Nice discussion. Thanks! One nit - “just repeaters at somebodies house ” strikes me as somewhat dismissive attitude for an _amateur_ radio promoter to have. Sure, some repeaters will be better than others. But the difference is in technical specs, not that it is a someone’s solo project.
Regarding Ray’s rationale for Icom not using a USB-C port on the IC-705… If this was truly a decision based on keeping the radio’s size to a minimum, then Icom engineers need some refresher courses to get current. 1. The board footprint of USB-C SMD jacks are no larger than USB-Micro jacks. (Approx 1/4” x 3/8”.) 2. USB-C supports Power Delivery (PD) up to 20 volts. Devices can negotiate delivery voltages with the power supply. Thus, Icom could have used a USB-C for both data AND charging, thereby eliminating the need for the large barrel connector. So, how would it work? Connectedto a ‘standard’ USB charger, it would deliver 5 volts and the 705 would transmit at 5 watts. Connected to a high wattage ‘PD’ USB charger, it would deliver (after negotiation) 15 volts and the 705 would transmit at 10 watts. This would be a simpler and much superior design. I think Ray was ‘BS’ing a bit - probably just trying to justify Icom’s poor design choice.
@@nvrmor023 fair point, but that isn't what Ray said. He specifically said it was about space in the radio design and it would appear he was incorrect here.
Spot on. Any new radio not using USB-C needs to have a damn good reason. Power and data on a single, standard connector, and the ability to negotiate power delivery depending on the input source is so useful when you’re using solar or a modern USB-C based tablet. It’s beginning to sound like the old DP vs. HDMI all over again to save royalties, with the beancounters overruling the engineers and compromising the product.
Josh I just love Ray Novak it's just a straight shooter great guy you've been so many doors for amateur I still think icom is number 1 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Got one a couple weeks ago. Was totally skeptical, that I’d like it. Boy was I wrong, I love the thing. Sold my ft5d and thrilled that i made the switch. Fantastic HT
I really love ICOM products their ease of use in their products and quality/polish is amazing. I own the 7300 currently, but have used the 7100 and seen other products. Having said that as others have commented this handheld is very pricey. It seems like some stuff in ICOMs lineup is a great value like the 7300, and I'd argue even the 705 at it's price is a great value. But it does seem like this handheld is expensive for what it does. I do think it's awesome it has bluetooth and CAT control built into it, can't wait to see what the thing is capable of with that. The IP7 rating is amazing if you are a first responder or someone who's in the elements. Having said that something like the FT5DR at nearly $200 cheaper can do 90% of this and is also a quality radio. I suppose it depends on your use case, but if this radio was at least $100 if not $200 cheaper I think it would be a winner by all accords.
I just received mine from HRO Friday, a nice present for the Holidays. Very thankful for HRO coming through with this result. I did sell my D-74 in 2018 at the Orlando Hamcation, after obtaining it new for a similar price to this one in 2016. Around here in Southern NH, there is only one repeater club, PART, in Westford, MA, that has a D'STAR repeater I can access on VHF UHF, as compared to DMR and the Yaesu Fusion repeaters around here. 73 de W2CH Ray, New Hampshire.
Nice rig and presentation. For me to buy it though, it needs to come down by about $150 or add aprs and the 1.25m or 23cm bands. I do like the screen though.
Compared to what? While I'm not using 20 year old Bluetooth on most devices, it really is trouble-free and reliable. I'm mostly using it with Icom, Nokia, Jabra, Bose, Ford, and Microsoft products with a smattering of oddball Chinese products (like some $30 AirPod copies that work amazingly well). I can't really remember the last time I had a problem with it.
I just got this radio in and it's crazy good. The receive is so sensitive it's ridiculous. The scanner is crazy fast. I think they could have included the desktop charger though for 650 bucks.
I can't really take ICOM seriously without APRS. Not having it in IC-705 is such a huge disappointment, and a deal breaker to me. Haven't even really considered ID-52, I might stick with the TH-D74 as long as it lasts.
Yeah, I got a bunch of ICOM, I still prefer Kenwood, however they are SO SLOW in product releases, imagine TM-710 still hasnt been replaced yet.... ufff, so they added a GPS... well not good enough, it's still 20 years old or so....
