| VE1BLL |
Rating:     |
2022-11-08 | |
| Replacement Mic Cords easily available and cheap |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had the HTX-252 (bought new, when on sale of course) for many many years. Like many, I found that the microphone cord fell apart all by itself, literally while in storage (deterioration, not wear and tear). I found a replacement cord (called "8 Pin Microphone Cable for Kenwood ...ICOM...") online for under US$10, already pre-terminated with the correct mating 8-pin connector. It was quite easy to install (just the mic end, it opens with two screws). The wire colors were different, so I had to ring them out, make notes, being careful. The mic wire is no longer shielded, but seems to work fine anyway. The original strain relief was moved over to the new cable, as it's ever so slightly different. Now the radio is like new and works fine.
If you can wield a soldering iron and can spare $10 and maybe an hour or two, then the microphone cord problem is very close to a non-issue.
Radio itself is a bit fussy to operate, with many functions needing button presses on both the front panel and the microphone keypad.
I dislike the auto-resume when scanning, it starts scanning again after a few seconds. I'd rather it stayed put.
It's a good little 2m radio, provided you can get it cheap enough to make it good value. Many other options on the market since this one was introduced.
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| KK5R |
Rating:      |
2018-11-28 | |
| HTX-252 Microphone Cable |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
There are plenty of comments online about the microphone cable deteriorating. Mine was the same and I looked at a lot of cables I had here that might be used to replace the cable. Then I remembered that I had a long cable for the microphone for the FT-450 desk microphone. Therefore, I replaced the one on the desk microphone with the long cable and used the old, shorter cable as a replacement for the HTX-252 microphone cable. It was hardly used and essentially still new.
It went on the HTX-252 microphone perfectly although typical of such work, it was not a simple walk in the park. All the wires were a color for color replacement except for three wires so a simple substitute for the color of the three wires was done with no problem.
This may be a good way for others to replace the microphone cable with one that promises to last much longer than for an OEM replacement. I expect it will.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KK5R on 2018-10-02
Picked up the radio at a hamfest last Saturday, Sept 29, 2018. Was priced at $30 but got it for $25. The microphone cable was ratty on both ends but got it all taped up. I found a website where replacing it is detailed but don't have a cable, yet. I thought a printer extension cable might do it but don't have anything usable in that size diameter. Replacing the microphone cable was described by WD4NKA.
I like that it is small and relatively simple to operate. You have to lock up some repeater frequencies in memory to use it easily, especially when mobile. Manual tells how this is done. Downloaded the manual from one of several sources I found on the 'Net.
Since it covers a lot of frequencies on receive, I ran it up to the local weather channel frequency and locked it into Channel 9 in the memory. I used 162.45 Mhz which is the loudest where I live. Most of them here are linked to a central Weather station at Jackson, KY. From 162.45, you can use the VFO function and quickly tune up or down to find a good station. The standard frequencies are:
162.550 MHz
162.400 MHz
162.475 MHz
162.425 MHz
162.450 MHz
162.500 MHz
162.525 MHz
161.650 MHz
161.775 MHz
163.275 MHz
Using the radio for Weather advice/alerts makes it even more useful.
I will try to get a 9-conductor cable and replace the mic cable later. I don't care if it's coiled or not, this is nice to avoid tangling, etc., but it's not essential.
Only having 25W output makes it hard to get to the repeater 20 miles away because I live in a hole. Plan to make a 2 or 3 element 2M quad to give the signal a little more effective radiated signal. Maybe that will make a big difference. |
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| KC8MWG |
Rating:    |
2016-06-27 | |
| Not bad for a freebie... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I was just given an HTX-252 by one of the guys in our club during our Field Day event. I've been using an Icom IC-2100H mobile, but it just sat on my passenger seat as there is no place suitable to mount it. The HTX-252 is tiny enough to mount on top of my dash without blocking any of my view. Mic cord is disintegrating but I ordered an Opek replacement cord on EBay, and the mic still works fine (the cord is currently reinforced with electrical tape). Half the power on high as the Icom, and fewer memories, but adequate to hit the local repeaters (and I haven't used anywhere near a quarter of the Icom's memories anyway). Quirky to program (I keep a copy of the manual in my car). Not as good a radio as the Icom, but it's much more mobile friendly. |
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| VE3LJQ |
Rating:     |
2014-08-03 | |
| Good at a good price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I can't understand some of the negative comments on this rig. At the right price it is a good compact mobile transceiver. I picked mine up for $60 and it has let me move a Kenwood TR7950 inside my shack thanks to its limited use as a mobile with its hard-wired CTCSS tones. I'm getting great coverage of repeaters where I live northeast of Toronto, Ontario. |
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| N1RKR |
Rating:     |
2014-05-04 | |
| Good radio, Couple odd quirks, though... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is a pretty neat little radio. And when I say little, I mean LITTLE. 32mm tall, 130mm wide, and 140mm deep. It mounted quite nicely in the overhead cubby in my GMC Sierra pickup. And with the speaker on the top, there was enough space left above it that the speaker (which is on top of the radio) sends the audio out nice and crisp (no need for an external speaker). Oh, and it stays nice and cool too because there is room for air to move around it.
