| KB9YFX |
Rating:  |
2001-01-05 | |
| Re-evaluation -- poor choice!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After using this radio for 3 months, I must correct my previous evaluation.
The radio works fine, transmit and receive audio is acceptable, but the lack of features makes it almost useless for mobile use.
Buy one of the "big 3" monoband 2 meter mobiles.
You will be glad you did.
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KB9YFX on 2000-11-08
I bought the HTX-252 for convenience. I like its small size. Very easy to install in limited space auto interiors.
Very easy to operate but one needs to read the instruction manual first.
I get good signal reports from others. Currently using a 1/4 wave magnet mount.
Receive audio is very good for a radio/speaker of this small size. No sign of "hiss." An external speaker would make audio superb.
I don't like the light weight microphone. It transmits well, but it just looks and feels cheap.
The radio does get warm after being on for a while, but seems to operate fine.
No direct frequency entry from keypad is annoying, but something that I can live with.
A neat little radio. A great first rig or a back up or even a full time rig.
When on sale for $ 149. a real bargain, but at full price one would be better served with an ICOM or Yaesu. |
|
| KC5DBO |
Rating: |
2001-01-04 | |
| Klunky operation. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I noticed the 25-watt HTX-252 at Radio Shack just before Christmas, and thought it looked like the compact radio I was needing for my truck. Looks are very deceiving in this case. I should have connected the radio temporarily for tryout before installing it, because the disappointment was almost immediate. So was the un-installing.
You can't enter frequencies directly through the DTMF buttons on the microphone... you must step up/down using the rotary control on the radio or the up/down buttons on the mic. Plus, the display doesn't show the entire frequency. There's a super-small 25,50 or 75 that appears in place of the third digit after the decimal. If you wear glasses when reading, this radio is definately not for you.
The 252 only has ten memories, and none of them can be locked out in case a repeater goes wacky somewhere. The scan rate is two memory locations per second, and the delay (to continue after squelch breaks) is pre-set at five seconds. Forget about grabbing the mic and stepping through the memories during scanning... you must press the scan button to stop scanning before manually selecting a memory location. Stepping up or down takes you to the top or bottom memory, then stops... no wrap-around. You must step the other way once you reach the end.
Despite what the book says, every time you turn the radio off and back on, you're back in the VFO mode. You must press the memory button on the radio, then the scan button on the mic to resume scanning. Every time.
For some reason, the radio runs excessivly warm... even if you don't transmit. The speaker is on the top, so if you hang the radio under a dash, the sound comes out towards it, not the floor. (There's an external speaker jack on the rear). The mounting bracket, however, holds the radio down low enough (a disadvantage in my case) to allow the sound to be surprisingly clear and clean.
I didn't have the radio installed long enough to contact anyone, so I have no idea how well it transmitted. The mic is very light weight, and connects to the radio with an 8-pin round plug with a screw-on ring. This is definately one of the radio's good points, since many transceivers seem to be using cheesy, giant 8-contact computer network card connectors for their mic inputs.
The $179.95 price makes this radio a lousy deal. The standard $149.95 sale price is not much improvement. Maybe at $79.95 it'd be good for your boat or lawn tractor. If I was a more active HAM, I'd probably have known better to begin with.... I do now. For the same money, I can (and will) have a 50 watt ICOM 2100H, with a large, full display, and tons of features. And THAT is based on the reviews I found right here on the eHam website.
Ransom Park, KC5DBO |
|
| W9ZIM |
Rating: |
2000-12-18 | |
| One correction |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I made a mistake in my review below: the HTX 252 does indeed have extended receive. It's just that since you have only 10 memories and the inability to block channels from being scanned my friend didn't bother programming out of ban frequencies in the radio. I apologize for any confusion.