To all the people complaining about the lack of APRS; when I had the D74 I kept the APRS feature on all day while out and about. Yea every now and then it might ping an aprs repeater. But after a while I got bored with it. It was just a feature that eventually became meaningless to me.
No USB-C, no APRS, patchy Bluetooth, D-Star instead of DMR, and dim screen. Waterproofing is nice. This is more competitive with radios in the $160 - $250 price range. $600 is way too much for radio with this feature set.
Hey Ray, thanks for the detailed and informative review of the ID-52a. Looks like a really sharp radio. Have you heard anything from ICOM regarding them making a mobile version (dash mount, 50 watt, larger display, etc) of the 52a?
Thank you to both you and Ray for the demo of the new radio. Other than the color screen and maybe a couple of other new items, sorry I wouldn’t buy it especially at the $650 plus price. Not worth it...if it had multiple digital modes, than I could see the justification for the price. Sorry iCOM! I still think the 7300 is the best value for the money.
Well, I learn something every day. Never knew about the scan list for nearby repeaters, nor that it moves with you. Does Icom document any of this cool stuff? Never noticed before and have had a couple DStar GPS radios for years. Ordered a 52 today. Finally caved.
25:40 Not buying the explanation for PCB real estate, when the ID-50 is a smaller radio with Type-C. Also, if you look closely, when Josh opens the flap, the plastic mold is shaped perfectly for Type-C.
Why didn't they add APRS?! From a practical features perspective, this cant even compete with the FTD5R that runs $200+ less. But wait, you get a spectrum scope....ooooof.
Yeah that seems like a major fault to not include that when the competition did. I'm partial to fusion anyways, but I was curious to see what this radio was like.
@@USAFJUNKIE Agreed. Terminal mode was a nice addition to the radio, but I dont understand how they didnt anticipate what should be industry standard at this point.
There aren’t a lot of radios that run APRS. to do it here, ICOM would be adding more components and increasing the cost. They decided to just stick with D-STAR for handling it.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Not that I disagree with the complexity/form factor note, because that could been been a factor, but cost could not have been prohibitive for them unless the focus was on a high profit margin. Their two main competitors have top-tier radios that have all of (nearly) the same features plus APRS (TX/RX), with the FT5DR having C4FM as well, putting it on an even plane with the icom, much cheaper. Just unfortunate that most folks will still find much more value in a Yaesu at $200 less, or a used D74 at 200 more as opposed to the icom, unless you're a dstar fanatic.
Is the IC 52 a good radio to use in a marine environment? I want to use it on a boat in addition to all the other things. I know the rating on the water resistance (IPX7) but it seems there may be better iCom marine radios...longer water proof ratings...thoughts? This radio checks a lot of boxes for me.
I’m an iCom fanboy and have several of their radios including the 9700 and 7610….but for mobiles and HT’s, their refusal to do an APRS implementation forces me back to Yaesu. DPRS is simply not a substitute. This is also way overpriced compared to a FT5DR and I went with an FTM-400 instead of an ID-5100 for similar reasons. Such a shame.
One other question - checking the manual What replacement antenna should one order from the signal stuff site? This ID 52 uses a FA-S270C. I want a better antenna...
I’m a former ham radio operator who got out of the hobby due to becoming disillusioned with all the unlicensed trash talking and pirate stations going on in Southern California on 2M when I last tried 10-15 years ago. Im considering getting back into the hobby considering that if anything, it might be a good idea for emergency coms/networking during these times of late. I haven’t done any research on the local situation, but this video has sparked my interest. Has the situation with general/day-to-day radio use improved over the past decade or two?
Tbh. There are still bad actors all over SoCal. I’m in Cerritos personally. I’m there are plenty of good repeaters and some trash. Just avoid the trash. If all else fails, upgrade to extra and get on hf.
