RADIO REVIEWS
I have been lucky enough to be able to get my hands on several Radio sets over the last 3 years or so, and would like
to share my own views of their overall ratings of comparison etc. with you, also, I would welcome any views and
experiences from yourselves regarding any Radio so that I may put forward an accurate wide spectrum response
to all radios, as we know, each one of us has different views, needs and wants from our equipment, and we all have
an equal right to our personal expression of these. Help me to help others and to be accurate in my reports as much
as possible, remember, a fellow amateur may use this info in his/her choice of a new/second hand purchase.
I will try to update this section as often as possible, in order to reflect, as best as I can, the changing views of the
majority. Your reviews.
I thought I would start with one of my favourites to get things going.
Icom 706 Mk 1
I have had this set for some 3 years and have found it to be of exceptional quality, I purchased it for a meagre
£600 which was perhaps a little over the top, but in excellent condition, I thought it to be a bargain and investment.
This has proven to be true time and time again.
The radio is remarkably stable for one that is basically a mobile unit, and to date the cover has been off but once.
In testing, all specs are still within manufacturers quoted limits, and the display etc. still functions to a level of 100%
For those of you who like to play, it can be easily modified in several ways, the most common being to open the
TX in the HF sections. It can be opened to use from 1.6MHz to 57MHz, and 137MHz to app 148MHz.
But I cannot vouch for the performance ratings outside the amateur band limits, as these have not been accessed
whilst in my care. I am told however that in terms of the HF, that the performance ratings are extremely
encouraging and the Full 100 Watts are available in 90% of the range of 10 - 30 MHz for those who should
wish to visit other continents etc. where such as 27.555 USB is a legal frequency. Don't forget about
your licence regulations for UK will you?.
The unit is a little heavier than some but still light enough to sit happily beneath the dashboard of most motors,
although I dont know how the owners of Honda Goldwings will manage (I saw a Goldwing with a mobile setup
honest!)
The whole package is robust and well built, while still managing to look somewhat attractive. The microphone
could perhaps have taken a little more design thought, but is adequate, and the unit does work well with
handsfree setups.
The head unit being able to be removed and connected remotely via cable is a definite plus, however,
this is the case with most modern day mobile units. I did find that the pricing of the connection cable
was very high for how it is designed, perhaps as time goes by this may drop.
I have tried the 706 mk11, and frankly found that the DSP etc. that was added was more of a hindrance than
a help in my case, I lost the quality of many signals in data, but in some cases it did enhance incoming audio,
especially AM and SSB in the lower HF range, unfortunately, I am unable to give anything at present regarding
out put audio in HF as yet.
I have yet to find a bad report for my own radio, from any station that I have encountered, on VHF, whether it
be FM,AM,SSB,DATA, or FSK, so personally I give it a 9 out of 10. How about you?
Icom 746
This, is in my view, is the forerunner of the base station market at the time of writing this page.
The unit is tidily put together with enough buttons and knobs to look good and still be reasonably easy to operate.
The display offers plenty of flashing bits etc. and has many functions displayed to keep you well informed of the
conditions of the radio, including such as SWR, AUDIO, and POWER, BAND, FREQUENCY, RX SIGNAL,
ANTENNA LINE (there are three available i.e. 1,2 and vhf), MODE (ssb, am, fm, rtty, cw,etc.), and more.
There are such functions as Auto antenna tune in HF, preamp/attenuator, filter selection, NR, NB, vox/bk in, apf/anf,
rit/ rx/tx, cw pitch, key speed, power and mic gains, and several other functions all available at the touch of thier
respective buttons and knobs, so going into setup routines is a rarity. (Easy hey?)
The output of 100W across 1.6 to 146MHz bands is very handy for that DX spot, and like the 706, the 746 can
be modified in most the same ways. So giving good alrounder value to the enthusiast.
It comes 9600 / 1200 ready, and has umpteen programmable features available to those who like to be able to
alter the functions and various operating perameters of thier radio.
A down side is the absence of an easy to use satellite section, such as the one provided with the Yeasu 827 base.
The frequencies of vfo a / b cannot be displayed at the same time, but does this really matter?
There are ample memories as there are with the 706 and many others so this is niether a plus nor minus as far
as I am concerned.
