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write your own review of the Alinco DR-135TP.
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KE7JFA
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Rating: 1/5
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Oct 20, 2009 14:13
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Over rated, over priced.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Replaced mine twice because it could not handle heavy duty cycles.
Get's hot running only 5 watts.
Feels cheap and delicate.
The audio is not that great, the menu is complicated.
The price is insane for this radio and would advise to stay away from all alinco junk.
Spend your money on a real radio. Buy a Yeasu.
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N8WCT
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 19, 2009 12:37
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Great for packet!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ive had 3 of these rigs over the years, and feel qualified to comment.
First, things I like;
This is a lot of radio for $180. Geared towards packet (APRS) this radio supports an internal TNC, and you can get Alinco’s unit installed for an extra $110, however, there is some cross talk through the speaker when in packet mode, but it is negligible.
Argent Data also makes an internal TNC ($75) for this radio, and it is designed specifically for the APRS mobile users, and it works quite well.
There is a front mounted data jack that supports those small puck GPSRs. It even has a 5vdc power out line, so no other connectivity is needed to interface a GPS…very nice.
This rig also sports a rear mounted DB-9 serial connection. This thing has lots of hats…it can be used to hook up an external TNC, with a standard serial cable. This is nice, as you don’t have to disconnect your mic, or anything else for that matter…just tune to your packet freq, turn on your TNC, and that’s it! Another cool feature of this setup, is that you can turn up the volume, and listen to the packet traffic…the audio input level on the DB-9 is preset…the front volume has no affect on the internal signaling.
This port is also used when an internal TNC is installed, as the serial connection to your computer. Again, very nice and clean.
The port can also be used to interface a GPS too. And along with an internal TNC, and a Garmin 350, you can have a APRS tracker system, complete with icons and messaging. Sure beats the hell out of a $1200 Kenwood/AVmap setup. :)
And lastly, this is the port you use when programming from you computer, which is also a nice benefit.
This rig also has great TX audio. I regularly get compliments/queries on it. Ive done echo tests on it, and it does sound very well.
This radio also has a low amp sense wire that you hook to an ignition source, and it will automatically turn your radio on/off with the ignition key. Another feature I like and use…who hasn’t ever come out to dead battery, after leaving some ham gear on. :)
The last positive mention I have, is this rig has an alarm built into it. I haven’t used it, but it looks like you put this looped cable around the steering wheel, and it terminates in the front data port. If the line is cut or unplugged, the unit will go to a specified frequency, and transmit. Like I said, I don’t use that, but it is clever.
Now, things I don’t like;
Seems cheaply made. Yes, I know its an inexpensive Alinco, but it had to de said. The Lexan on the front is VERY soft. The first time you wipe it, if there is even a small amount of dust present, it WILL scratch.
There is no REV function or button. I like to check the inputs of folks for a number of good reasons, and cant do it easily. I can set up the input freq on the VFO, then switch back using the VFO button, but that’s a pain to do every time I change repeaters.
The PA runs hot on high power and/or high duty cycle. I actually burnt one up using it as a digi for APRS. If your going to run it hard, mount a fan on it.
Small DTMF buttons. I have big hands, so others may not have an issue, but the mic buttons on EMS-57 are some of the smallest Ive ever seen.
The speaker sucks…plain and simple, it stinks. It reminds me of those cheap AM walkie-talkies we had as kids, I kid you not. Unless its going to be in a quite shack, you’ll need an external speaker.
It has a digital squelch, that you have to go into the setup to set. And its one size fits all…if you change repeaters and/or freqs, you have to go back into setup to change it. Its really not that difficult to do, but I would prefer a dial.
The s-meter (if you can even call it that) is a joke. Anything from S3 and up, is “full scale”. It is almost worthless as any type of indicator.
Now with all that said, I need to quantify…I do realize were talking about an $180 rig, so some of the cons are inherent to the price level.
So, knowing it is, what it is, I still give it a 5/5. Methinks the pros outweigh cons enough to justify such a rating. I would recommend this rig, especially for packet use, but only after addressing the fore mentioned “dislikes”.
73.
