Callsign	Required
Password

If you've forgotten and/or need to reset your password, please enter your Callsign and use the button below.

If you are not a member of the eHam community

Please consider registering to e-Ham.

Manager

Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Alinco DR-235T/G

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.

Review Summary For : Alinco DR-235T/G
	Reviews: 47	MSRP: $300.00
	Description: A 25 Watt 100 memory Channel radio for 222 MHz. An optional packet board is available.
	Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.alinco.com/Products/DR-235/
# last 180 days	Avg. Rating last 180 days	Total reviews	Avg. overall rating
1	5	47	4.7

W2MSK	Rating:	2023-05-24
Unbelievable!			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My DR-235 has been in continuous operation, powered up, 24X7X365 for 8 years, yes you read that correctly, 8 years! The rig is used in an IRLP simplex system and has not been out of service in all this time. Of course, it is not transmitting continuously but is used multiple times daily. Still outputs full power and the LED illumination is as bright as day one. This is one amazing radio! Update: It is now 2021 and, once again, continuous operation 24X7X365 for 18 years! UPDATE, UPDATE, 2023: Can you believe 20 years! ---------------------- Earlier 5-star review posted by W2MSK on 2005-07-31 Follow-up Review: My rig has been powered up and in service 24X7X365 for two years straight serving as my IRLP simplex node. It is used multiple times daily and has never been down for any reason in those two years...what more can you want? GO buy one now!

KB1UZD	Rating:	2015-11-28
No Problems			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got the radio used in 2010. It has only been used as a base station, or in an evacuation shelter as it is part of my go kit by me. It was easy to program all the settings that I use. I am set up in a valley which restricts my coverage, but it has no problems reaching repeaters 25 miles away. My reception has a bit of background hiss but works well on receive and transmitting. I usually use high power, 25 w, on my contacts. I have a fan in the go kit, but have seldom needed it. I use it daily, and have no problems with it except the background noise issue. My antenna system may be responsible for that, though. A compact, sturdy unit. I am looking for another one for my truck.

KC2OBW	Rating:	2012-04-06
Great Little Mobile			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this radio for a little over a year now. I love the radio. I haven't had any issues with it. I normally run the radio on low or mid power settings when I'm working the local repeaters. Radio is easy to program via hand. Radio has great sounding audio. I would deff buy another if I needed. For a antenna I use a Hustler MX-220 a 3db 5/8 wave mobile antenna. One of the cool features this radio has is the theft alarm feature, I kinda wish it would transmit the alarm like the 635 does. I haven't had any problems with the brick yet. Like I said I usually run the radio on low ore med power

K2XDX	Rating:	2011-11-17
Still going strong			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After installing a new power module from RF parts last October this little radio is still going strong. 5 years and counting. Repair cost me a total of $46 with shipping and RF parts had the Motorola module to me in 4 days. I am going to purchase another for my 220 mhz repeater link! Please read prior review. ---------------------- Earlier 5-star review posted by K2XDX on 2010-10-31 I have owned this radio for more then 4 years. After the 4th year I blew the power module. My antenna hit a tree branch I transmitted for a while with a high SWR not knowing it. I ordered a new power module from RF parts and installed it. I must say I was quiet impressed with the build quality and easy of repairing the radio. By the time the soldering iron heated up I was done. I would definitely buy another.

WB6ZRP	Rating:	2011-03-18
Love it, great radio.			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought it in 2007 at a good price IMO.Have not had any problems with it exept I had to turn down the mic. gain a bit(easy to do). It gets hot when talking over 15 min.I can get windy hi hi.Other than that I love the radio. It's the only one available. 25 watts is ok with a gain mag mount ant. and a wire gnd. plane added to a small square of steel plate, 50 watts erp. So wats not to like. If you want 220 get it.

WB0YLE	Rating:	2011-03-09
Don't blow the final...you might as well buy a new radio.			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Cost for the RF output module...from Alinco...$211. and change if you blow it out. RF Parts doesn't even stock it. Sooo... This one is an epic fail. All it takes is an unknown break or short in your coax, a moment's inattention, or a bad module through some transient...and you might as well spend $20. more an buy a new Jetstream, with warranty, 25 extra watts, same programming software, same programming cable, same mic... You get the idea. While mine worked for a little over a year and a half...just went TU...but, at this rate, I can buy a new Wouxun HT and a 50W amp, or, the above model of a competitor, for just a few more dead presidents than just the single rf module to repair this radio. You've been warned.