I bought it (obviously used) about a month ago. 10/25w is plenty for local repeaters, especially if you use a 5/8 wave antenna. And even on 25 watts, it only draws like 5 amps max.
One oddity is that every time you turn on the radio, it starts in VFO mode, even if it was left in Memory mode when it was shut off. I just sorta got used to turning it on, hitting the MR button, and using the knob to turn to the repeater I use most every time I turn it on, but it is an oddity nonetheless.
To switch between High power and Low power is F and the PTT switch. This doesn't always seem to work for me, and I have to do it a couple times for it to "catch". Maybe it's a timing thing that I'll get better at the more I use it, but it's not as easy as simply having a hi/lo button on the radio like most others do...
Also, when programming, setting up the offset is done by using the F key on the microphone and the SHIFT key on the microphone. Sometimes you need to do both keys multiple times to get the proper shift. Awkward...
But to program the Tone Squelch, you again use the F key on the microphone, but then use the T-SQ key on the main radio. Again, when selecting between none, encode only, or encode/decode, the entire button combination may have to be done multiple times.
I think with just a bit of extra engineering, all of the functions to program it (like the F key and the SHIFT key) could have been moved to the radio itself. I suppose it could have also been done such that all programming is done through the microphone... As long as all programming button pushes are in one place, it would be better than it is now. It's awkward to be going between the microphone and the buttons on the radio back and forth...
I'm told that the cords on the microphones for these radios fall apart, and the rubber of the PTT on the mic also breaks off, but mine is in perfect condition, so I can't comment on that.
Reports from fellow HAMs say that the radio sounds clean and clear.
I really want to give this radio a 5, but the oddities stated above make that all but impossible. In fact, I'm sure a lot of people would say the above noted oddities would reduce it to a 3, but despite it's flaws, I really do like this little radio. So, a 4 it shall stay... |
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| KC8QMF |
Rating:     |
2013-11-24 | |
| Good for what I do with it. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Purchased this radio as my first 2 mtr mobile. The 10 memories are really all I need to work the local repeaters. Small and inexpensive it has been a good workhorse. And if it get's stolen, I'm not out much. The mic cord came apart after about 5 years but another was purchased on ebay.
No product support but for what it is I'm not unhappy I ever purchased it. Also the 10 and 25 watts is plenty for my needs.
73 KC8QMF
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| WA7TGT |
Rating:  |
2012-04-30 | |
| Worthless |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| The mic cord deteriorated and needed replacing. Of course being the Rat Shack product, it is not available. Now the radio is worthless because of bad products used in the mic cord and NO product support. I'll never buy a Rat Shack radio again. My advice is: Stick to Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, etc. |
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| KB3UWC |
Rating:     |
2011-11-26 | |
| A Good Inexpensive Radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned this radio about 2 years. I picked it up cheap on ebay, in like new condition. I wanted a low cost 2 meter rig to put in the car. incase it got stolen. With a hustler 5/8 wave trunk mnt, i can get into most of the repeaters here in Pittsburgh, Even in the valleys. nothing but good transmit audio reports. The receiver is ok but nothing great it seems susceptible to ignition noise. I think i'll keep it |
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| K4TB |
Rating:    |
2011-02-23 | |
| Still Working |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Had this rig in my car since 2003. The radio was very inexpensive yet still works well. Its small size and 25 watts made it easy to mount under the plastic dash and to hook up to a 12v accessory outlet without having to drill through the firewall for power. A couple of ferrite chokes on the power cord and loops of the coax cable cured a slight hum on TX. The only other problem has been having to repair with electrical tape some splits along the microphone cable due to heat rot.
I would give it a higher rating but the ergonomics leave a little to be desired. For example, I like to scan repeaters and listen while I drive but I have to press the VFO/M button on the radio, then the scan/pause button on the microphone, each time you turn it on. The mic scan/pause button isn't easy to find without looking closely at the microphone - quite distracting when driving. All-in-all however, the radio has served me well.
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Earlier 4-star review posted by K4TB on 2003-03-03
This little radio is a great deal (got it for $99) if you just need a simple way to talk on the local repeaters around town. It does just what is needed when you only have a half-dozen or so local repeaters. It's compact size made it easy to fit under the stereo in my 2001 Honda Accord. Programming was fairly simple. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. About all I would change would be to have it power up on the memory channels instead of the VFO as it does, and make the scanning button a button on the radio instead of the mike so I could find it faster. All-in-all, I find the radio just right for my needs. |
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| N4KXO |
Rating:    |
2010-08-24 | |
| Not bad |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| For the price it's a good 2M rig. No bells and whistles. Just a 25 watt radio that works well with local repeaters. Fairly easy to program. A very good entry level rig. |
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