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write your own review of the Alinco DJ-296T.
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N7BFS
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 3, 2004 02:22
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OK basic HT, but battery too small and a few other warts
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well, I had decided to make the 1.25M band active in our area, as there are few stations in this area I only have myself and my IRLP node to talk to ;^}
The kenwood multibander had too low tx power output for what I wanted to use the 1.25M band for, so I picked up the DJ196t as it had the higher tx output.
Programming is fairly strait forward, and I only had to open the manual once. As others have posted the volume,squelch and backlight issues are clunky, but you get used to them.
The 700mah battery is grossly under rated (should be twice this) and because of this it will only last a day or two between charges (mine does anyway), and as far as I can tell no rapid charger, so 14hrs every time you need to charge it really sucks.
The only other issue I have with the radio is the rx signal strength indicator shows full scale no matter what level signal is coming in, even if you just open the squelch it shows full scale, and after folowing the service manual to calibrate the signal strength meter made no change, I was put off by the fact that Alinco has no tech support number or email, and of course HRO is of no help on this issue (send it in if its under warranty, otherwise you are on your own)...
The receive audio frequency response is lacking on the top end and so sounds muffled but useable, in comparison my VX-5r has excellent rx audio response...
Since the price is so low I guess I shouldn't expect the radio to be perfect, but it will continue to be my "field unit" until someone else makes a better one with the same tx power out.
If you can deal with the lower power output you may want to get the kenwood multi-bander instead..
73
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KC6ZUT
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Rating: 4/5
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May 21, 2003 15:29
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Good performer
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I've had this rig for about 6 months and I enjoy it very much. I like to work the Condor Net here in California and I find I can work repeaters 80 miles away with just 4.5W (that is direct, not through the network). Mostly I use a 5/8 wave mag mount.
As much as I like the rig, there are a few negatives.
1) You cannot adjust the volume without first pushing a function key. The same goes for the squelch.
2) You must push a function key to run the display light. The light goes out after a few seconds and you must press the function key and the light key again. Some radios let you lock the light on.
3) A minor point, it does not die gracefully when the battery is weak. It puts out the most outrageous squacks, beeps and hicups when the battery dies.
In sum, a good, fun radio.
73 de KC6ZUT
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WB1AEX
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 21, 2002 15:58
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Solid 220 Handheld
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is a very solid little radio. It has an easy to read display, and lots of programming features. It also has good power output options, a sensitive receiver with very pleasant audio, and is a convenient radio to hold, not at all awkward. A big plus is that all the accessories for the matching DJ-195/196 and 596 versions are compatible. The only thing I find odd about the radio is that there is no way to set band limits when doing a vfo scan (band search). Instead of searching just the 220 mhz band it will search its full rx coverage from 216 mhz to 249 mhz, which is kind of a pain when you are in a new area looking for activity. Usually two memory channels are used to set limits, but that is not the case with this radio. The supplied antenna looks nice but is a pain to remove (it comes up against the connector gasket for the mic and speaker jacks) and appears to be a poor performer compared to other available portable ducks. I replaced it with the one that came with my old ICOM 3AT and it works far better. Other than the two mentioned items, I like everything else this radio offers for the price.
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K7NG
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 12, 2002 21:48
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Low cost, good performance
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Nice to see new 222 MHz gear coming on to the market.
Bought a DJ-296T last week, have used it fairly extensively since. Here's my two cents' worth:
Good: Lots of memories! More than I can imagine ever needing. Straightforward keypad/function menu and memory management. Seems to be a pretty sensitive receiver. Gets good TX audio reports. Comes with a fairly high-capacity battery pack.
Not so good: I have run into a fair number of RX spurs in the repeater output band. You have to precisely remember the steps to enter data into new memories or you will overwrite...no going back. Wish it had up/down" keys so I could go up or down a few channel steps with one hand rather than having to twist the multifunction knob...
a "4" isn't all THAT bad!
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KC2IGY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 5, 2002 08:27
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Latest and greatest "220" HT.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Loaded with features. Even repels Mosquitos! Users of the 2M DJ-196 will be familiar with how it operates, and either love or hate the functions. Performance is very good, with some interference in harsh RF areas. The squelch seems to do a good job helping out in this area.
All in all, a very nice 220 HT, and big improvement over Alinco's old DJ-280.
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