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Reviews For: Icom IC-910H

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-910H
Reviews: 74MSRP: 1,500 (Street)
Description:
VHF/UHF Satellite Tranciever
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00744
TF3JB Rating: 2007-12-02
So far, most pleased. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the IC 910H now for two weeks. So far I am most pleased. I did buy the crystal owen as well, but still need to install it. Have mostly used the transceiver on 2m FM and had my first SSB QSO today. I will come later with a more thorough report.

73 de TF2JB.
G4AON Rating: 2007-09-23
Lacks basic features Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
There isn't much choice when it comes to current production multi-band VHF/UHF transceivers. I wanted a unit for both shack and portable use. The areas where this transceiver is lacking are:

No indication of power output, other than the "S meter" bargraph - what power level does "S9" equate to?

No indication of SWR.

Lack of flexibility with CTCSS, as mentioned by other reviewers.

The transmit power drops significantly when operated on less than 13.8 Volts.

No CW keyer memories and no quick method of changing keyer speed (very fiddly via the "set" menu)... An external keyer is pretty much essential with this rig.

Significant frequency drift without the optional TCXO, makes 1296 MHz SSB/CW operation tedious.

The carry handle and side feet are an extra expense!

On a plus side:

Built-in mast head pre-amp operation, I use the Icom 1296 MHz pre-amp and it works pretty well.

Works well on satellites, Ham Radio Deluxe controls it nicely.

Low harmonic and other spurious output. It is very clean, except for some "in band" noise on 1296 MHz which appears to be around 10 dB higher in level than on 2m or 70cms. These are from measurements with a calibrated spectrum analyser.

Good reports from the supplied HM12 microphone.

I like the ability to operate from the memories and tune around in the same manner as if using the VFO, a quick press of the down/up memory buttons return you to where you started... I also like the ability to listen on two bands simultaneously on different modes, ie 2m FM and 70cms SSB.

Icom UK have a good spares holding, my second hand 910 came damaged in transit and needed a new RIT/Shift control and a new upper case half. Both items were in stock for next day delivery at reasonably cheap prices.
AH6RH Rating: 2007-05-29
Okay, its a "5"! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I went back and verified that the IC-910H has a quick turnaround with the DDS synthesizer. Hence, I CAN work the packet satellites. So, I'll give it a "5", as it pretty much does what I need it to do with SSB, CW and satellites.

It was super sensitive -- picking up a 2 watt transmitter in orbit 125 miles up, aiming at the horizon with an 3 element Arrow antenna. That turns out to be about 700 miles distant.



----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by AH6RH on 2007-05-27

I was going to give this rig a "5", until I used it to access packet satellites. Then, I found its weakness.

The satellites RAFT and ANDE have very short turnaround times. If your radio can't switch back to receive mode very quickly, it'll lose the beginning of the packet. That is the case here, as well as another Icom radio I was using. The Kenwood TM-D700 was lightning fast, but doesn't have the fine resolution for doppler control.

The other thing I noticed is that its a V/U radio, not V/V or U/U radio. So, I can't use computer control to handle the uplink and downlink doppler if the links are in the same band. I worked around it using multiple memory settings, but I would have preferred a computer controlled solution.

Still, it seems quite sensitive and selective, in the short time I've tried it. Haven't used the SSB and CW settings yet, but am looking forward to it.

In time, I'll learn how to program the 10 satellite memories. So, there's a lot of manual reading to do.

NC2F Rating: 2007-01-26
Superior SSB/CW/FM Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have tried and owned many VHF/UHF (2M/440) radios of the years, but none compares in performance to this gem. If your intent on 2M/440 is to merely work a few nearby FM repeaters, maybe this is too much radio for your needs. But if you want a proven contest, field day, or casual use radio for SSB, CW or FM work on these bands, you won't find anything better, and I really mean that. I had put this purchase off for quite sometime after using another ham's 910H at a local VHF Contest weekend outing, but I finally had to have one for my own.

Let's begin with the receiver. I have used this radio on various types of antennas including a beam for sideband, an Arrow J-Pole and Diamond vertical for FM. With the IF Sweep, NB available AF DSP all I can say is the receiver is just terrific and the sensitivity and selectivity is beyond awesome. And the specs support the actual performance: http://www.icomamerica.com/brochures/ic-910h.pdf .

On the transmit side you have 100 watts on 2M and 75watts RF output on 70CM. If you have worked a VHF contest weekend, you know how important it can be to be able to use maximum power to make that occasional few hundred mile contacts. And with this RIG's receiver that pulls in the weakest of signals, the power allotment allows you to do make contacts you would never approach on other VHF/UHF radios.

Satellites, admittedly I don't do much satellite work, which this rig is very much designed to do very well. And with the popularity of Satellite work coming back as more satellites are being brought back to operation and the ARISS sensation is in full swing, I am sure those who work satellites will find this radio quite capable.