Th ereceive sensitivity is extreme, and can be sometimes prone to local interference but this is balanced well by
the more than adequate twin PBT function on the front of the radio.
If you are critical of signal quality, then I have found that both TX and RX signal and adio quality are very high,
sound and modulation are of very good clean and strong standing, and I personally think well in excess of value
of many near equivalents on the current market.
This is a good allround unit, and as the price is now more reasonable at around £1200 (about half the amount of
some dedicated HF equipment) It would be my choice every time. How about you?
Standard 5900 Tri-band mobile.
This has to be the best value for money FM mobile radio in the world, and to my knowledge the only dedicated
50/2/70 mobile on the current market. Priced at a starting £700 it was daunting to the new shopper, but now
available at about £399 you won't get better value for money. (soon to be out of production, sorry)
If you like strong FM audio that is clear and precise to both you and your contact, then try this radio, and it comes
9600 redy for the packeteers etc.
There is dual vfo display, although at first the functions can take a little getting used to, but if you can pick them up
quickly enough, then they become split second selectable, and all from just a few buttons.
The radio is easily controllable from the microphone, and has a detachable front plate for remote controlling.
Again, the cost of the cable, (quoted to me as £54) is somewhat rediculously high, but there again, it may drop.
The radio is attractive and very small for its capabilities, easily fitting wherever the descerning driver would wish,
(even on a Honda hi). The supplied mic has a cable length of about 1.5 m, and so the main unit can be almost
anywhere in the vehicle, this I thought was a good security factor.
All the supplied extras like bracket, manual, connectors, etc. were well thought out, and of good quality where
applicable.
Yes, I have to say, another favourite.
Trio Kenwood 770 dual band Base.
An oldy but goody..
I have had this radio for the duration of my licence, and a little before (for practicing only).
Well, where do I start, the one Radio that has it all, and yet none of it?
The unit is tidy although large for its capabilities, all functions are switch or button, including hi/low power
vox on/off, switchable TX constant, mode, band, etc. It is frequency display, with lights for tx/rx, freq' lock, etc.
and the display is of the old type as opposed to lcd.
It has switchable split/simplex, and switchable tone burst for the repeaters.
Coverage is 144.000 - 146.000 and 430.000 - 434.000 with no out of band for RX or TX.
In all it is a very competent dedicated radio, for SSB, FM, AM use, easy to operate, constantly reliable,
and user friendly in its audio quality. Anyone know more?
Yeasu FT50R handheld.
This is an exceptional little performer, good all round.
Reasonably priced and compact in size, it has suited me perfectly for my requirements.
It gives 5W output at 13.8v supply, and 2.5W at battery supply, the receive senstivity is very good, with
reasonable rejection to interference from neighbouring frequencies.
There is an out of band receive capability, from a simple combination of buttons, which doesn't need to
be re-programmed every time you switch on. The memories and scan block memories are more than
sufficient, RX app 76 - 999MHz and TX 137 - 153MHZ, and also extended UHF TX are all plus marks
for a good little unit, the rubber duck antenna could possibly be improved, but not necessary, as the one
supplied offers reasonably good performance for most uses.
There are several optional extras, such as, mic/speaker, case, detachable front with extra functions (coding, ctcss etc.)
and even the usual extended life batteries hi.
There were quite a few of these units sold in the country, so who has the full trials to report on?
Uniden 2030 2M FM.
Here's an old Radio that has stood the test of time.
This is the oldest unit that I own at present, and has never let me down yet.
Very basic and easy to operate, it boasts 12 rotary switchable channels (individualy crystalled) and a direct entry
switchable call channel with warning light.
Vol, Squelch, Hi/Low power, On/off switches are all the familiarity required, as that's all there is.
This has got to be a perfect candidate for modification for FSK, or other data mode on VHF FM.
It is a 10 - 1W switchable unit with constant tone burst (can be annoying, but modifyable to on/off)
the old but competent needle display, with alternating green / red back light for RX / TX indication, gives
the unit an old CB feel (if you forgive the expression), and is encased in traditional black.
Now amongst the many collectables out there. Mine , incidentally still stands at 100% operational.
As I receive more info from others, I will try to update this, and add more, pages to show views on more
radios and from happy as well as disgruntled owners. Hopefully, this will help anyone new to know
what to start with or what to look for, for thier particular requirements.