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Reviews For: ICOM IC-2300H

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-2300H
Reviews: 30MSRP: $260.00
Description:
2 meter transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15304.7
VK3MJA Rating: 2015-08-21
Good rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Honestly I am not a big fun of Icom... and this is my FIRST Icom rig. I used this rig for my echolink and this rig can STAND 25W for 24/7 with a little help from the mini electric fan. This is my replacement of my Yaesu Ft-2900R, IC-2300H can dissipate heat better compare to Yaesu FT-2900R may be because with Icom it only requires 11 amps to fire it up while with Yaesu it requires 15 amps. For the time I have the IC-2300H I NEVER had a problem with it and it serves the purpose.
I will recommend this rig to anyone... simple and user friendly! Job well done Icom.


73...
VK3MJA
AD5KO Rating: 2015-02-23
Very nice. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I just installed a second 2300H in another vehicle. Due to the lack of cooling fan and the tight installation I was concerned about heat but the radio puts out full power into a quarter wave mag mount in the center of the roof and does not get hot. Its mounted below the dash and above the transmission tunnel, the radio touches the carpet. Initially I thought I would have to run it at 25 watts but that's not the case.

I already have the programming software for this model so purchasing a second seemed like the best option. I use RT systems software and cable, which works with windows 7 and 8.

I really like the large display and the size of this radio plus the audio is very good both TX and RX.

I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good 2m mobile or a base because it has the attenuation option which can be useful for big base station antennas.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by AD5KO on 2013-09-27

This radio is smaller than the IC-2100H but it puts out 65 watts and stays cool without a fan. It gets good audio reports and the output audio is good. It's got some good functions and a good sized display.

The only things I don't like about it are the volume and squelch controls, they are sloppy, not smooth like yaesu controls. It makes the radio feel cheap.

K3KRN Rating: 2014-08-31
solid radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
solid radio. highly recommend. i would also recommend the rt systems software to program the radio.
VE7REN Rating: 2014-08-17
excellent Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
replaced my trusty ic2200h with the 2300h.. very similiar.. just wanted the newer version.these radios are always excellent and perform very well.. the 2100,the 2200,and now the 2300.. cant think of any complaints.. very nice..
W0WSP Rating: 2014-08-16
Good Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I don't have any complaints, runs cool and programs like most ICOM radios. Good on the air reports. The Squelch attenuator is a great feature.
W5DOM Rating: 2014-04-26
Solid 2m mobile for the mountains Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
An IC-2300H is installed in my Jeep Cherokee Sport and it is teamed up with a Larsen 5/8 wave whip with a run of RG-58. I live and operate this radio in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This transceiver receives excellent audio reports in rugged mountainous terrain. The furthest A+ report I've received via simplex thus far was from an operator using a stock Yaesu FT-60 at 15+ miles and it was not line-of-sight (multiple mountains). Reception from that station was barely audible and not comprehensible. Hey, what can be expected from a rubber duck handheld at that distance in rugged mountains? That individual later let me know that my transmission from the IC-2300H was received and copied Lima Charlie (loud and clear).

This unit has had no issues reaching the local repeaters at 20+ miles.

Something I noticed was that the included mic (HM-133) sounds a bit tinny and does not capture the mid and lower tones of the user's voice. It is entirely functional but I replaced it with the simpler and less expensive ICOM HM-154 and the middle register is relayed much better during transmission. In short, the less expensive HM-154 was an upgrade compared to the pricier included HM-133 mic.

I have not experienced any heat issues with this unit. The unit does heat up at higher wattage as one might expect but nothing I would consider unusual.

This transceiver sports a tuning knob that is of good size and grip. I've found it useful when I as the driver am focused on the trail and my passenger needs to change frequencies (radio mounted on passenger side of center console). No midget tuning knob to mess with like on some mobiles. I have found all the knobs smooth in operation with the tuning knob also exhibiting a nice bump between frequencies/memories which is helpful on bumpy trails.

Easy access to NOAA weather broadcast (and WX alert) for those times when you find yourself all alone miles from civilization with a storm inbound.

Pros:
1. Excellent performance at distance
2. Excellent performance in rugged mountainous terrain
3. Easy to learn controls on the radio unit itself (beats my Yaesu 8800)
4. Well built, solid and sturdy
5. Very good audio reports with the HM-154 mic
6. Large tuning knob
7. Large and easy to read display

Cons:
1. Included HM-133 mic only adequate, tinny and outperformed by the less expensive and simpler HM-154 (why not just package the HM-154 with the radio and drop the sale price another $30 to reflect the change in equipment?)

Bottom line:
I would buy this transceiver again for use as loaner equipment or as a mobile/fixed 2m station with the HM-154 mic. Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
K2XLG Rating: 2014-01-24
Good choice for 2 meter mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a straight 2 meter mobile that does a good job.I use it at home with a proper power supply and have no issues.People complaining about heat should turn the power down.It is somewhat odd that ICOM chooses to put the circuit board on top of the heatsink..especially without a fan.With that in mind,I would recommend limiting your time spent at full power.I could only see this being a problem on simplex while mobile..which is where you would tend to run higher power anyway.Repeater use should give enough of a break between Tx to get some cooling.Obviously,using with a higher gain antenna will also allow running at lower power. When looking at this radio,I also considered the Yaesu FT-2900R.This one places the heatsink properly,but after having a couple other Yaesu radios,I've found their "Settings" menu a PIA.It's easier to access the most needed functions with ICOM's system versus the way Yaesu does it..at least,IMHO.The bottom firing speaker on the Yaesu may be a selling point though.But other than these two items,there isn't much difference feature wise.Pluses for this radio include:1-Being able to change display color.2-Having multiple power settings down to 5 watts.One of the other selling points for me was this radio's evolution..coming from the 2200H.That radio has seen a fairly extensive production run and has a ton of really good reviews.And that was the clincher for me.
AA2HA Rating: 2013-10-09
Fair radio for the price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased this radio because it was small and received good reviews from QST. Perhaps there is a flaw with my radio, but I notice a previous poster stated that the radio "runs cool". I tuned my antenna to give a flat SWR on my two commonly used two-meter repeaters and the radio becomes hot enough to actually burn my hand, even at medium power. The radios is mounted in free space with air circulation and I have never, after 24 years of being a ham and over a dozen mobile rigs, owned a radio that was able to inflict a second degree burn with a brief touch of the heat sink! Mounting the heat-sink on the bottom of the radio seems a current trend, despite logic that heat rises. I shudder to think what the circuit board must endure while using the 2300H.
I mounted a fan on the bottom of the radio, but find the noise too annoying as a long term fix. I have a Kenwood 271 in my other car and it runs MUCH cooler than the Icom. (and costs about half the price)
The other issue is the users manual, or lack there of. The rig does not come with a users manual, but a CD (that's useful on the road) and the included CD just gives me a "disk error" in my computers. So, I suppose I have to contact Icom and request a working dick to fully program the radio.

PROS:
-Small size
-Good receive
-Adequate speaker volume
-Clumsy, but full-function microphone

CONS:
-No users manual
-Excessively hot!!!
-volume and squelch controls feel "soft"
N7WR Rating: 2013-03-14
Maybe Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got the rig. Does as advertised but it is not easy to program w/o the programming software. Also if you want to do the MARS/CAP mod you'd better have great eyes, a magnifying glass and very steady hands. I wish I would have bought the Kenwood TM 281A for less money
KC7NYI Rating: 2012-04-16
GREAT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
large read out, lots of memory and no inter mod. 65 watts. easy to program , when ur eye sight is failing. expensive but worth the money.