----------------------
Earlier 2-star review posted by W9ZIM on 2000-12-17
Looked at this radio at a friends house and was not impressed. Radio Shack set out to create a small, simple to operate radio. I guess they succeeded, but they left out about 90% of the features that are considered standard these days. Only 10 memories, no alpha-numeric display, no direct-keypad frequency entry, no extended receive (you get 2 meters and that's it!), limited scan features, 25 watt output cap, no DTMF memories. Basically, take all the features you'd like in a mobile radio and cross them off the list. The thing is, all the major manufacturers have radios that cost the same as this stripped down rig but have way more features. If you're in the market for a 2 meter mobile then give Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, or Alinco a look since you'll get a lot more radio for your money (give the Yaesu 1500 a serious look). The only reason I'd buy this radio is if it were sold at a steep discount. |
|
| KC2WLF |
Rating: |
2000-11-22 | |
| Poor Audio Output |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I purchased this radio this past weekend. I had it installed, matched to the 5/8 wavelength mag-mount antenna from RS with barely over 1:1 at both power settings. When I went on the air, the reports from fellow hams was I was full-quieting, but they asked me if I could speak-up. So I held the mic a little closer, tried again. Same results, I had the mic right up to within a 1/2 inch of my mouth and talking very loudly, only to keep getting reports of full-quieting, hard to hear my voice. Then another HAM came on the air with the same rig....same problem. I went back to the store, exchanged it, reinstalled the new one, and same problem. Then I rigged up a 2 meter radio from a friend to test the antenna. I was loud and clear! Audio was very clear, full-quieting signal. His radio was NOT a Radio Shack. I called Radio Shack and told them what the problems were I was having, and they told me there was nothing they could do for me, and to simply return it for a refund??? I called again and spoke to a different rep....same answer!!! So, I packed it up, returned it to the store, and was refunded my money. If that is their idea of support, forget it! |
|
| AE5X |
Rating: |
2000-11-22 | |
| Waste of money |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I'd been wanting some type of 2-meter rig for the car due to a long winter commute. While in RadShack buying wire, I noticed this rig was on sale for $150, so I bought and installed it. Then the disappointment began.
The mic is cheap lightweight plastic, feels almost "fragile". There are only 10 memories, but worse, the scan speed is about 2 channels/second. Also, there is no way to lock out a memory channel if you don't want it scanned. High power on this rig is 25 watts - "standard" Hi Pwr for 2-meter mobiles these days is 50 watts.
These faults _really_ come to light when you compare the cost of this rig to those from Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood/Alinco. For 30 dollars more, one of those manufacturers will sell you a rig with 50 watts, way more memory, faster and advanced scan features, much better construction and better sounding audio. They'll also have DTMF speed dialing features. I'm not willing to tolerate these shortcomings to save 30 bucks.
The HTX-252 represents a very poor value for your money. Do yourself a favor and compare other rigs' features vs price before wasting your money on this garbage. I'm glad Radio Shack has a decent return policy. This rigs' going back to the store. |
|
| KE4OAR |
Rating: |
2000-11-18 | |
| Good Radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I was looking for a mobile to use for mobile/portable packet. Several radios were in the running, but I found the HTX-252 on sale so I bought it. The "QST" review was in part responsible although I may not have bought the radio if I had remembered the part about no information on hooking the radio to a TNC (see below).
I agree with most of the posts from others and the "QST" review. Here is some other information that I have found.
The radio is small and light. Nominal 25 watts out should be no limit except in outlying areas.
The radio will do odd repeater splits by programming a new split and saving the data to one of the memory locations. Split and tone encoding are saved with the frequency and remain unique to that memory location. The MHz button also works when programming a new repeater split to make big splits easier to program.
Expanded transmit (142.000 to 149.885) instructions are included in the manual. A simple programming step will open up the transmit for those licensed outside the amateur bands.
The mic is necessary for programming the radio. several of the functions are only accessed from the mic.
It does not have all the bells and whistles of most of the other 2m radios on the market, but I don't use most of those features anyway.
For packet, I had some research to do. Fortunately, I found a post on eham forums with the pin outs on the mike connector. Unfortunately, there is an error in the post.
Pin 1 Mic audio/PTT
Pin 2 Scan/Pri
Pin 3 Down/Up
Pin 4 5 volts
Pin 5 Lock/Shift
Pin 6 Call/Step
Pin 7 F/Mhz
Pin 8 Ground
I built a cable using the control scheme for a Yaesu or Radio Shack HTX-202/404 substituting the 8 pin plug for the 2.5mm plug. Works fine for packet.
I think you can build a push button box and add it to the packet cable that would replace the mic for programming the radio. Except for the Up/Down button, the others just seem to be momentary buttons. You need the PTT and the F/Mhz buttons to change power levels. I did a little testing but have not built the box yet for a full blown test yet.
I would not recommend the radio as a first radio unless the sale price gets alot better. For $20 or $30 dollars more a full featured radio can be had. As a second radio with a specific purpose, the HTX-252 should be considered. |
|
| N4UE |
Rating: |
2000-09-28 | |
| Very nice little radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I also bought the radio on 'sort of' a whim. I don't operate much 2 FM. I bought an Icom IC-22A 'back in the day' and it has served me well. However, the crystals are a bygone technology. I read the review in QST and when I actually saw the radio, I was amazed. It has an excellent receiver, and the audio comments have been excellent. The IC-22A was one of the main reason all my personal equipment has always been Icom, right up to the 756PRO that I enjoy so much. I could have bought an Icom for the same amount, but I honestly don't see how it could be much better (at least for my operating style).
I liked the HTX-252 so much I went back a couple of days later and bought the mini HT. |
|
