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Reviews For: Radio Shack HTX-252

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

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Review Summary For : Radio Shack HTX-252
Reviews: 107MSRP: 179.95 plus tax
Description:
2 meter FM moble tranceiver, mini size. 10 memories, 10/25 watts, DTMF mic, 144-148 tx, 136-174 rx
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.radioshack.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
141073.1
KD7QZW Rating: 2010-03-18
good enough to stell Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
One of the first radios I got when I got my ticket just like everybody in 2002 lights burnt out the first 6 months but still worked fine with no completes. .then I'm not a digi-guy I'm a talker. story short everybody bad mouths the rig but ya know, some jerk for short of a word to keep this a post stole it out of my van. Hope crack-head’s likening it
RADIO_RANDY Rating: 2009-10-06
Okay for the price. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I paid $159 for mine about 5 or 6 years ago. It's size made for an easy install in my Toyota. I never noticed the audio output problem because I had to use an external speaker from the start because of the location.

This radio has given me good service in all the years I've had it in my mobile. If low transmit audio is a problem, I simply speak up. RF output has been sufficient even with a 1/2 wave fender mounted vertical. Since I generally only operate on one local repeater, channel memories have never been an issue. Lastly, it's relatively uncomplicated operation makes it a cinch for anyone to operate the radio, however...

My first gripe is that the radio always comes up in VFO mode when turned on. The simple solution was to leave our local repeater pair on the VFO. My second gripe is that even with all the buttons on the mike, you cannot program frequencies with it. It is strictly for DTMF use (and we don't even have a "patch" on our repeater). My third gripe is that there are no replacement parts for the mike. I lost the PTT rubber within the first 2 weeks I owned the radio. The replacement mike cost me $50 (1/3 the cost of the entire radio)!

Overall, this radio is (was) a decent buy if:
a. You generally frequent a single local repeater
b. You don't need lots of power
c. You are cramped for space
d. You truly dislike "complicated" radios

All in all, if I didn't already own this radio, I wouldn't buy it now. However, it works well enough that I'll probably keep it until it dies.
N4REV Rating: 2009-09-30
5 Year Review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Still going after 5 years.

Pros: Tiny!
Doesn't get near as warm as my FT-5100
Can be had super-cheap (very) used.
Cons: Low TX Audio! (see narrative)
MUST use Mic for programming functions
TINY speaker yields insufficient RX Audio.
BULBS difficult to replace. (see narr.)

I've had this little dude since 2004. It is still running as or better than new. Only fear now is that the mic is going to break, rendering the rig useless. A great rig to put in your go kit and use portable with a small battery, due to its diminuitive size. The small backlight bulbs tend to die often. And, as is the case with many rigs of this vintage, the bulbs ARE NOT LED (meaning don't last)and are relatively difficult to replace. I ended up wiring up 3 LEDs that have lasted for years. I repair radios as a hobby, and TX audio is low on every one of these I encounter. RV2 is the pot for same. Remove the lid, and point the knobs on the face of the radio away from you, heatsink pointing at your belly. Locate RV2. From the factory, it will be "pointing' at the 5 o'clock or 5:30 position. Turn RV2 clockwise until it points to approximately 7 o'clock. (This, of course, assuming you do not service/monitoring equip.) Voila! Audio problem solved. Also find a decent external speaker, because the 1-1/4" number built in the unit just doesn't do a good job.
KB9WWL Rating: 2009-05-26
A few years later... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio in 2000 just after getting my ticket. Since then it's been used for local repeater work and a bit of packet, and it's spent a fair amount of time just sitting in its box while I'm away at school.

I have a few issues with it. It developed a problem where the squelch knob did not work at all and the receive signal strength indicator stopped working; this was easily and quickly fixed by touching up the solder joints between the display board and the main board. The problem is that I've had to do this twice now. After taking it out of storage for a bit of "playing radio" a few days ago, the main frequency knob and its shaft fell out of the case... a drop of super glue fixed that.

I've heard nothing but good reports on transmit audio, and receive audio is OK. After figuring out its goofy PTT circuit, I got the radio to work with my TNC which works quite well.

----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KB9WWL on 2001-08-01

I think this is a very nice little radio, but it could use direct frequency entry from the keypad. Mine didn't have any of the audio problems described in earlier reviews. Makes it easy on me!! I have also recieved reports for good audio.

