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Reviews For: Alinco DR-135TP

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

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Review Summary For : Alinco DR-135TP
Reviews: 39MSRP: 320.00
Description:
2M Mobile FM Radio with built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC
Product is not in production
More Info: http://alinco.com/Products/DR-135/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00393.7
9M8HI Rating: 2004-03-21
Great 2 Meter Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I owned this DR-135T MkII for a week and can't write much commend on it.
It is a great rig with great sensitivity and easy to operate.
K2ST Rating: 2004-03-08
DR-135T MKII Excellent Radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Superb radio especially for the price! ($170) It's a single bander with MARS CAP capability and extended receive to include the 118 - 135Mhz aircraft band (a requirement for me).

This is the latest MKII version which has a high stability (+- 2.5 PPM) TCXO which is about the best specs I've seen for a VHF FM radio. The knobs feel sold and the rig is very compact and sturdy. Once I learned the nuances of programming it It was a cinch.

I have gotten excellent reports and the receiver seems very good with sensitivity and great sounding audio. Aircraft band receive is quite good, although did notice a couple of some images of a strong local NWS station (on 162.5) down at 119 Mhz.

This is a better built and performing radio than the others I looked at. I'd definately recommend the DR-135T MkII to anyone that wants a high quality VHF only radio, with extended receive.
W6TCP Rating: 2002-09-29
Great Radio for APRS ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use this radio for APRS 100% of the time. I have not had any problems and it has work exceptionaly well and exceeded my expectations. It is very easy to set up and operate. The GPS plugs straight into the radio... what could be simpler ?
N0OQA Rating: 2002-07-05
Great WINAPRS radio! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased this radio specifically for WINAPRS use. The radio spends 99% of the time on 144.39... I periodically use it for a basic scanner (work great) and for Skywarn... I have not tried to connect a GPS, but I assume it works...

The radio has performed flawlessly in my WINAPRS application... A great radio at a good price!
KG4JAM Rating: 2002-06-05
TNC Memory Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
For the price, the rig works fine. I primarily bought it to use as an APRS tracker though, and recently have had a problem with the internal TNC memory resetting inexplicably. I may explore connecting an external KPC3+ and stop using the internal TNC.
N2YQT Rating: 2002-05-16
Above My Expectations Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is great radio! Audio reports have been great. There is also plenty of recieve audio. Entering memories and alpha names is easy. The common used functions are on the front panel not buried in a menu. Lots of controls and direct frequency entry on the mic.

The internal TNC has enough guts to function as a stand-alone tracker. It has also worked excellant as a base station using UI-VIEW32 and WinAPRS.

My only complaints are a a noise that comes though the speaker when GPS data is recieved. There is also a similar nosie when it transmits. I have been told that inserting a 1/8" plug in the external speaker connector would stop this, but I havn't tried it (I guess that would be a handy way of keeping the security alarm cable handy). The noise isn't heard over road noise.
SM8XXX Rating: 2002-01-08
No doubt about it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Everybody should have one, this is the best 2meter mobile i have ever used!
It´s fun, rugged and small, especially the alpha-tagging is useful, i have to mention that a pc-cable is a must, for ease of operation.
the one and only silly thing is that there´s no 70cms band rx, that would have been the ultimate thing 8-)
buy, and enjoy!
KA4LDN Rating: 2001-12-19
Outstanding Design Mechanics Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reviewing many similar transceivers for my basic requirements it was time to visit the "show room". I found several "mil-spec" rigs that had volume/squelch pots that felt extremely fragile. I also wanted a straight forward PL tone setting feature - here, it's a snap (NO MENU REQUIRED). The RF output jack is chassis mounted instead of pig tailed. AM airband audio is the best I've heard and the squelch actually works on this band. I hope this one lasts because I'm very pleased so far!
AA4PB Rating: 2001-12-06
TNC comes up short Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The TNC is missing a number of commands common to a TNC-2. Of course there is no mailbox function. There is no NEWMODE command so after a disconnect you are left in conv mode. You have to remember to give a ctrl-c or your next C command will go out as an unconnected packet. The MALL command has a bug. You can turn it on or off and get the proper response but all packets are always monitored regardless of setting. A DISP command result shows no MALL setting at all.

On the good side, I do like the accessory power sense cable to turn it on and off. Having all the settings including data mode stored in memory is great. The alpha display is handy. The ability to program separate CTCSS tones for Rx and Tx works nicely with my local repeater.

The bottom line is that I'd recommend a separate TNC unless you really need the small size of a built-in.
KC8RDJ Rating: 2001-10-02
great radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
the alinco dr-135 is nothing short of fantastic.
i use this radio as a base station with a diamond f22a antenna.and i never have had one problem with this radio.

this is one great radio