KI6OSH	Rating:	2010-10-29
Great radio...			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned mine a little more than one year and it's been perfect. I'm not the most technical ham but had no problems operating and setting this one up. Through my MFJ meter, I show 50 watts output so I'm a happy ham. Mine is the DR 235 MK-III model. My antenna is a Cushcraft 220 MZ vertical.

VE3LNU	Rating:	2010-09-16
Great radio BUT...			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As a die-hard 220 fan, I am pleased that this radio is so popular, and still available to keep us active on this great band. However, a word of caution - there is a potential problem with the finals in this radio and for this reason I cannot give rate it as "5". The finals failed in mid-transmission just 2 months after I bought this rig brand-new. Through my dealer, Alinco replaced the finals under warranty. 2 years later they failed again. I admit that I used this radio every day at the full outuput (25 watts) into a mobile antenna with a 1.5:1 SWR. Yes, that's not a perfect SWR, but any radio should be able to take it and keep on ticking. And I will admit that I make rather long transmissions... Having said that, if the radio is rated at 25 watts output, the problems I experienced should not be happening. My advice: if you plan to use this radio for 2 hours a day, as I have done, transmit at the mid-power setting of 10 watts, not at the full 25 watts. That's what I'll be doing when I get the finals replaced (this time, at my own expense). These radios are obviously not designed to commercial standards, and I guess we don't pay for that in the purchase price. Joe, VE3LNU

N6HPO	Rating:	2009-07-25
Great 220 Rig!			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this from a friend in Maryland about a year ago. He took great care of it; it's the "older" model with the pewter body panel. I too have a small, 5 element 220 MHz Yagi and I can hit a Santa Barbara repeater 165 miles away. Programming repeaters and PL's is no problem, even though I did it manually. The owner's manual could have been a little more explicit, but you can "noodle" things out within a few hours. Currently, I use my 235T as a base station; have 80+ repeaters in memory throughout SoCal and can hit them all. Should you find one of these beauties, may I suggest that you snap it up!? The 220 MHz band is a wonderful slice of the spectrum and yes, it could use a lot more traffic. Do yourself & every other 220 ham a favor; if you find the 144 and 440 bands a little too crowded, buy a 220 rig so we can add one more necessary voice to this under-utilized spectrum, please! 73 everyone! Alan ---------------------- Earlier 5-star review posted by N6HPO on 2009-03-22 Initially, I was looking for an older ICOM or an H/T for 220. One day, a ham buddy in Maryland offered to sell me his 235T; 220 is not as popular there as it is in SoCal. I really like 220; have had some great QSO's recently. It's a little less noisy and the pace seems a little slower. In fact, the 235T is very much like 220 MHz...not flashy nor highly publicized, but once your "plugged in" it's a whole lotta fun. The low [25 watt] output has not been a handicap for me at all. The 235T has a large, bright 7 digit display which is ideal for me. The ability to toggle between the Alpha Tag and the programmed frequency was a nifty little accessory that I appreciate! It's set up for Packet; a programming data port is up front for easy access. Wish my 208H had these features. If my 235T ever gets cranky, there is a full service manual available from the Alinco website. This is a great unit. Kudos to Alinco for making a solid performing 220 MHz rig at an affordable price! When circumstances permit, go out & get on 220! 73! Alan

N0FPE	Rating:	2009-07-25
works for me			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 and they are just what i need. No problems

«
1
2
3
4
5
»

Category:

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

Product:

Alinco DR-235T/G

Summary:

Rating:	Time Owned:
Great! Good OK Needs Help Poor Awful!	0 - 3 Months 3 - 6 Months 6 - 12 Months More than 12 Months

Remarks:

Describe your experience with the Alinco DR-235T/G and tell us why you give it the rating you did (required). Other useful information would include your experience with similar products, infomation on a product that you would purchase instead of this one, and so on.