-Chris
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ZR6RBJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2008 23:45
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Nice RIG
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got mine brand new but for second hand price as the box was damaged. I am very happy so far with the results i have had with this rig. I also own the dr-635. I can see why the icoms and kenwoods etc of the world cost more, but as a cheaper product i do not think it can be to harshly faulted. Use mine alot on simplex and it performs very well, also use it mainly for digital work and it has always given me good results. I wish this one had a fan on the back as the 635 does, other than that, a great rig for a good price, alinco products are an excellent choice for the ham with a budget...
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VE6WDM
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 22, 2007 15:49
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Memory Loss Update 2
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Even with the on timer delay board this radio still lost its APRS config. So I yanked it out and tapped into the controller board with an external cable. So now I use an external TNC for APRS on this radio in analog mode. I only use the internal board if I run UIView on my laptop. So it is still functional but Alinco should clean up there act and admit they failed on their product claims. Or, dealers should pass on this issue to potential buyers.
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W8AKR
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Rating: 0/5
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Sep 7, 2006 10:44
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JUNK !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought this rig (DR135MkII) as a "APRS tracker". No other use was in mind, as the ads were clear you could use the included TNC as a "stand alone" tracker. Well we all know what fools we are to listen to the Ads now! I will use it as a plane APRS station radio, as it has OK performance on 2M. But as GWB says..."fool me once"
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KR4XN
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Rating: 1/5
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Mar 3, 2006 18:10
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Not Up To Alinco Standards
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased the DR-135TP as a Christmas present form myself in November. When the radio arrived, I hooked it up and was very, very disappointed with the results. I found a number of faults with the radio setup and concluded that my radio had a serious firmware problem. By the time the radio was shipped to me and tested, the time to return for a refund had expired so I packed it up and sent it to the warranty repair facility with a long list of faults. Sometime later I received the radio back with a letter explaining that all the faults I found were normal for the radio even tho some of them were opposite to procedures described in the manual. I have two other Alinco radios and both are very good in my opinion. Needless to say I am sorry I purchased this model and I feel it is about $100.00 overpriced with the built in TNC.
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KE4EAO
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2006 06:11
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Great Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I actually own the DR-135MKII which is the same rig without the TNC. I basically bought it for and echolink radio to interface with my PC. I have had ZERO problems with this radio. It does run a little hot on high power but what rig doesn't? I don't have much to say about use in the mobile, but I did use it quickly on the local machine to test and found that the audio is quite hot (adjusted internally via VR106 I believe) but as an echolink radio for my simplex link, the audio is great, quite comparable to a maxtrac which is the rig I was considering for the link originally. The data jack makes it very easy to interface with a rigblaster, U-link board or VE3TO interface. I built my own for it and taylored it to my needs. 5 Stars as a link radio!
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W5ZZQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 9, 2005 14:20
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Great 2meter rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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One of the best 2meter mobiles thatb I have used. Does everything I want it to do. No intermod at all. I would buy another one anytime..........
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KQ6EH
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Rating: 0/5
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Jun 21, 2005 01:14
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Modem Memory Failure
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my ALINCO DR-135TP for a couple years now. I purchased it new and decided to use it as a hidden APRS transmitter within my personal vehicle from day one. I customized a watertight Pelican enclosure, ran all the cabling through my vehicle chassis, configured the radio/modem, tested it, and then hid it within the structure of the car. Thanks to the Modem repetitively dumping the configuration at intermittent intervals (MY CALL, LPATH, UNPROTO etc). I had to tear my car apart every weekend to re-configure the modem. My neighbors must have thought I was nuts. The amount of time and effort this radio has cost me is insane. This radio has been in my junk pile here for over a year and a half. I have read other emails as well documenting this MEMORY FAILURE. Apparently, others have noted the failure lies with the voltage drop upon the initial start up of the vehicle. You might consider this if you plan on using it as an APRS mobile transmitter. I have spoken with other owners which state they never had a problem with it, and yet others that have. Are you feeling lucky enough to consider one?
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SM6VTT
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 12, 2005 16:29
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Very nice!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Its a great radio. Very good audio and a great display. The only thing that I dont like is the dtmf microphone. It doesn't fell like a quality mic. Compared to ICOM IC-2100h - this is a better radio but ICOMs microphone is much better...
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