The display is not near as vivid as the screen on the IC-705. For the price it should be much better. Not enough additional features over the ID-51 to justify the price.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse It's amazing to have CI-V control on such a small, portable, radio, but things are a changing. I'm looking forward to WiFi with an AT command set! :D
The one thing that is really annoying with all Icom radios supporting the FM repeaters in the repeater list: try to import from D-Star Info any state with many repeaters and enjoy the many warning triangles in the list next to every repeater that uses the same call on the same band (using the Icom provided software)….Come on, there are many clubs using the same call for all of their repeaters! My ID-51A+2 has the issue, my 4100, 5100, 9700 and now 52A….all require lots of manual renaming (I just add numbers to the call). Is there an easy workaround? Am I missing something or is this just a bug that doesn‘t get fixed for so many years?
That would require a visionary private sector company to create a domain name system or registry for repeaters that would gain overall acceptance. Then the FCC would need to eventually officially adopt it. Hmmm… Like the internet? Which would push the digital radio realm forward, but I am thinking it is what it is now.
The workaround is just go to Dr mode, near repeater search and connect to the closest repeater. Try having this problem with a regular radio, now that is a huge mess, a mess you certainly couldn't resolve while driving.
Hi Jason, a question, with the repeater location feature, if I want to use a shown repeater, will the radio automatically program that repeater with a press of a button, or will I have to manually input the repeater frequency?
Have to love the comment that John Kruk will not work the holiday. Maybe he is not doing ham radio work on the holiday but I bet he is out saving lives in his other job so which do you think is more important
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Somebody on the live feed said John would not be on a love feed for ham radio on the holiday. I just wanted to say he was probably busy working on the ambulance and not too good for hams on the holiday
Question. I'm an AE overseas and need to add the prefix I3/ before my callsign. It doesn't appear I can. Anyone know it prefixes can be added? 73 de I3/KO4DFJ
I just looked it up. WOW I'm a DMR guy that was thinking about getting into DStar. Little more than I'm willing to spend to play although to be fair. If a DMR radio was released with a nice screen and the ability to pull repeaters from a list and scan like the 52, I would be tempted....at least if it went on sale or price drop
@@dwayne5530 Buddy of mine just picked up an Icom 92... which was quite affordable. Then he wanted to do D-PRS, looked for the GPS mic for it, and found it on eBAY for $300. So the way I see it, I could save up the $650 for this radio, or I could cobble together a bunch of different devices to do everything this radio does - and spend a lot more in time, hassle, and have a pile of equipment to boot. Still love my ID-51A, but those aren't cheap either - because some people are willing to pay quite a bit for them even used. If all you want to do is D-STAR there are a ton of affordable ways to get hardware to get in on it - but if you're trying to replicate the features and form factor of the 52 then it might cost you.
it's 2022 outside and ht should be capable of ssb. and if only all people wound buy Japan brand and not Chinese trash maybe these radios weren't as expensive.
u keep buying China radios to only see the price of Japan radios go up and soon u won't see them being made at all. I buy Japan only despite how inexpensive Chinese units are. I simply don't buy them.
Where are all of the young people in this hobby? Looking at their cellphone screens that's where. Amateur Radio is dying a slow and painful death. It's only a matter of time before the FCC grabs everything above 30 Mhz and the whole hobby collapses.
That seems to fatalist for me. We have grown the hobby in the last three years. As more people open their eyes to wireless technologies it will only expand.
Until these companies stop focusing products on boomers who have ruined this niche hobby it will always be a dying tech. Theres no reason we cant be easily communicating on hf, via text pics etc . Elon is working on it, so hopefully we get interest in next 5 years
I'm in Australia and I'm optimistic. There has been a lot of increased interest from young people in the last couple of years which has resulted in new call signs being issued. I'm not a member of the local club where I live but their membership has more than doubled to fifty something members in recent times. Yes, there are returning operators but there is also a lot of fresh blood in the mix. Much of this has come as a consequence of a huge effort by a couple of the hardcore operators in our area who have actively pursued scout clubs and other interest groups. Ham radio operators by and large are their own worst enemy when it comes to perpetuating the hobby.
Nice discussion. Thanks! One nit - “just repeaters at somebodies house ” strikes me as somewhat dismissive attitude for an _amateur_ radio promoter to have. Sure, some repeaters will be better than others. But the difference is in technical specs, not that it is a someone’s solo project.
