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Reviews For: Bridgecom BCM-220

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

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Review Summary For : Bridgecom BCM-220
Reviews: 12MSRP: $240
Description:
222 Mhz 30 watt mobile, 250 channel
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.bridgecomsystems.com/collections/mobile-radios/products/bcm-220-mhz-mobile-radio
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
11124.2
N6OWF Rating: 2023-03-09
Low Receive Sensitivity Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned the BCM-220 almost 2 months and have stopped using it as my primary 220MHz radio due to it's low receive sensitivity. The main repeater of my interest is just out of direct line-of-site from my antenna. I can talk on it using the BMC-220 and hear it but the signal has a lot of noise making it harder to understand me I'm told. I also have a TYT TH-9000D 220MHz radio. Connecting the TYT to the same coax on the same antenna makes the distant repeater come in clear and intelligible. No other changes were made. Just swapping the BCM-220 for the TYT-9000D radio resulted in a significant difference in quality of signal.
According to the tag with the BCM-220, it was manufactured in South Korea vs China for the TYT. I don't know if that will make a difference in the long term reliability.
With the price of the BMC-220 now being $350 and the primitive programming software $60. That makes for an expensive 220MHz radio.
The best use I see for it is as an analog or digital link radio. Not an everyday radio.
N2ARB Rating: 2022-05-25
Force Fit for Ham Application & Design Issues / Review Update Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Works on 220 but with operating limitations and reliance on offshore firmware and software that could brick radio without warning.

Application is a mobile installation and the radio would fail to "boot up" almost 50% of the time. Not a vehicle power issue, does the same when connecting to a portable LiFePO4 field operating solar power system.

Adding a Powewerx DC line filter (stock # LF-1-OEM) appears to have resolved this technical glitch. I've been operating a wide variety of mobile rigs since 1978 and never had any Ham radio exhibit this type of power-up failure. This is not a radio that simply works.

A real operational limitation is not being able to change transmitter power on the fly for operation from memory channels.

The buttons become "mystery buttons" quickly, a common frustration factor with any radio designed for commercial applications and used for Ham purposes as an afterthought, ugh.

Given the origins of design and manufacture, there is only so much that an aftermarket vendor can do so I'm sure at some date in the future this radio will turn into a brick.

Sure wish that ICOM, Yaesu, or Kenwood would come out with a true Amateur 220 FM mobile now that Alinco has hit the exit door.

05/24/2022 Update - After three months the random power-on boot failure appears to have been resolved by the PowerWerx DC line filter. Zero boot failures since I installed it. Radio now boots up nominally with vehicle starts.
W5KVV Rating: 2022-05-21
Decent commercial neutered by hams Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First off, Lets get this right out in the open: This radio is built by Chongho Communications and re-branded by BridgeCom. Built on the Maxon TM 8000 series commercial radio platform (an entry/ low budget level commercial radio). I've owned the radio for well over a year and here are my observations:

Poorly designed audio circuit. Terrible static pop every time the rig is powered on. Poorly designed CTCSS circuit. The radio does not feature true reverse burst/squelch tail eliminator like every other commercial rig, or hammy rig built on a commercial platform, (there are several out there). Static crashes get really old after awhile. Even the using DCS/DPL results in a static pop every time the RX drops. Unacceptable. Scan rate is fair. Nothing special but fair (like every other Maxon TM series).

I can overlook all the above. ALL the above. But what I can't stomach is how BridgeCom flat out eviscerated this radio with their garbage firmware and programming software. This radio has been flat out neutered. I own several Maxon 8000 series mobile radios and the features BridgeCom screwed amateurs out of is nauseating. My biggest gripe: the GD programmable buttons. You could have programmed them for a myriad of functions if BridgeCom hadn't goobered up the software. RF power, reverse, monitor, home channel and much, much more. Instead, while in memory mode, you have scan, nothing, nothing, open squelch. Pathetic.
I guess they (BridgeCom) think amateurs aren't capable of programming such options.

