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Author Topic: Your thoughts about the icom ID-5100A compared to competing UHF/VHF units  (Read 186 times)

KK4GMU

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I owned a Kenwood TM-D710A mobile/base a few years ago and sold it.
I currently own a Kenwood TH-F6a HT that I don't use.  Never used either of these in a vehicle.

How does the Icom ID-5100A compare with regard to transmit/receive performance and "ease of use" with the above, and with the current batch of UHF/VHF mobile/base UHF/VHF radios today?
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IC-7100, RSPdx, AT-D878UVII-Plus HT, TGIF Spot

KQ4KK

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I own two D710GA's and an ID-5100. The 5100 is a great FM VHF/UHF true dual band mobile. The touch screen is great. You can make the screen only show one band, that makes the lettering and numbering BIG.
Has a built-in GPS, as good as, or better than the 710GA. However, the 5100 does not do analog APRS. But does do DGPS. It does DSTAR and can send "APRS" location data to APRS.FI. It can crossband repeat in either Analog or DSTAR modes.
Currently ICOM still makes the 5100, Kenwood is not making the 710 anymore as far as I can tell.
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KK4GMU

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I own two D710GA's and an ID-5100. The 5100 is a great FM VHF/UHF true dual band mobile. The touch screen is great. You can make the screen only show one band, that makes the lettering and numbering BIG.
Has a built-in GPS, as good as, or better than the 710GA. However, the 5100 does not do analog APRS. But does do DGPS. It does DSTAR and can send "APRS" location data to APRS.FI. It can crossband repeat in either Analog or DSTAR modes.
Currently ICOM still makes the 5100, Kenwood is not making the 710 anymore as far as I can tell.
I further wonder about the comparative usefulness of the UHF/VHF section of the Yaesu FT-991A compared to this Icom I-5100A.  Is the Icom more purpose-built for mobile and the Yaesu more purpose-built for base station?  The latter has no GPS, but coordinates can be entered as a reference point from distant stations.  I haven't been able to find anything on the web comparing the VHF/UHF functions and usability between these two radios besides Fusion vs D-star.

I eventually want to get an HF radio, and am torn between the all-band Yaesu versus getting the separate Icoms. Separates will cost $400+ more than the Yaesu.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2022, 07:41:27 PM by KK4GMU »
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IC-7100, RSPdx, AT-D878UVII-Plus HT, TGIF Spot

G4AON

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I have an Icom 5100, it is a very useful FM/D-Star radio. However, the trade-in value to a dealer is very low… there is little demand for them.

Personally, I would look around for one on the second hand market. Note they mostly didn’t come with anything to mount the head unit, not even on a desk, you can fairly easily make a mount but beware of the price Icom charge for them.

A programming lead is a straight jack plug to RS232 lead, the wiring diagram is in several Icom manuals. The Icom programming software is free and straightforward to use.

73 Dave
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K1KIM

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All good advice.

I have 2 ID-5100A's and a Yaesu 991. They are apples and oranges. Obviously Yaesu is Fusion and Icom DStar. The 5100 is a great mobile rig. Don't leave the face in a hot car or direct sun. I put mine in the trunk
if parked for a period of time.

HF mobile is a different world than VHF/UHF. An antenna can run $500 vs $50.

Define your purposes and goals before making a decision.
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