|
This transportable from the 1980s is unusual in that it is designed to be operated from an upright position, rather like a book in a bookcase, rather than on its side. It uses a VXO; 4 x 200KHz ranges are available using 14.8 MHz crystals, multiplied 9x to reach 133.3MHz for low-side LO injection, so single conversion to 10.7MHz IF. Frequency is displayed on a dial skirt that is marked with 10kHz increments. USB and CW modes. I am unaware of any significant difference in design or performance between this or its younger IC-202s sibling, which also included CW sidetone and LSB.
Compared to the FT-290R, a radio of the same era, the 202’ is more suitable for DX. You miss out on digital frequency display, but also avoid the 100Hz click stop frequency increment. You gain a cleaner transmitter and receiver. These Icom radios are snapped up quickly on the second hand market, and are undeniably a good choice for 2m and transverting to higher bands, if you prefer not to tread the path towards the ubiquitous FT-817. From the same period there was an IC-402 (432MHz), and an IC-502A (50MHz) which used a VFO. There seems to be far fewer examples in use of these two latter radios.
I’ve done the usual modifications to my IC-202e, which means changing the PIN diode antenna switch for a relay, and the 3SK40 front end for a BF-981. An N-socket replaced the lousy SO-239. The erratic DC socket has also had to go, as has the telescopic whip, which was wired in parallel with the SO-239. The mixer is unchanged but I haven’t noticed any receive difficulties whilst contesting from IO82HV, where the strongest signal was GW4EVX/P 16km to the north. The only problem I find is that I can inadvertently turn on the RIT, and consequently call others way off their frequency. I used to complain about the receiver audio quality, but having learnt to use earphones I realise the inadequacy of little internal loudspeakers. Both receive and transmit audio is excellent.
My radio belonged to GW4HBZ until 2009. Its signal was sufficiently clean that from his Moel y Parc QTH he could tune his FT-225R receiver up and down the ssb part of the band, and feed the audio to the '202e which transmitted in-band on 144.390, just to let me have a taste of what he could hear from the hill station. The '225 was connected to a 9 element tonna, and the '202 to a vertical, but that exercise surely says something positive about both radios.
The tuning knob feels coarse compared to the smooth, two speed VFO of the '225, but for backpacking convenience this set is ideal. I had tried to carry the '225, a car battery and an antenna up Cadair Berwyn, but had to admit defeat after less than 1.2km. The combination was just too heavy. I recall admitting defeat when I fell into the peat ditch at the side of the path; a shame, it was such a beautiful day
|