|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Alinco DJ-G7.
|
KB1CHU
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Oct 22, 2009 21:25
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
different volume levels between main and sub band
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I bought a DJ-G7T yesterday and returned it today.The problem is that the audio levels differ greatly between the main and sub band. The main band had very good audio quite loud and clear but the sub channel that I had wanted to use for the local public safety bands (482.xxxx and 453.xxxx) was barely audible. I tried a reset and a master reset to no avail.I brought it back to my local dealer(HRO)and they brought out their display unit and another new one to compare. All three did the same thing.They would show a full quieting reading on the display but the audio on the sub band was so low you would have to hold it up to your ear to hear it.I had also tried it on a two meter, 70 cm and airband frequency. What a shame! I had saved for a while and downloaded the manual to study while waiting and had high hopes and was looking forward to another frequency as I had nothing on 1.2 GHZ. I like the idea behind the radio but would hold off on purchasing another one unless this is changed.I really was surprised as I own five different Alinco radios ,three HT's and two mobiles and I have found them all to be good units. The two dualband Alinco HT's I own have separate volume controls also and their volume levels are equal.
|
|
AD7QQ
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Oct 16, 2009 09:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Fair on Satellites
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
Please see my prior review. I have used the DJ-G7T with updated firmware for about a month now on satellites as well as casual use with local repeaters. I continue to find it an easy to use HT with great performance. On the satellites I have had some problems. One of the AO-51 doppler receive frequencies had a lot of intermittent noise which appear to be from internal occillation. The DJ-G7 has the ability to shift the "clock" to other frequencies to minimize this, and it has helped but not eliminated the problem. Interestingly this only happens when using the dual memory function. I have not been able to get true duplex operation. Despite achieving QSO's I cannot hear my own transmissions. The receiver appears to be adequately sensitive compared with the 817ND and DJ-596. I would have to say my old Alinco DJ-596 works the LEO's better. It is still a very fun rig to play with, and I use it frequently bicycle mobile.
|
|
CHARLA
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Oct 15, 2009 08:10
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Deaf as a door post!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Earlier this year I had one of the first units to arrive in the UK. But for
reasons I won't go into I had to return it. I have now re-purchased. However I
find that this unit from a different source in the UK had to be modded for
w/band rx. Where as before on the previous unit no mods were carried out. I also
notice that where I could receive transmissions between 230-380 mhz am mode I
can't receive anything on this. Comparison carried out with my ancient Yaesu
VR500 scanner on frequency 278.550 mhz which the original unit could receive. Although VHF frequencies I can receive. The firmware is E 4.123
Not sure about it!
|
|
N0FPE
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 11, 2009 18:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works good so far
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have had this radio now fo abt 3 months. works just fine. Upgraded the firmware without a problem
Now just trying to get all the repeaters programmed, software seems to work just fine. If you brick your radio on the firmware upgrade the problem is most likely on ur end not the radio or software. I would give it a 10 if i could.
Dan
|
|
M0NYW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 28, 2009 23:39
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have owned this for a two weeks now. Was after a handheld for sats and not many radios on the market that has Full duplex. It has loads of features seems like Alinco has thought about it first before producing another same old handheld.
Manual is very poor which is a shame and radio not the most user friendly to use. But Iam mainly a Yaesu fan, So time will tell. Would like to know more about the firmware updates and what was the previous ones on alinco site.
1.2Ghz works very well and into a 50 Ohm load it produces 1.5W which is great so on the look out for a better HT aerial.
The thing which tops it off for me is the desktop charge WOW normally and optional extra from other manufacturers which could set you back abit charges the battery within 3hrs.
Really pleased and a must have for any SOTA operator as 23cms is getting popular up those hills.
Maybe see more activity on local 23cms FM
Well worth the money.
|
|
N2DY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 27, 2009 10:48
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Cool Once You Figure It Out
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Some of the prior reviews on this rig scared me a bit, but my friend, Ray-N2MCY, and I took the plunge and bought a couple anyway. I am very glad we did. I could not resist having a tri-band HT that includes 1.2 GHz.
Unlike some others that purchased the rig earlier, mine came with the newer firmware and full manual. The new manual is pretty good but it still could be better. It still needs a bit more editing. For example, the manual says that the rig comes with the dry cell pack, whereas the Alinco web site says that it does not. Mine did not. That being said, initially I did not even consult the manual and had no problem navigating most of what the radio can do.
The rig seems rugged. It has a nice solid feel to it. It is relatively small, similar in size to a Yaesu VX-7R but a bit thicker. I do not care for the belt strap which takes the place of a normal belt clip. It is fine when you use the radio on your belt with a speaker mic, but it gets in the way when it is not being used. I hope that someone will come out with some sort of after-market normal belt clip for the radio.
