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Reviews For: Alinco DR-235T/G

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

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Review Summary For : Alinco DR-235T/G
Reviews: 47MSRP: $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
00474.7
K2ANE Rating: 2003-05-21
I Like It!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.

I bought mine from KJI Electronis for $239.00 over a year ago and am very pleased with it.

I use it both mobile and as a base. One of the neat coincidences is that it fits into my ICOM quick mount perfectly. So if I am not using my IC-207 dual bander, my Alinco fits perfectly into the mount and all I have to do is change antennas via the roof mounted NMO-B.

I live at a very high elevation in a remote area and I have to admit the unit is very hot bringing up distant repeaters. If I can hear them, they can hear me. I use a simple vertical for a base antenna.

The unit has more memories than I can ever use. There is no reverse repeater function but for me it would be useless anyway. The squelch control is software driven via a quick to bring up menu. I have not used the data capabilities of this unit but who knows, maybe some day. I have used the radio on simplex when there are openings.

I use it for mobiling when I go down to the big cities and chat with some of the OM's that hang out on 220. Seems like a more cordial lot there than on 2 meters.

Regarding the long mike cord. At first I thought it was nit picking to say it was too long. But in mobile practice I have found it drooping and catching my transmission shift lever while speaking, which is not such a good thing. But in the shack it is nice being long and not pulling on the connector while I sit back and drone on to some of the locals 100 miles away. Hey, maybe some day all mikes will be Blue Tooth or IR.

All things considered it is a nice unit. Excellent quality, beautiful build and it always works without a hitch or a glitch. I can recommend it to a friend and I have and still have that friend.

de Bill K2ANE/2

WB1AEX Rating: 2002-11-28
Outstanding 220 mhz radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed one of these in my vehicle several days ago. It is a very ruggedly built little radio with lots of features to like. First of all it comes with a well written manual and a full schematic, and the full service manual is a free PDF download from the Alinco site. The display is large and easy to read from nearly any angle. The RF/S-Meter gives appropriate readings (unlike my ADI-247). It is extremely easy to setup and program. The transmit audio is very smooth and balanced provoking lots of "What kind of radio is that? It sounds great!" comments from contacts. The receive audio is exceptional and will drive an outboard speaker cleanly at very high levels. All the tone functions work as promised (even in freezing weather for all you ADI tone board sufferers). Military aircraft reception in AM mode between 225-279 mhz is easily setup and allows you to program specific frequencies into memory. When in scan mode it does switch to AM for these frequencies. The AM reception and fidelity is outstanding, but I do live right in the area of two military airbases so the radio does not have to work too hard to hear up there. The microphone unit is well put together and very comfortably controls most of the features you would need to mess with (without looking) while driving. Some have complained about the long cord, but it is perfect for my installation on the passenger side of the transmission hump and allows easy operation from the driver's seat. My only complaint would be the pricing! At $249 The 2 meter version is $80 cheaper! No doubt the volume of sales for the 2 meter rigs makes up the difference for them, but really, the 220 mhz rigs are no more expensive for them to build! Still, it is the best value out there for a single band 220 mhz 5/10/25 watt mobile rig. I am completely happy with it.

Rob, WB1AEX
AC5PS Rating: 2002-09-16
Cool! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The mic cord is to long and it scans slow and no "reverse" but the ability to receive military aircraft from 225-279 mhz AM is a plus to me. It seams to be well built, easy to operate, I like it!
N8JVN Rating: 2002-02-15
No mouth, no ears. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
*sigh*

Well, here I am about a month later and my DR-235T is DEAD. Won't transmit, won't receive. Display flashes.

It's going to be a very UNpleasant drive to Wickliffe tomorrow morning...

Anyone else have this problem?
KA9ZIM Rating: 2001-08-01
Great 220 radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great radio. Has all of the features I look for in a rig. Its easy to operate and the signal reports have all been very good. I'm going to by a second one for the shack.
N8IK Rating: 2001-06-11
Rig is FB Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Yep - this is the 220 mobile rig of choice. Very affordable - got mine at Dayton. Very intuitive - only need the manual for a couple of items. Heard there's an easy mod to open up TX/RX if the band edges change in the future. Gets a little warm with a ragchew on high power but the case is a massive heat sink so lack of a fan doesn't appear to be a problem. Nice handset - don't have to lean on the PTT to key the rig like the other rig in the car! Might get another with the internal TNC for a base rig!

73 de Ian
KE4AIK Rating: 2001-04-15
At Last! An affordable quality 220 Mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The DR-235 is a well built, sturdy 220 mobile. The new backlit Alinco EMS-57 mic is a really comfortable mic to hold. The new mic will allow the operator to scroll up and down in the memories, change power settings (25w/10w/5w), and jump between memory and the VFO. This radio has excellent audio quality. 100 memories are more than enough to program all repeater pairs and simplex freqs for 220 FM. This radio also features direct keyboard entry when entering a new frequency from the supplied DTMF mic. The deeper orange display takes a little getting used to, but very visible in sunlight when running the rig mobile. Absolutely no complaints.

Before you ask the question, "Would you buy the rig again?" The answer is YES, and I have already purchased a 2nd unit for my base statioin. At a street price of $250-$265 this rig is a great buy and can't be beaten.

I've only owned the rig for about a month, I got the first my local dealer sold (took the case off the UPS truck myself!) Stay tuned for more glowing reports from other hams about this rig.