Overall, I think it is a good radio for beginners or those without 200+ dollars.
KD4TWJ Rating: 2008-01-21
OK for basic repeater work, but not packet / digital Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this radio on e-bay for about 60 dollars (US) with the intent of using it for mobile APRS. It seemed like it would be a good fit, both physically and in it's general level of technology (or lack of). I also wanted something that would be fairly efficient on battery power, if there is a need to use it in an Emcomm situation, and it does well in this respect.

However, I do not recommend using this radio for packet / digital modes, especially in a mobile configuration. It does work and I am using it that way, but I pulled some hair in the process of getting it there. The big issue is the floating ground on the Mic circuit. If your antenna ground plane and the radio chassis are isolated from common ground... no problem. Of course, generally that is not an optimal configuration!
Otherwise, you must be very careful about how you interface to a TNC, a tracker (TinyTrak, etc...), or even a sound card interface with isolation transformers.

Of course, plastic Radio Shack microphones are no problem.

I am shopping for another VHF mobile for some other digital projects. I will NOT purchase another HTX-252 for that purpose.
W2ZXN Rating: 2007-10-05
HTX-252 has been good 2 me Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have only owned this radio for about 60 days now, but before I purchased it, I had been borrowing for some time. I have enjoyed this radio, at first as a base and now as a permanent mobile in my car. It's very compact size is great for smaller cars or even large cars packed with too much else. It's 10/25W selectable output is more than enough for most mobile applications. The radio is easy to use and is perfect for new hams! It's only downfalls are it's inability to input a VFO frequency directly from the keypad and the fact that it's audio is quite tin-like. The VFO issue cannot be resolved but the audio can be easily fixed with an available MOD or by connecting an external speaker, which I have done anyway. 4 out of 5 STARS in my book. The RS HTX-252 is my little tank. 73
KB5EAX Rating: 2007-09-24
HTX-252 IS OK 3.5 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this radio for several years it sat in the closet for 3 and when I pulled it out it worked fine.I am using it as a Base station until I get another radio. However it does have 2 issues 1 of which is the audio which I did not do the mod on it as I only use it occasionally. The other issue is for some reason the memory will not hold the PL tones. If switch channels the i have to manually have to re-enter the tone. Other than that I have had no problems this rig. The next radio I am considering is the Icom V-800 which will become my Base Station and the 252 will go mobile. I Rate it at 3.5
KD0BLS Rating: 2007-09-02
A usable radio. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I re-acquired my 252 after having sold it once before to a fellow ham. This radio wins no prises in the technology department, but mine has proven decently reliable for use in the car and although having the squelch issue mentioned earlier, a simple thump on the case cures it for a few days until the next time. Audio and recieve on my unit are decent as well. What the heck, I payed only 30 bucks for it both times I bought it! I don't think I'll be selling it off again!
KD8BIW Rating: 2007-07-30
Okay, but not the best Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got this radio from a fellow ham because he was tired of messing with it. It has the usual tx problem, had the usual audio problem, and of course the birdie on 146.805. I did the RV2 mod and that seemed to help, but the audio is stil sub-par indeed! I love the compact size and low power comsumption, as i'm using it as a back-up radio on a deep cycle battery at the shack. The receiver sensitivity seems fine, but could be a bit better. Overall, not a bad radio if you can put up with it's flaws...3/10 from me and i'm happy :)
KC0ZXB Rating: 2007-07-27
Good Starter Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought mine from another ham out in South Dakota. Did the RV2 mod which helped some with adding more punch to the audio.

The good:
-Can listen to 130-174mhz
-Cheap
-Easy to operate
-Takes up limited space
-Doesn't draw over 6amp when on full tx.


The bad;
-Only 10w/25w, which isn't bad for most applications, but having the extra power could have been beneficial when needed.
-Audio is sub-par, but was remedied with an external speaker
-Wouldn't recommend for mobile use, hard to change freq while driving
-Only ten memories, RS could have added a few more.

If your looking to get one the air fast and cheap this is a great starter radio granted you get one without the "audio problems". If your more serious and have a little more money to spend I would get an IC-2200H, they have more power and memories all for $140.