[FedCom] WARNING about new ICOM receivers.

[Tom Greenwood]

I am not sure I would quite go as far as to say "worthless", but
"disappointing"?  Unquestionably!

As for the 867 to 869 gap, I would not worry too much about that because in
just a couple of short years, unless you know how to decode Nextel QAM, you
won't have to worry about it after they are done rebanding.

There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to the spectral gaps unless it
has to do with the internal design of the receiver.  The 800/900 gaps do not
align whatsoever with North American or European cellular radio spectrum
assignments.  Anybody hear know if Asia, specifically Japan and Korea, use
slightly different spectrum in that range?

73's

Tom, N1JQB
Metro West Boston


-----Original Message-----
From: fedcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:fedcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Daryll
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 10:14 PM
To: Discussion of Federal Government Communications
Subject: Re: [FedCom] WARNING about new ICOM receivers.


I doubt if these radios with this coverage will be marketed in the USA,
since they receive a portion of the cellphone band (889.100-894.000).
Hopefully they'll be at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend and we'll be able
to spin a few dials.

=========

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rankin, Robert L" <rankin at ku.edu>
To: "Discussion of Federal Government Communications"
<fedcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 5:06 PM
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

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