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| Reviews Summary for Icom IC-910H |
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Reviews: 59
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Average rating: 4.1/5
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MSRP: $1,500 (Street)
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Description: VHF/UHF Satellite Tranciever
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More info: http://
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You can
write your own review of the Icom IC-910H.
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N1LF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 2, 2008 13:42
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Best V/U Weak Signal rig on the Market
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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On the very good advice of several "big gun" VHF Ops, like Jimmy Long, W4ZRZ, I purchased an Icom IC-910H with the 1.2ghz module installed.
First of all, I'll echo others comments about the purpose of this rig. It's made for weak signal VHF/UHF operations and satellite work. While it has FM mode, it's not meant for that kind of operation and will be lacking a lot of features that you could find on dedicated FM rigs.
Not to be harsh, but 2M FM attracts some who see it as glorified CB..and are interested in working DX in that mode. No problem with that, I work a lo of simplex myself...but if your goal is to see if you can "light up" a repeater three states away during a band opening, save yourself some money. Buy any FM rig and the biggest Mirage brick amp you can afford. Stack some beams and go to town. This isn't designed for that kind of operation.
If however, you're serious about weak signal and satellite work, you'll quickly love this rig. It's easy to operate, allows you to "move" stations up the bands rapidly, and hears great even without pre-amps.
I purchased the Icom pre-amps, which are fine, but their noise figure is a bit high. I upgraded to Advanced Receiver Research pre-amps which work much better. AAR will install optional RF chokes if you want to use the IC-910H to power them. Hard keying is better and saves the relay contacts, but the RF keying works fine too.
If you're running heavy duty cycle modes like WSJT you might want to add an additional muffin fan to the heat sink. I did and it keeps my 910H nice and cool.
Yes, it lacks serious IF DSP---and that is a shame. It also lacks a 222 module, which would be worth it's weight in gold. It could also have some features to make it work better as a transverter rig, but all in all, it's the best V/U weak signal rig on the market.
Expensive, and worth it.
Note to Icom. Add a 222 module, and I bet you could sell them for $1,000 bucks a piece here in the US. Please?
Or maybe some after market company?
73,
Les, N1LF
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N5YU
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 31, 2008 14:25
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ANOTHER GREAT ICOM
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought my 910H from AES Cleveland, loaded with both DSP units and the 1.2Ghz module installed. However, I just thought it had a good receiver, until I installed the AG-25 & AG-35 mast mount preamps. It's receiver is good without them and if you haven't experienced the receiving using them, THEN DON'T !! Without them you have about 50% to 60% in my estimate. If you spend the bucks for the 910H go the extra mile and get the 100%.
The only radios that I have ever found that are better for VHF/UHF weak signal, is the Icom IC-275H & the IC-475H. AND..when they were new, each one of them cost what a single 910H cost.
It just cost to go in style and the IC-910H is pretty stylish !!
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AE5EH
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 29, 2008 22:54
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Well pleased!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had my eye on one of these for a while.
Very well made, I do like the way the controls are laid out. Bought it mostly for sideband, and because of the transmit power. I like the options available for the radio. Have ordered the high stability crystal, and UT-106 DSP units for start.
Did not buy it for the garbage FM repeater use (mild brain damage will be incurred from FM repeater use in my area due to the operators in my locale), but it's nice to know that if I want to operate in that mode with this radio I can.
Transmit signals are very spectrally clean on the 910H I bought. Great signal reports with stack mic on FM and SSB. The extra power is nice on 2m and 70cm.
A little pricey, but I'd rather pay a little extra and have a well made and functioning article, then pay for some cheap bargain basement piece of junk that I'll be unhappy with later and end up getting rid of to buy something better anyway.
Looks great sitting beside the PROIII. Both will look even better sitting beside a IC7800. You can never have too many radios.
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MM0PMW
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 14, 2008 04:55
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Good Recieve Audio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my second Icom 910, I use Yamaha amplified speakers with my radio eqipment.The recieve audio is very good with the 910, the antenna used is the Diamond 510, the microphone used with the 910 is the Heil PR20. For me this is a good combination of radio, antenna, and microphone.The 910 always seems to make it to the weak stations having the benefit of 100 watts on 2 meters.It works for me.Why 4/5? no CTCSS.
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IK0YKM
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 7, 2008 03:23
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Very good
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought the Icom IC-910H after researching the radio for a year. I re-read the QST product review, some articulate, informative comments found here on e-ham, other technical reviews and the comments in the yahoo group.
Those that know me know that I am a Yaesu diehard owner.
After using rigs in DX conditions such as Yaesu FT-726, FT-736, FT-225RD, Icom IC-275H and a few others, I can say this rig is the best of the world.
I work now only VHF and UHF satellite (I’m AMSAT member ). Never in FM.
I am very happy with the results. This radio is close to perfect for CW and SSB/satellite operation.
Very good rtx with a very good RX.
However, It is better to insert the card UT-109 for a pleasant signal listening
I'm very satisfied.
73's de Henry IK0YKM
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WM2P
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 19, 2007 09:12
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Pretty Good for me
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got mine in a trade for a cheaper rig so my performance to value ratio is way up there. Having owned many rigs, both UHF/VHF and UHF/VHF/HF, mobile and base, I think I can voice a reasonable opinion.