Regarding Ray’s rationale for Icom not using a USB-C port on the IC-705…
If this was truly a decision based on keeping the radio’s size to a minimum,
then Icom engineers need some refresher courses to get current.
1. The board footprint of USB-C SMD jacks are no larger than USB-Micro jacks. (Approx 1/4” x 3/8”.)
2. USB-C supports Power Delivery (PD) up to 20 volts.
Devices can negotiate delivery voltages with the power supply.
Thus, Icom could have used a USB-C for both data AND charging, thereby eliminating the need for the large barrel connector.
So, how would it work?
Connectedto a ‘standard’ USB charger, it would deliver 5 volts and the 705 would transmit at 5 watts.
Connected to a high wattage ‘PD’ USB charger, it would deliver (after negotiation) 15 volts and the 705 would transmit at 10 watts.
This would be a simpler and much superior design.
I think Ray was ‘BS’ing a bit - probably just trying to justify Icom’s poor design choice.
Its about liscences not size it costs more to use usb c
@@nvrmor023 fair point, but that isn't what Ray said. He specifically said it was about space in the radio design and it would appear he was incorrect here.
Spot on. Any new radio not using USB-C needs to have a damn good reason. Power and data on a single, standard connector, and the ability to negotiate power delivery depending on the input source is so useful when you’re using solar or a modern USB-C based tablet. It’s beginning to sound like the old DP vs. HDMI all over again to save royalties, with the beancounters overruling the engineers and compromising the product.
Interesting. Which HT have you designed and brought to market? I'd like to check out a radio designed by Engineers who are current. 🙂
Josh I just love Ray Novak it's just a straight shooter great guy you've been so many doors for amateur I still think icom is number 1 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Got one a couple weeks ago. Was totally skeptical, that I’d like it. Boy was I wrong, I love the thing. Sold my ft5d and thrilled that i made the switch. Fantastic HT
I bet you never even owned an ft5...
Ohh, had a ft3d from the first week they shipped, then an ft5d for like 4 months after selling the ft3.
I really love ICOM products their ease of use in their products and quality/polish is amazing. I own the 7300 currently, but have used the 7100 and seen other products. Having said that as others have commented this handheld is very pricey. It seems like some stuff in ICOMs lineup is a great value like the 7300, and I'd argue even the 705 at it's price is a great value. But it does seem like this handheld is expensive for what it does. I do think it's awesome it has bluetooth and CAT control built into it, can't wait to see what the thing is capable of with that. The IP7 rating is amazing if you are a first responder or someone who's in the elements. Having said that something like the FT5DR at nearly $200 cheaper can do 90% of this and is also a quality radio. I suppose it depends on your use case, but if this radio was at least $100 if not $200 cheaper I think it would be a winner by all accords.
I just received mine from HRO Friday, a
nice present for the Holidays. Very thankful for HRO coming through with this result.
I did sell my D-74 in 2018 at the Orlando
Hamcation, after obtaining it new for a
similar price to this one in 2016.
Around here in Southern NH, there is
only one repeater club, PART, in Westford,
MA, that has a D'STAR repeater I can access
on VHF UHF, as compared to DMR and the Yaesu Fusion repeaters around here.
73 de W2CH Ray, New Hampshire.
Nice rig and presentation. For me to buy it though, it needs to come down by about $150 or add aprs and the 1.25m or 23cm bands. I do like the screen though.
Bluetooth has been around for 20 years and it’s still a hit and miss 😂 anyways, happy new year!
Compared to what? While I'm not using 20 year old Bluetooth on most devices, it really is trouble-free and reliable. I'm mostly using it with Icom, Nokia, Jabra, Bose, Ford, and Microsoft products with a smattering of oddball Chinese products (like some $30 AirPod copies that work amazingly well). I can't really remember the last time I had a problem with it.
I just got this radio in and it's crazy good. The receive is so sensitive it's ridiculous. The scanner is crazy fast. I think they could have included the desktop charger though for 650 bucks.
I can't really take ICOM seriously without APRS. Not having it in IC-705 is such a huge disappointment, and a deal breaker to me. Haven't even really considered ID-52, I might stick with the TH-D74 as long as it lasts.
