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Reviews For: Alinco DR-235TMkIII Mobile radio

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Alinco DR-235TMkIII Mobile radio
Reviews: 11MSRP: 239.99 (AES)
Description:
Mobile/base station radio with TX on 222-224.995 MHz, RX on 216-279.995 MHz. Three power settings for Hi/Med/Lo: 25/10/5 W. EJ-41U internal TNC board is available as an option for 1200/9600bps packet. EJ-47U digital voice F1E board available as an option. +/-2.5ppm Frequency stability with TCXO circuit. 100 memory channels. CTCSS, DCS encode+decode, DTMF encode and Tone-burst are all standards. Super-wide 7 character alphanumeric display. Wide and narrow FM modes (16K0 & 8K50F3E). Theft alarm feature. A large, palm-fitting commercial-grade backlit microphone with a metal connector (not a mudular plug). Ten autodial memories, and much more.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alinco.com/Products/DR-235/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00114.7
NA3P Rating: 2020-08-13
Good quality 220 MHz tranceiver made in Japan Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I unboxed this radio and hooked it up yesterday. Easy to program without software. I was quickly able to program in the only two repeaters in my area. Works flawlessly. I was using an HT with low power to hit repeaters, now I have a solid connection. It was nice to see "Made in Japan" on the box. These days it seems like most of the radios are made in China and not of the highest quality. Equipment made in Japan, in my opinion, is better quality and better designed.
N2HAM Rating: 2020-02-13
Awesome Rig! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well built! Easy to program! Nice display to read during the day and night! Sturdy and great receive! Not many choices for 220 Mhz radios, if you want 220 this is a winner for you!

73's

N2HAM
N8RAT Rating: 2019-04-22
A Solid Performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's great to see a rig being offered for the 220 band!

Out of the box, the transmit audio is a bit hot. After making adjustments to the mic gain and deviation using my service monitor, the transmit audio is very crisp and clean. After hearing several others on the air (after gain adjustments), it's transmit audio is quite good.

The transmitter looks respectable on a spectrum analyzer (spurious emissions appear to be down about -60 dB). The receiver seems sensitive enough at .22 uV for 12 dB SINAD.

About the only complaint I have is there is no reverse function on the front panel. Albeit a minor deficiency, it is something that should be included on all FM transceivers capable of operating through repeaters.

While the receive audio is a bit anemic (a product of its puny internal speaker), an external speaker cures that issue. To be fair, I haven't seen very many of the newer rigs that have decent receive audio level either (save for some of the commercial rigs). That being said, the receive audio is close to being on-par with others.

All-in-all, a good choice to get on the "forgotten band".

KA2DEW Rating: 2015-06-19
works well, easy to operate Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got mine in December 2013 (thanks KB2TNR). The radio feels solid, behaves predictably, sounds just fine in transmit and receive. I wish it had a squelch knob but aside from that all is fine. The squelch is easy to open and pretty easy to set (hold button, turn tune-knob). I would buy another but I have an IC-38A and TH-F6A so I'm pretty well set.
W5CEM Rating: 2014-11-19
Excellent rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
If your on the fence about the 235, jump on over. I must respectfully disagree about the receive audio. Seems MORE than enough for shack use. Maybe mobile is a different story, but sitting on the desk, no problema. WAY easier to program than the TYT or Jetstream(had both) and unless you are in an area with lots of repeaters you won't miss the extra 25 watts or so out on high power.
Me thinks this rig will be in my shack for a long timie.
N2VU Rating: 2014-11-17
Solid and simple Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Whatever there is to know about this radio has already been stated but I'll echo what the others have said:

- Great rig, super simple to operate
- NEEDS a good external speaker
- Has good TX audio
- Very easy to navigate without software

I've had the Jetstream and prefer the Alinco! I'd give it a 5/5 but because of the poor RX audio I gave it a 4/5.
N6DXX Rating: 2013-10-09
It's a keeper Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This radio has served me well. It is easy to set-up & program & with 10 watts, I can hit all the repeaters of interest within 50 miles. The audio is just OK but thats to be expected from a 2" speaker. For better audio get an outboard speaker. I use mine as a base station & it always stays cool. It has a husky heat sink & doesn't need a fan. It's a keeper!

73, N6DXX
KY4TS Rating: 2013-09-16
Good solid performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine since 2009. No troubles thus far. I do have to agree with a previous reviewer, the receive audio is rather weak. Using an external speaker has helped. On the plus side, it is very easy to operate and program and seems very well built. Although the Jetstream has almost twice the RX output, it's not built as good as the Alinco. It will be interesting to see if the price goes down on the 235 with the introduction of the TYT TH-9000 (which I also own) or if they introduce an updated version (like they are doing with the 2m rig).
KI6OSH Rating: 2013-04-28
First rate! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio for almost 4 years and no problems at all. Does what it is supposed to do and that's all I can ask for. Not fancy but handles the 220 mz band very well. Seems to be an ever increasing popularity band and this radio does the job well.
K9MHZ Rating: 2013-04-15
Not bad Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good radio....nothing exceptional, though. I REALLY admire Alinco for making radios to cover the bands that the big three have either lost interest in, or have chosen to ignore. This radio has a lot of interfacing flexibilities built in, which will appeal to EMCOMM types who want to run digital modems, etc. The build quality is nice, and it seems reliable.

The downside.....the receiver audio is rotten.