The rig itself works great. I have tested it with friends and they like the audio on the rig better than my Yaesu VX-7R (with or without a speaker mic). Receive sensitivity seems to be very good. It works very well on 1.2 GHz. The repeater club that I belong to has a decent 1.2 GHz repeater and I was able to key it easily within a 20 mile radius just using the 1.5 watts from the HT with the standard rubber duck antenna.
The radio has many, many cool features. It has very broad receive coverage. It has a band scope and one thing that surprised me that it can do is cross band repeat (see page 63 of the owner's manual). I haven't seen that since the Yaesu FT-51R and some of the Standard HTs. I tried it and it works very well as a cross band repeater. That might be useful for some Emcomm situations where you could stick the HT high up in a building and let it act as a repeater for the stations down below.
Accessories for the radio seem pricey. Universal seems to have the best price. Time will tell as to how the radio will hold up, but so far I really like the rig. It seems that I find something new that it can do every day. It is nice to have a 1.2 GHz HT that I can run with my Kenwood TS-2000X or the local repeater.
|
|
AB1II
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Jul 25, 2009 15:56
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
AVOID
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
Tried the Firmware update. In middle of transfer, a useless Error dialog appeared. Now the radio is a brick.
|
|
K9MHZ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 6, 2009 18:50
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good radio, terrible manual
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This radio is good, and does deserve 5 stars for what you get at a very reasonable price. A Yaesu or Icom wouldn't have the quick charger included, and would cost much more, especially a triband radio. Still, it's typical Alinco....good, gets the job done, decent quality, affordable price, nothing to get excited about. A Chevy Impala, not a BMW or Lexus.
The manual though, is pathetic. Related topics are scattered throughout, and many functions are incompletely described.
The full duplex capability at this modest triband price is nice, particularly if you enjoy working the LEO AMSAT FM modes.
Summary.....good, affordable, unremarkable, terrible manual.
|
|
KA5PIU
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 22, 2009 18:49
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Not bad and easy to hack.
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
OK, so I get my hands on this latest wonder, manual is poor and programming is insane!
I proceed to hack this thing, with the help of Alinco.
Everything is a softpot setting, wonderful! and I mean this in a good way.
Firmware update and the thing will transmit from under 100 mHz to nearly 1.5 gHz! and no gaps!
The way the filters are configured, the radio switches everything in firmware, needed to provide the wide receive yet allow full duplex crossband operation.
So, with a tweak here and there this thing will do 900 mHz as well as 220 mHz.
Clearly an "Offical" firmware is in the works, why else would this radio be configured for such an easy update?
A fun radio if you are into embedded applications as well as an interesting RF device, just what I want to play with.
The radio proper is not bad on 140 and 440 mHz but the 1.2 gHz is not that sharp, not all that bad just not real "tight".
Since mine is had some major changes done I will not comment on the manual or firmware.
The hand strap thing is nice, it does not get in the way if one wants to put it in some sort of case yet is functional, much better than the VX-7R thing.
the 12 volt input as well as drop-in charger are a nice touch.
|
|
KD8KXB
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Jun 6, 2009 05:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good Radio but needs upgrades
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I purchased this radio along with 5 others in our group in Dayton. There are a few thing I would have liked to see improved though:
-Be able to transmit on both main and sub-bands
-The auto-repeater function does not allow you to program simplex and repeater memories.
-Better manual(comming soon on the Alinco web site).
-Easier memory programming.
-I do not like the belt clip.
-Not a very accurate battery meter.
-More accessories available upon its release(case, batteries, ect.)
-Some screen issues.
On the screen issues. The first radio I bought the screen would scramble. Numbers or letters would disappear or the top half of a line would shift to the right and return to normal. I took mine back to R&L Electronic and exchanged it for another one and I have not have any problems since. I then went to the Alinco booth on Saturday and told them about it and they said they had heard of one other case and someone at Alinco was working on the problem and stay tune to the web site. They told me if I or anyone else had any problem, issues or comments with the radio to email them at :
sales@hamdistributors.com
or
mcannon@hamdisributors.com - Mike Cannon
Things I like:
+The 1.2GHz band!!!
+The speaker audio sounds good.
+Good transmit audio.
+Comes with a drop-in rapid charger
+Comfortable to hold in your hand.
The stock antenna works OK. I have purchased the Comet SH-95 2M/440/1.2 antenna with the Diamond SMA-to-BNC adapter and this antenna work great. Words of caution though, if you do use this adapter you may want to get a nylon washer to put between the grommet that holds on the speaker/mic adapter cover and the BNC adapter. doing this will take stress off the connector so you don't accidentally break it off. I found the washer at Lowes.
Overall Alinco has the base for a nice radio, it just need some upgrades done whether firmware or hardware. As one of my first radios I am fairly pleased with it. It takes some time of play with it to get the hang of programming and setting the functions and features, but once you get the hang of it work good.73
KD8KXB, Steve
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