Yeah, I got a bunch of ICOM, I still prefer Kenwood, however they are SO SLOW in product releases, imagine TM-710 still hasnt been replaced yet.... ufff, so they added a GPS... well not good enough, it's still 20 years old or so....
To all the people complaining about the lack of APRS; when I had the D74 I kept the APRS feature on all day while out and about. Yea every now and then it might ping an aprs repeater. But after a while I got bored with it. It was just a feature that eventually became meaningless to me.
34:29 Call Sign (CS) menu explanation with R1 & R2 settings for Gateway use (Reflectors & D-PRS)
No USB-C, no APRS, patchy Bluetooth, D-Star instead of DMR, and dim screen. Waterproofing is nice. This is more competitive with radios in the $160 - $250 price range. $600 is way too much for radio with this feature set.
HRO has them in stock now - they got them in on 12-29-2021 - sweet
Hey Uncle Ray great seeing you I'm in love with that 😎
I'm totally in love with that radio ❤️
I like the GPS repeater search function. Does the Yaesu FT5DR do that?
It looks very good. I decided to order one from DX Engineering today.
Hey Ray, thanks for the detailed and informative review of the ID-52a. Looks like a really sharp radio. Have you heard anything from ICOM regarding them making a mobile version (dash mount, 50 watt, larger display, etc) of the 52a?
Thank you to both you and Ray for the demo of the new radio. Other than the color screen and maybe a couple of other new items, sorry I wouldn’t buy it especially at the $650 plus price. Not worth it...if it had multiple digital modes, than I could see the justification for the price. Sorry iCOM! I still think the 7300 is the best value for the money.
31:15 Ray explains Terminal Mode and currently supported reflector systems.
Well, I learn something every day. Never knew about the scan list for nearby repeaters, nor that it moves with you. Does Icom document any of this cool stuff? Never noticed before and have had a couple DStar GPS radios for years. Ordered a 52 today. Finally caved.
25:40 Not buying the explanation for PCB real estate, when the ID-50 is a smaller radio with Type-C. Also, if you look closely, when Josh opens the flap, the plastic mold is shaped perfectly for Type-C.
Uhhh it’s just newer man. No one is Lying.
Just ordered this
at 6:55 mark the dstarinfo dowload says 23 April 2019...Is there a newer 2021 list? Thanks
So why cant i text a friend from my phone via this radio?
Does it do APRS?
@ham radio crash course does icom have a mobile(50w) rig with the same repeater lookup function?
Why didn't they add APRS?! From a practical features perspective, this cant even compete with the FTD5R that runs $200+ less. But wait, you get a spectrum scope....ooooof.
Yeah that seems like a major fault to not include that when the competition did. I'm partial to fusion anyways, but I was curious to see what this radio was like.
@@USAFJUNKIE Agreed. Terminal mode was a nice addition to the radio, but I dont understand how they didnt anticipate what should be industry standard at this point.
There aren’t a lot of radios that run APRS. to do it here, ICOM would be adding more components and increasing the cost. They decided to just stick with D-STAR for handling it.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Not that I disagree with the complexity/form factor note, because that could been been a factor, but cost could not have been prohibitive for them unless the focus was on a high profit margin. Their two main competitors have top-tier radios that have all of (nearly) the same features plus APRS (TX/RX), with the FT5DR having C4FM as well, putting it on an even plane with the icom, much cheaper. Just unfortunate that most folks will still find much more value in a Yaesu at $200 less, or a used D74 at 200 more as opposed to the icom, unless you're a dstar fanatic.
Aprs is for boomers
Is the IC 52 a good radio to use in a marine environment? I want to use it on a boat in addition to all the other things. I know the rating on the water resistance (IPX7) but it seems there may be better iCom marine radios...longer water proof ratings...thoughts? This radio checks a lot of boxes for me.
Thanks!
I’m an iCom fanboy and have several of their radios including the 9700 and 7610….but for mobiles and HT’s, their refusal to do an APRS implementation forces me back to Yaesu. DPRS is simply not a substitute. This is also way overpriced compared to a FT5DR and I went with an FTM-400 instead of an ID-5100 for similar reasons. Such a shame.