There's alot to be said for having a dedicated multi-mode VHF/UHF transceiver like this. And once you have one, you'll probably be like me and not want to be without one after owning such a capable radio. The only thing I haven't ventured into with this radio yet is the 1200MHz module, but I will one day... This radio is just too good to not give that a try too.

So if you've been on the fence wondering if spending this much for this radio is worth it, I'd say unequivocally, Yes! Just be ready to try more than wanting to work your local repeaters and the fulfillment will be most rewarding in finding out what and who is out there on UHF/VHF beyond the repeater...
ST2NH Rating: 2007-01-25
100% ok Time Owned: more than 12 months.
it is a great satellite radio, go for it now
VK6XH Rating: 2007-01-18
Works for me ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine for nearly 3 1/2 years now, used mainly for sat comms. I've read others comments and I really feel they are not fully conversant with the radio when they critisise.
It does what it is supposed to do, and really nothing more. My IC 275H is better on 2mtrs but doesn't have 70 and 23 cms.
As a satellite comms radio it is superb, once you learn how to use it , and thats the secret !!
"RTFM" When you do its really quite simple to use.
I had 67 countries confirmed on AO40 b4 it died and it was so easy with this radio, once you got used to it.
It isnt user friendly at first, but it works and thats what matters. I used to own a Yaesu FT 736, an Icom IC 820 but this is the best.
Dont be afraid !!
G0UAA Rating: 2006-10-20
Ic910h 1750 Tone Burst Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi All
I have a Ic910H that when i reset it i have to reprogram the auto repeater frequencys into Memory 1 & 2 no real problem but it dosnt have a 1750Hz Toneburst for our UK repeaters, I think this 910 isnt a UK model as it reverts to i think USA frequencys when reset even though it has a ML&S label on the rear. I have installed a Kanga Tone board insidide my HM-118TN DTMF mic that works 100% but doe's anyone know if it has the capability of giving me the tone burst from the Tone key or is it just not included in the USA model ? Seems a bit silly if it turns out to be an extra that one has to purchase. If i PTT the rig on my repeater and press the Tone key with our shift setup all it doe's is put a letter T on the display & doesn't transmit a toneburst i think only the CTCSS tone. Anyway no real problem but i would like it to work how it should for our UK repeaters. I find the Radio very good to use, The Fan can be a bid loud when it hits TURBO mode i've connected mine to a outboard Viariable Psu & speed it up if i'm using Hi power & yes it should have had Alpha Tagging for the memorys. Any help will be received with thanks Cheers All Ian G0UAA.
PA1TNO Rating: 2006-05-22
Room for improvement Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the IC-910H most of the time for satellite communication and weak signal reception.
I also use a Kenwood TS-2000X, so I did a side by side comparison.
The sensitivity on both rigs is about the same, however the TS-2000 seems a little better in weak signal detection.
The IC-910H has CTCSS, but encoding and decoding at the same time.
CTCSS cannot be used independent from each other, i.e. RX 71,9 Hz, TX 88,5 Hz. (not without modification).
The radio has no DCS,no DTMF and memory channels cannot be locked out to be skipped.
The RIT control range is only +/-1KHz on SSB/CW and +/-5KHz on FM, not enough for convenient use.
I installed the UX-910 1200MHz unit, but it's not possible to work in NBFM on 1200MHz...
Don't loose the manual, because this radio has a very cryptic menu system.
No alpha tags.. so you need to write down your assigned memory channels on good ol' paper.
The included 13,8V power cable is the shortest I've ever seen.
TX on 70 cm produced a substantial amount of spectral impurity, that affects 2m band reception.
The IC-910H has only LF DSP, it helps to fight the noise, but not as effective as the IF DSP on the TS-2000.
This radio totally lacks user friendliness, and it shows when using it as a satellite only rig.
For example, adjusting your uplink frequency, requires you to switch between the main (downlink) and SUB uplink band, than adjust your uplink, than switch on the downlink band again.....ad infinitum.
Doppler compensation by computer helps a great deal, but I prefer the flexibility of manual control.
The IC-910H doesn't have "real" continuous SUB band tuning, like the TS-2000, in my opinion a BIG shortcoming.
Are there any goodies? well yes, the IC-910H has more punch on 70cm band, 75 watts compared to 50 watts from the TS-2000.
It doesn't suffer from the annoying S9 birdie the TS-2000 has on 436.800MHz that wipes out the SO-50 and AO-27 satellites.
When equipped with the CR-293 high stability crystal unit (like I did) the frequency remains rock solid.

My conclusion,
Would I buy an IC-910H again?
Probably not.

73 Eric
N5UOA Rating: 2006-05-12
NO DTMF :) Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Lots of MONEY for a radio with no DTMF to bring up IRLP or Auto patch.
I talked to ICO REPS and they used to have radios with DTMF on the MIC ONLY but not now they don't thnk it is needed.
MARK
N3RBG Rating: 2006-03-18
Hard To Beat Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am very pleased with this radio after owning others such as the Kenwood TS-2000 and the Yaesu FT-847. The radio performance is as close as you can get to the best ever made IC-275H. My 275H has now retired to part time operation.