I already have a great HF rig and mobile HF/UHF/VHF rig. All I was looking for was a base VHF/UHF rig at the time. I have problems seeing their small screens and hate the need to go into menus for many things. I like lots of knobs and buttons right on the face of my rigs in my base.
If I just was going to buy a rig in this price range I would probably buy the Kenwood TS-2000. Great for UHF/VHF, adequate for satellite. Built in DSP, TNC and preamp. As a bonus, it is a pretty good HF rig also.
For me, the ability to use my good Heil mics and equalizer with its 8 ping mic jack was a welcome feature. Something not found on the mobiles. I played around with the satellites and the dual receive is nice but you need two separate antennas for this, which I happen to have. Although, for my needs, I can work some satellites with an HT and the Arrow Antenna satellite hand held antenna.
While a good performing VHF/UHF all mode radio, it lacks alpha tags, memory bands and the inability to monitor a single frequency on a band and also scan the rest of that band. For instance. I like to monitor my local simplex frequency on VHF. When I do that I can only then scan the UHF band which is not so great. In other words, if you are looking for a rig for the normal VHF/UHF activities like working repeaters and local simplex, you would be better off with something else rather than spending this kind of money.
The hams I talked to that have these rigs are into working weak stations, EME, DX and serious satellites. For me, I only need a VHF/UFH rig to talk with the locals a few hours a week. As I said, I got it in a trade so I did not have to pay its real price and therefor is a great deal for me. With 100 watts on VHF and 70 on USB plus SSB abd CW, I have all that I need. If I had to buy a rig for my needs rather than trade, I would be just as happy with something less costly or a Kenwood TS-2000.
In summary, the rig is powerful and capable of allowing you to work DX with the proper pre-amps and big antennas. Simultaneous receive and full control with the Ham Radio Deluxe software down to controlling the doppler shift for you makes this the most suited for satellite work. If you just want to rag chew and work repeaters then save your money and get something else.
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TF2JB
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 2, 2007 15:28
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So far, most pleased.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had the IC 910H now for two weeks. So far I am most pleased. I did buy the crystal owen as well, but still need to install it. Have mostly used the transceiver on 2m FM and had my first SSB QSO today. I will come later with a more thorough report.
73 de TF2JB.
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G4AON
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Rating: 3/5
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Sep 23, 2007 04:48
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Lacks basic features
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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There isn't much choice when it comes to current production multi-band VHF/UHF transceivers. I wanted a unit for both shack and portable use. The areas where this transceiver is lacking are:
No indication of power output, other than the "S meter" bargraph - what power level does "S9" equate to?
No indication of SWR.
Lack of flexibility with CTCSS, as mentioned by other reviewers.
The transmit power drops significantly when operated on less than 13.8 Volts.
No CW keyer memories and no quick method of changing keyer speed (very fiddly via the "set" menu)... An external keyer is pretty much essential with this rig.
Significant frequency drift without the optional TCXO, makes 1296 MHz SSB/CW operation tedious.
The carry handle and side feet are an extra expense!
On a plus side:
Built-in mast head pre-amp operation, I use the Icom 1296 MHz pre-amp and it works pretty well.
Works well on satellites, Ham Radio Deluxe controls it nicely.
Low harmonic and other spurious output. It is very clean, except for some "in band" noise on 1296 MHz which appears to be around 10 dB higher in level than on 2m or 70cms. These are from measurements with a calibrated spectrum analyser.
Good reports from the supplied HM12 microphone.
I like the ability to operate from the memories and tune around in the same manner as if using the VFO, a quick press of the down/up memory buttons return you to where you started... I also like the ability to listen on two bands simultaneously on different modes, ie 2m FM and 70cms SSB.
Icom UK have a good spares holding, my second hand 910 came damaged in transit and needed a new RIT/Shift control and a new upper case half. Both items were in stock for next day delivery at reasonably cheap prices.
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AH6RH
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Rating: 5/5
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May 29, 2007 22:25
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Okay, its a "5"!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I went back and verified that the IC-910H has a quick turnaround with the DDS synthesizer. Hence, I CAN work the packet satellites. So, I'll give it a "5", as it pretty much does what I need it to do with SSB, CW and satellites.
It was super sensitive -- picking up a 2 watt transmitter in orbit 125 miles up, aiming at the horizon with an 3 element Arrow antenna. That turns out to be about 700 miles distant.
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AH6RH
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Rating: 4/5
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May 27, 2007 23:54
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Could use some improvements
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was going to give this rig a "5", until I used it to access packet satellites. Then, I found its weakness.
The satellites RAFT and ANDE have very short turnaround times. If your radio can't switch back to receive mode very quickly, it'll lose the beginning of the packet. That is the case here, as well as another Icom radio I was using. The Kenwood TM-D700 was lightning fast, but doesn't have the fine resolution for doppler control.
The other thing I noticed is that its a V/U radio, not V/V or U/U radio. So, I can't use computer control to handle the uplink and downlink doppler if the links are in the same band. I worked around it using multiple memory settings, but I would have preferred a computer controlled solution.
Still, it seems quite sensitive and selective, in the short time I've tried it. Haven't used the SSB and CW settings yet, but am looking forward to it.
In time, I'll learn how to program the 10 satellite memories. So, there's a lot of manual reading to do.
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