How can I quickly download repeaters near me into the radio so that the GPS can find them?
Download them from dstarinfo.com
One other question - checking the manual What replacement antenna should one order from the signal stuff site? This ID 52 uses a FA-S270C. I want a better antenna...
SMA make is the way to go.
What do you use more DStar or C4FM?
I’m a former ham radio operator who got out of the hobby due to becoming disillusioned with all the unlicensed trash talking and pirate stations going on in Southern California on 2M when I last tried 10-15 years ago. Im considering getting back into the hobby considering that if anything, it might be a good idea for emergency coms/networking during these times of late. I haven’t done any research on the local situation, but this video has sparked my interest. Has the situation with general/day-to-day radio use improved over the past decade or two?
Tbh. There are still bad actors all over SoCal. I’m in Cerritos personally. I’m there are plenty of good repeaters and some trash. Just avoid the trash. If all else fails, upgrade to extra and get on hf.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse thanks for the 411. Good to know.
The display is not near as vivid as the screen on the IC-705. For the price it should be much better. Not enough additional features over the ID-51 to justify the price.
Radios are harder to operate while doing a live stream. :D Get that radio out of the water! You're freaking me out man!
Some of the features are new to me from the ID-51. I’m interested in what the CI-V control offers.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse It's amazing to have CI-V control on such a small, portable, radio, but things are a changing. I'm looking forward to WiFi with an AT command set! :D
Trying not to spend all the cash $$$$. But I have a birthday next year.
The one thing that is really annoying with all Icom radios supporting the FM repeaters in the repeater list: try to import from D-Star Info any state with many repeaters and enjoy the many warning triangles in the list next to every repeater that uses the same call on the same band (using the Icom provided software)….Come on, there are many clubs using the same call for all of their repeaters! My ID-51A+2 has the issue, my 4100, 5100, 9700 and now 52A….all require lots of manual renaming (I just add numbers to the call). Is there an easy workaround? Am I missing something or is this just a bug that doesn‘t get fixed for so many years?
That would require a visionary private sector company to create a domain name system or registry for repeaters that would gain overall acceptance. Then the FCC would need to eventually officially adopt it. Hmmm… Like the internet? Which would push the digital radio realm forward, but I am thinking it is what it is now.
The workaround is just go to Dr mode, near repeater search and connect to the closest repeater.
Try having this problem with a regular radio, now that is a huge mess, a mess you certainly couldn't resolve while driving.
lack of cross band full duplex remains the huge elephant in the room that nobody on the payroll will touch with an 11 foot pole.
That would add another $100 to the price
@@Hanksrandomstuff 5 inductors and 6 caps are well worth a $100. visualize the profit margin!
@@paulmitchell4421 full duplex is more than adding a diplexer
@@Blake-jl8lh yes it is
@@paulmitchell4421 really? Would you like your ht to only work on vhf on channel a and vhf on channel b?
32:25 Access Point mode vs Terminal Mode explained.
Hi Jason, a question, with the repeater location feature, if I want to use a shown repeater, will the radio automatically program that repeater with a press of a button, or will I have to manually input the repeater frequency?
I’m Josh, you copy a csv file onto an SD card and put it into the radio. It uses that list of repeaters.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thank you Josh!
Have to love the comment that John Kruk will not work the holiday. Maybe he is not doing ham radio work on the holiday but I bet he is out saving lives in his other job so which do you think is more important
What’s that have to do with this video?
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Somebody on the live feed said John would not be on a love feed for ham radio on the holiday. I just wanted to say he was probably busy working on the ambulance and not too good for hams on the holiday
@@kb9liq Ah copy.
Question. I'm an AE overseas and need to add the prefix I3/ before my callsign. It doesn't appear I can. Anyone know it prefixes can be added? 73 de I3/KO4DFJ
Can you just speak your prefix? Why is it needed to be loaded on the radio?
If only the darn thing did real APRS. Now i have to have a separate Yaesu for that reason and that reason only.
ID 52 is way over price.