The best thing about this radio is it utilizes a true Mitsubishi RA30H2127M power module for RF power. A 45 watt power module dialed back to 30 watts for longevity.




KO4KGP Rating: 2021-09-08
Practically bulletproof and amazing sound quality Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this radio almost a year ago when looking for a 220 rig to use with a somewhat active 220 group in the Tampa Bay area. Have it connected to a M2 5-beam yagi about 35ft up and feed with LMR400. At just 35watts, I regularly get unsolicited feedback from others on the signal and audio quality thru the local repeater 23 miles away.

Are there cheaper, Chinese radios out there? Yup. Do I regret spending a bit more for a non-Chinese radio? Nope!
KG6TR Rating: 2019-09-27
solid rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Wanted to explore 220mhz a bit more (beyond an HT), and it pretty much was between this radio and the Alinco. Had both, and each had some strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day, kept the Bridgecom for a couple of reasons. First was tx audio quality. The Alinco tends towards a bit hot/crunchy, this radio is punchy but smoother. The software allows for easy programming. The only downside I've found is that there is no visual indication of volume, but to be fair the Alinco has the same lack of feature. I'm paring this with an Elk 220 log periodic and am able to hit most any local repeater with ease.
K6EH Rating: 2019-05-27
Great Radio for the price ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only partial negative thing I've noticed worth commenting on, is when a user doesn't cross talk the mic up and close (backs off a few inches) their transmit audio becomes exceptionally ear piercingly sharp. Otherwise, I'm very happy with my purchase. I just hope everyone knows how to operate a radio, as one should ALWAYS speak somewhat close and across the mic. I had to get on my buddies case about this. Now his TX audio is not painfully sharp to listen to. Sounds great!
KC6KNT Rating: 2018-12-14
Great 220 radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Wanted to get into 220MHz, purchased a BCM-220 as a base unit for my shack, worked so good purchased a second one for mobile
K4XXX Rating: 2018-03-11
Awesome 220 mobile Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I wanted a new 220 mobile to go in my truck since my Jetstream 220M, I've had since they first came out, have some use on it and I wanted something newer and reliable, so I decided to give the Bridgecom a try. I'm glad I did! This radio is built like a commercial rig! I primarily use Kenwood commercial radios between ham and the fire department, so I'm used to commercial grade gear. Its easy to program from the front, but even easier from a computer. I was on the local repeater within 5 minutes without using the manual. I absolutely like the fact the microphone is weighted and feels solid in my hand, unlike the jetstream mic and many others. I'm seriously considering replacing my Jetstream base setup with another one of these Bridgecom's. I highly recommend this radio. It isn't priced like a cheap chinese radio, but you get what you pay for!
KK9H Rating: 2017-11-07
Solidly built mobile radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am the repeater trustee for my local radio club and we have repeaters for 2M, 220 and 440 which I need to be able to monitor and control if necessary. My trusty Icom IC-38A finally quit working after 30 years of faithful service so I needed a replacement to use as a base station to monitor our 220 system. I had seen the Bridgecom at Dayton and really liked the commercial nature of its construction so I bought one as a replacement. In the short time I’ve had it I like it very much. A quick read of the manual and I was off and running. Things like squelch, offset and PL tone settings were easy to find. The receiver sounds good especially with the front facing speaker and my transmitted audio reports were all very complimentary. What more could you want? I will eventually program some frequencies into memories, but I will use the radio primarily to monitor just our club repeater. I would gladly recommend this radio to anyone looking for a nice 220 mobile or base radio.
K5YBX Rating: 2016-12-09
Excellent Value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It reminds me of a solid, commercial radio. Everything about it is heavy-duty, including the microphone. The front speaker is excellent, with lots of crisp audio. It was easy to learn to use and program. Great audio reports from listeners.

Something to consider if you plan mobile use is that the display, although very clear and bright, is small, like a hand-held display. For some, this could be an issue in the mobile environment. Also, there is no indication of volume level on the display. Not a big deal, but it would be useful.

I really like the rig and dealing with the Bridgecom folks is a pleasure. Highly recommended.