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Reviews For: Icom IC-2730a

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-2730a
Reviews: 45MSRP: 419.00
Description:
VHF/UHF Transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
64.7454.1
2E0SDR Rating: 2015-05-03
Radio Brilliant, NO Accessories Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have always in the past used, either Yaesu or Kenwood radio's, I thought I would purchase my first Icom radio, the IC-2730E.

The radio itself is flawless, I am more then happy with it's performance and layout.

The only thing that I hate is the lack of a head mount, or even a transceiver mount, come on Icom, you have spoilt it for me really, there is no need not to give us the basics, as shame, but as I said, the radio is excellent.
N6MTS Rating: 2015-04-27
Must have been designed by an operator Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I used to use Icom radios years ago and eventually got into a Yeasu groove that just finally proved frustrating. Their mobile "mechanical control head designs" are horrible.

So when Icom first advertised this new IC-2730A radio, I took a good hard look at how the control head and front panel is laid out. This is just plain smart design for mobile use. The controls are ALL backlit and the buttons are readable in the dark (with magnifying classes). The display appearance is outstanding and very well lit and dimmable too.

The radio functionally performs very well with no noticeable bad effects. The time-adjustable squelch is great at eliminating chopping on weak signals (totally unlike Yaesu). The fan is noticeable but not at all obnoxious and is fully automatic when needed.

There are exactly 1000 channels broken down into 10 separate 100-channel banks. It receives the AM aircraft channels just flawless. The layout of the volume and squelch controls are all separate knobs and placed in a guarded area of the control panel (not on the outer corners where everything hits them, like Yaesu). Also the volume and squelch controls are additionally adjustable from buttons on the fully-backlit microphone too. Icom went overboard on adding various scanning options and YES it does scan FAST, very fast.

Channel programming can be quickly done all on the radio and little effort "after leaning the routine". And YES the CS-2730 programming software, from the Icom website, is simply a snap to use. It operates easier than CHIRP and it is also FREE from Icom.

The only disappointment (which killed my 5-star rating) is the total lack of ANY mounting hardware or basic brackets with this radio. To have to buy a separate mounting bracket is downright insulting to the customer. And then to rape the customer another $30 for a simple iron bracket is JUST WRONG. Being that cheap, it amazes me that the radio itself is such a rugged compact design.

I'm definitely glad I bought it and highly recommend it to anybody who is not into the digital games.
KD0TEK Rating: 2015-03-10
Nice radio, lacks some important basic things. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my IC-2730A for a few weeks now. My complaint is the lack of hardware. I have a Kenwood TM-V71A; it is equivalent in specs but has more features (Echo Link, Digital inputs, etc.), and it comes with all the hardware you need to mount in the vehicle. ICOM is too cheap to provide this hardware and they want you to buy it separately. All of the brackets are over $30 each.
The radio is pretty easy to set up for repeaters, but if you are going to set the unit for a lot of repeaters, it becomes tedious. The display is nice; I like the size, color, font and is easily readable. On air reports are adequate. The head unit is light weight. I personally think the Kenwood is a better radio with the exception of the display. The display on the ICOm is better than the Kenwood.
KG7NJQ Rating: 2015-02-12
Great audio\screen Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just received my Icom 2730A yesterday, but have been testing it extensively, so I figured I'd follow the first reviewer with my initial impressions. This is my first Icom VHF\UHF analog radio. I studied the manual and youtube video by IcomAmerica (basically the only resources out on this new radio), and decided it fit the bill for me.

The head unit is super light, and the screen is GREAT, viewing angles? what viewing angles? I can interpret data from any angle that I view the screen from. The main unit is well made, small, and I am sure it will easily integrate into any mobile setup (I am using it in the shack for now).

Airband reception quality is quite well, along with weaker VHF mobile signals being heard just fine with the speaker on the main unit. The menus are easy enough to navigate and you don't have to touch them often. The remote hand mic is quite nice and well made, not too heavy, not too light.

I have received 5 "great crisp audio" reports so far with the default mic gain, on simplex and into local repeaters, at all power levels(5-15-50W).

I disagree with the first reviewer in usability "on the go" - I was scanning around last night, came upon a repeater I didn't know about but was quite close, it takes ~3 button presses\knob turns to add a PL or change duplex direction. Long pressing the MW button writes current VFO to a empty channel, very useful.

I did not order any mounting accessories with the radio (It is one of my gripes but I understand this is an industry standard practice for most mfrs - to not include any mounting options (I knew this upon purchase) - I just can't justify the $50+ to mount the head unit to the main body, etc. Maybe down the road, if it is needed. For now, the head unit sits nicely atop a head-level shelf in the shack.

It took a good hour to program in my normal frequencies by hand, not too bad, but again, $50+ for RT systems or Icom software to program it isn't high on my list.

All in all, I can't find any direct flaws of the radio to give it any less than a 5. If you are looking for a nice looking, sounding, and relatively cheap analog dual bander, I highly recommend this radio.
WA4EIO Rating: 2015-02-12
Poster child for user unfriendly Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the IC-2720 in my car for the past 12 plus years. Never had a complaint. SO when I needed a new base station for the shack, I chose the IC-2730a.

The build, looks, quality are all classic ICOM. 5 STARS

Ability to program on the fly. 0 STARS even with the manual in front of me, it was tedious to enter a PL tone.

So, I scoured the internet looking for ICOM's programming software. NOPE it is not there yet.

Called RT systems: no they didn't have it, but they would start. 10 days later I got it and it works like a champ. RT Systems 5 Stars

Enclosed accessories - 0 STARS
The radio can not be used in the shack because the head does not mate up with the body. They chintzed on a 50 cent piece of telephone wire and a 2 dollar metal bracket. Yep, they will sell you a kit for 40 - 50 dollars, but it is not available yet.