Icom: New D-STAR handheld: Icom ID-52A/E

[AK9R]

Limited modes and spacing on different frequencies.

It was designed as a 2m/70cm amateur radio for FM and D-STAR communications. By all reports, it fills that role quite well. Icom, like most other amateur radio manufacturers, intends the radios they build for the amateur radio market to be used for amateur radio. Any other capabilities they include in the radio is gravy.

If you want a scanner, buy a scanner. I don't think there's anything to be gained by trying to make the ID-52 fit whatever role outside of amateur radio that you have in mind.

 

[bearcatrp]

Anything other capabilities they include in the radio is gravy.

Yeah, I was wanting the gravy. Still testing it out but so far, the gravy isn't that good.

 

[K2KOH]

I honestly looked at the ID52, and I can't see paying to upgrade from the ID51. But to each their own! Enjoy your new radios!

 

[jazzboypro]

Is it just me or does it seem Icom neutered this radio? Limited modes and spacing on different frequencies.

What did you expect exactly ?

 

[bearcatrp]

Learning as I go and am finding more things that seems weird. I program air band civilian. Get allot of options for stepping but go to quick button, you only get 3. Same goes for mil air band. Would think in both menus it would be same. Guess not. Finally hooked it up to my discone. Wow. Talk about bury the needle to a airport tower about 15 miles away. My R30 and my R8500 only produced 3/4 bars on same discone and voice was not as good as the 52A. Starting to get impressed with it. Just have to learn the ins and outs with it.

 

[W3APX]

Been playing with my 52 now for almost a week. I think I finally got it programmed how I wanted it. Haven't made a QSO yet with it but so far im incredibly impressed with this radio. It's become my everyday carry radio and everything about it just works well. ICOM really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Battery life doesn't bother me and the quality is just fantastic.

 

[vagrant]

@W3GXP Your note about battery life and no QSO yet has me wondering what kind of battery life you are getting when just receiving. If your battery life is lower than expected, is it due to waterfall use? I may be reading too much into your post and just curious.

 

[W3APX]

@W3GXP Your note about battery life and no QSO yet has me wondering what kind of battery life you are getting when just receiving. If your battery life is lower than expected, is it due to waterfall use? I may be reading too much into your post and just curious.

Battery life to me is very good on just receive. I've had it on a few hours each day whether its just driving around or sitting at the house and I've still got 2 bars left on the indicator. Again thats with no transmitting so your results could be different as well.

 

[W3APX]

You can program those commands as a memory channel. The DStar calculator in RT Systems software works great for that. Maybe the attached PDF will help.

I saw those. Best way I figured out to do it was to program the hotspot into the repeater memory and use it through the DR function. Im using the single band display so I can swap between memory and DR mode for the hotspot. Seems to work the way I want it to. New radio new way of doing things. Im learning.

 

[N4DJC]

It takes a bit of time getting accustomed to the various menu options. I have mine set up the same as you @W3GXP works quite well I think.

 

[dmaria]

Battery life to me is very good on just receive. I've had it on a few hours each day whether its just driving around or sitting at the house and I've still got 2 bars left on the indicator. Again thats with no transmitting so your results could be different as well.

I left mine on ( no transmitting ) for 9-1/2 hours and still had one bar left with the included battery. I can't complain about that. I only gt about 6 hours with my TH-D74.

 

[N3CI]

Mine is working great during several DSTAR QSOs and lots of monitoring. Battery just went red for the first time. Very pleased.

 

[wb4sqi]

Ordered a 52a today from HRO. Have enjoyed using my 51a and 705 via hotspot in the past. DMR has grown tiresome for me so I’m moving back to D-Star. Been out of the loop so need to re-learn d-star. Hope to take it to Pigeon Forge, TN next week if it arrives before I leave. Tips for that area are appreciated.

 

[slowfox]

Has anyone here actually tried Ham Radio Outlet's MARS MOD service? I am looking into purchasing the ID-52A and getting it with MARS MOD just to give myself some flexibility in cases of emergencies. I am doing a lot of backcountry hiking. Any thoughts on having that MOD performed by HRO when ordering the radio? I believe this allows you to preserve the warranty?

 

[AK9R]

Before I asked any dealer to modify a brand new ID-52, I'd contact Icom America and verify that the warranty remains in effect. Some dealers claim that they can mod a radio and maintain the warranty, but they are referring to the store's warranty and not the manufacturer's or importer's warranty.

And, before you mod a radio "in case of emergency" ask yourself who you plan to talk to in this emergency. Many public safety agencies have switched to frequencies or communications modes that an ID-52 is not capable of. And, many public safety agency dispatchers are trained to ignore non-authorized users who might come up on their frequencies. If you are backcountry hiking outside of cell phone range, there are better and more reliable options than a modified amateur radio.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I'm going to have mine modded so I can use the Marine band when on Lake Michigan.

It's also handy for GMRS and perhaps FRS.

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, it is against federal law for car warranty providers to deny a claim or void a warranty because vehicle maintenance was performed by the owner.

This applies to more than cars.

 

[N2YQT]

I'm going to have mine modded so I can use the Marine band when on Lake Michigan.

It's also handy for GMRS and perhaps FRS.

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, it is against federal law for car warranty providers to deny a claim or void a warranty because vehicle maintenance was performed by the owner.

This applies to more than cars.

This is more like swapping engine parts rather than changing the oil.

 

[slowfox]

Before I asked any dealer to modify a brand new ID-52, I'd contact Icom America and verify that the warranty remains in effect. Some dealers claim that they can mod a radio and maintain the warranty, but they are referring to the store's warranty and not the manufacturer's or importer's warranty.

How in such cases does the store warranty differ from the manufacturer's warranty?

And, before you mod a radio "in case of emergency" ask yourself who you plan to talk to in this emergency. Many public safety agencies have switched to frequencies or communications modes that an ID-52 is not capable of. And, many public safety agency dispatchers are trained to ignore non-authorized users who might come up on their frequencies. If you are backcountry hiking outside of cell phone range, there are better and more reliable options than a modified amateur radio.

This totally makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Hit_Factor]

This is more like swapping engine parts rather than changing the oil.

These Radios are made to be mod'd this way. This is how Icom keeps the cost down. Same transceiver board is used in multiple radios, the combination of diodes (or resistors) makes it work on certain bands. Change the combination, change the bands.

The process is documented in the service manual published by Icom, it is not some hack.

 

[AK9R]

How in such cases does the store warranty differ from the manufacturer's warranty?

When comparing the future longevity of Icom America vs. a retail amateur radio store, my bet is on Icom America. If your radio has a "store warranty" and the store closes its doors, you have no warranty.