[FedCom] WARNING about new ICOM receivers.

[Hank Lane]

-----Original Message-----
From: fedcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:fedcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Rankin, Robert L
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 5:06 PM
To: Discussion of Federal Government Communications
Subject: [FedCom] WARNING about new ICOM receivers.

ICOM's new IC-R-1500 and IC-R-2500 receivers are widely advertised as
covering 10 KHz. to 3.3 GHz. with only cellular coverage deleted.  This
advertising is misleading.  I was thinking about getting one of the radios
and checked the frequency coverage in greater detail.  There are a number of
frequency gaps described as "minor" in the GHz. ranges covered by the 1500,
and, astonishingly, 867-869 MHz. are also missing!  These are maybe the most
important 2 MHz. of the 800 segment.
 
The IC-R-2500 is even worse, although it does have provision for a P-25
digital board.  Several parts of the milair band have been chopped out, the
bottom 2 MHz. of the new 380-400 MHz. military land mobile band are missing,
and 412-415 MHz. are gone.  860-869 MHz as well as 915-960 MHz. are chopped
out also.
 
These listings may possibly be for the radio that is marketed in Japan, but
if the numbers are accurate for the U.S. version, then it would be pretty
much worthless as a radio here.  
 
IC-R-2500 and PC-R-2500 coverage.
0.010 - 252.899mHz
255.100 - 261.899mHz
266.100 - 270.899mHz
275.100 - 379.899mHz
382.100 - 411.899mHz
415.100 - 809.899mHz
834.100 - 859.899mHz
889.100 - 914.899mHz
960.100 - 1300.000MHz
1300.000MHz - 3299.999MH Z

If you're thinking about one of these radios, I'd be very careful about
verifying the coverage before leaving the store.

Bob, w0nxn
****************************************************************************

FWIW,

One can probably avaoid this kind of frequency deletion nonsense by ordering
receivers from any number of suppliers in the UK. Receivers sold in the UK
are usually 'full coverage' and can be ordered with little difficulty from
websites using major credit cards. I don't know about the new ICOM units
(R-1500; R-2500) specifically, but previous ICOM, as well as AOR receivers
have beeen avaiable as 'full coverage = no gaps' models from the UK (and
other countries) for years.
Hank, KB1JLA
PS: please spare me the rants about the legality of such transactions; I've
heard them all. I'm still waiting, however, for someone to explain the
rationale for the fact that it's 'legal' to go out and buy an AK-47 (or
other assault weapons), but 'illegal' to go out and buy a radio.