I just looked it up. WOW I'm a DMR guy that was thinking about getting into DStar. Little more than I'm willing to spend to play although to be fair. If a DMR radio was released with a nice screen and the ability to pull repeaters from a list and scan like the 52, I would be tempted....at least if it went on sale or price drop
@@dwayne5530 Buddy of mine just picked up an Icom 92... which was quite affordable. Then he wanted to do D-PRS, looked for the GPS mic for it, and found it on eBAY for $300.
So the way I see it, I could save up the $650 for this radio, or I could cobble together a bunch of different devices to do everything this radio does - and spend a lot more in time, hassle, and have a pile of equipment to boot.
Still love my ID-51A, but those aren't cheap either - because some people are willing to pay quite a bit for them even used.
If all you want to do is D-STAR there are a ton of affordable ways to get hardware to get in on it - but if you're trying to replicate the features and form factor of the 52 then it might cost you.
Can you recommend a hard shell case or a jell skin case for this radio mine arrives tomorrow?
Did you ever find something good? If so what is it, link?
@@forgetyourlife no I just order the one that ham radio outlet sells
@@d66paynter1 HRO no longer has those. Still on their site but never in stock.
Disney prison has a torture chamber for hams
Lol
Any info on the small loop antenna?🎙👍
It’s the Arrow Df antenna
Why don't you review the wouxun uv-9G gmrs radio ? Or any gmrs or I see are hams on your site
I don’t have one to review.
How can this thing be worth $650?
because every time people buy baofeng it only hurts Japan sales and it forces them to raise the price to make a profit.
I buy Japan only.
Compared to what?
Does this have a hotspot built-in? Or at least wireless?
It supports Bluetooth and you can tether a tablet for using as a hotspot.
Seems this ICOM rep could have known more about his product
Nice radio. A little on the expensive side, though.
it's 2022 outside and ht should be capable of ssb.
and if only all people wound buy Japan brand and not Chinese trash maybe these radios weren't as expensive.
I want it…
Could really use a discount code!!!
hola ray
👍🏼👍🏼
Ham radios are not allowed in Disney? I'd love to hear the rationale on that, especially if they're allowing FRS. That place is a damn cult.
For the price of a single ID-52a I can buy roughly 27 Baofeng UV-5R handheld radios.
u keep buying China radios to only see the price of Japan radios go up and soon u won't see them being made at all.
I buy Japan only despite how inexpensive Chinese units are.
I simply don't buy them.
@@вечная_мерзлота keep thinking you're buying Japan
@@nvrmor023
all my radios are made in Japan.
I have one that's not but it's built by M0NKA.
again not China.
cause I bought it from him built by him.
Sure would love to trade my D74 for one of these.
Why trade? Your D74 is worth way more. Sell it for $900 bucks.
Keep the D74.
I enjoy “real” APRS and the on-board TNC on the D74 too much to trade. But the 52A sure is pretty and probably has better battery life.
I'd keep it.
it can receive ssb.
no other ht can.
@@вечная_мерзлота The TH-F7 Kenwood also has ssb.
Hello
DMR would have been a good option
Over budget over schedule
Where are all of the young people in this hobby? Looking at their cellphone screens that's where. Amateur Radio is dying a slow and painful death. It's only a matter of time before the FCC grabs everything above 30 Mhz and the whole hobby collapses.
That seems to fatalist for me. We have grown the hobby in the last three years. As more people open their eyes to wireless technologies it will only expand.
Until these companies stop focusing products on boomers who have ruined this niche hobby it will always be a dying tech. Theres no reason we cant be easily communicating on hf, via text pics etc . Elon is working on it, so hopefully we get interest in next 5 years
I'm in Australia and I'm optimistic. There has been a lot of increased interest from young people in the last couple of years which has resulted in new call signs being issued. I'm not a member of the local club where I live but their membership has more than doubled to fifty something members in recent times. Yes, there are returning operators but there is also a lot of fresh blood in the mix. Much of this has come as a consequence of a huge effort by a couple of the hardcore operators in our area who have actively pursued scout clubs and other interest groups.
Ham radio operators by and large are their own worst enemy when it comes to perpetuating the hobby.
Does it do APRS?