ Bob Butts
1-3 BTB
Tikrit, Iraq

 

[blantonl]

Major Butts (I wanted to be the first to say that) :lol:

Awesome post, keep up the good work over there!!

Lindsay

 

[racin06]

Major Butts,

Interesting information regarding the Icom radios. I know I sure do enjoy my R20 and R75 receivers.

By the way, thank you for your service to our country. You are in my prayers. Also, please tell your troops that we Hoosiers here in Indiana are behind our armed forces 100%. May God bless you, my friend.

 

[buttsrob]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Just doing my job.

Actually, it's a little boring here right now. Hope it stays that way.


Actually added another Icom radio to my collection. I found an IC-R3 while I was out on patrol. It's in good shape but needs a new battery.

Thank God for ebay! Most sellers deliver to APO addresses...it's not like the old days.

Take care.

RMB

 

[Agentblack]

:!: THANKS SO MUCH MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, FOR SERVING A GREAT COUNTRY, and protecting those who can not do it for themselves. While I do not support the pretext of the war, I support my boys and girls in every way i possibly can. Donations, care packages, various websites like www.anysoldier.com etc. LADIES AND GENTS: From one free, proud American to another, THANKS!!!

 

[N_Jay]

:!: THANKS SO MUCH MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, FOR SERVING A GREAT COUNTRY, and protecting those who can not do it for themselves.

I 100% agree!

While I do not support the pretext of the war, I support my boys and girls in every way i possibly can.

The Luxury of "monday "Morning Qtr-backing", "Back-Seat Driving", and "20-20 hindsight" is provided to you by the gratious efforts of those who make hard decisions with only the available information.

IMHO: The current pro-democtracy events in Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel/Palistine are dirrectly related to some of those decisions made with a firm strategy.

 

[Agentblack]

IM far from monday morning quarter back, but i felt that i was lied to about going to war. There were no wmd's found to date, and that was the whole reason of going to war. I felt like i was lied to about it is all i was saying. and im happy that peace is now coming to that area of the world, peace should be everywhere, but just dont lie to me if your going to be sending my boys and girls off to get killed for something that wasnt really there.

 

[N_Jay]

IM far from monday morning quarter back, but i felt that i was lied to about going to war. There were no wmd's found to date, and that was the whole reason of going to war. I felt like i was lied to about it is all i was saying.

Hence the missunderstanding.

The political machine (and yes there is one on each side) against the president has "sold" you the story that the FACT (Still questionable) that the information used to make the decisions was LATER (much later) shown to be incorrect, proves that the President and his advisors LIED to you.

This is a logical inconsistancy.

This is the same argument that coccures when ever there is a police shooting or similar event.

I.E. The office only has to show that he reasonably believed his life was in danger due to his reasonable belief that the crinminal had and would use a weapon.

If he is later found not to have a weapon, it may call thoise beliefs into question, but it does not AUTOMATICALLY make the office a LIER or the shooting unjustified.

I hope this helps with the logical argument (which is independant of the political argument). :wink:

As a paramedic (I assume you are) how would you like to be charged with "breaking and entering" just because your "belief" and "best information" was wrong when you entered a locked home to aid a person who you thought needed assistance?
:roll:

 

[Agentblack]

well we have guidelines about entering a home when someone needs help, that isnt the arguement here. I did support bush going to war at first, because i did believe the information, but as more and more garbage is happening over there to our poor guys and gals, it made me change my view about it, and i feel that after looking back over things, that i was "misinformed" or "disinformed" as uncle sam likes to do sometimes. I just dont support the political machine behind the war. just my boys and girls over seas. i have family that is stuck over there right now, and around the world at other bases, trust me, none of us really care for the political machine behind this mess. just my .02

 

[N_Jay]

well we have guidelines about entering a home when someone needs help, that isnt the arguement here. I did support bush going to war at first, because i did believe the information, but as more and more garbage is happening over there to our poor guys and gals, it made me change my view about it, and i feel that after looking back over things, that i was "misinformed" or "disinformed" as uncle sam likes to do sometimes. I just dont support the political machine behind the war. just my boys and girls over seas. i have family that is stuck over there right now, and around the world at other bases, trust me, none of us really care for the political machine behind this mess. just my .02

I agree with teh distain for the political machine on BOTH sides.

But remember, before they started to try to tear Bush down, both sides agreed on the threat. Remember, even captured Iraqi generals THOUGHT he had weapons! (Personally, I am not convinved that they have not been moved. Look at Syria's involvment in Lebanon, and tell me they can be trusted.)

Yes, you work with nice clean rules, unfourtunetly international politics does not have such a clean set.

If we did not go in and something else happened here teh uproar would be even bigger.

You can fall back and say "Protocol said I should not go in". the pres does not have that luxury!

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

Got lucky

I guess ICOM got lucky on the F43 the radio runs more power. Than the F3S radios used on VHF. I wonder though how many radios Motorola is using in IRAQ, and how they compare to the ICOM. Motorola does in my opinion make a good radio.

Never the less running simplex with other FRS radio really is not brain surgery. I am sure Kenwoods would work just as well in this application.

I heard rumour that Army CORP of engineers are have problems with the radio they purchased. So we will see how long this company continues to sell radios to the Government. No that I am mentioning any company names.

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

Radio PS

May the Army should talk to the FBI or CIA about what they use for scrambling. You can bet they do not use simple voice inversion scrambling.

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

ICOM PS

Why is the Army only using voice inversion scrabling if they are not secure?

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

more

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/1220/web-iraq-12-23-04.asp


"Woodhouse said that both Army and Central Command officials view the use of commercial radios in Iraq as too dangerous because an enemy could easily eavesdrop on their insecure communications. He said the new radio buys should eliminate that risk by providing U.S. forces with secure military systems.

Hedlund said he was aware of the risks when his troops used commercial radios, but he said any radio was better than no radio."

 

[mancow]

I'll trade you a crate of those Icom's for just one MBITR!

8)


Be careful over there.


mancow