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Reviews For: Icom ID-52

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Icom ID-52
Reviews: 4MSRP:
Description:
Handheld VHF/UHF d-star tranceiver
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.5
KM6TVV Rating: 2022-06-06
Great for travel! GPS + Repeater List Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I love the way "Repeater List" and "GPS" work together to provide local repeaters anywhere in the world. I downloaded a customized repeater list from http://www.dstarinfo.com/downloads-overview.aspx and I now have 1700 repeaters in my state and nearby states. On my recent trip across California the ID-52A was quick to find working repeaters in all locations I stopped at. In addition, the "Scan VFO" and "Scan Tone" features make it easy to discover and utilize new repeaters in the area. User interface is quite intuitive. Volume level very strong. Bluetooth support is a big plus.
W2TXB Rating: 2022-04-02
New User of the ID-52A Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After just a couple of weeks use, I like this radio. Of course, learning the features and functions remains an ongoing process (not quite there yet... baby steps ;) ). I have lost count of how many times I have updated the frequency lists and settings, probably more than a dozen. The RT Systems software makes it much easier to do so. Having used the ID-51A series for many years, I appreciate the larger speaker and display; the overall size is slightly larger. I still have yet to use it in a high RF environment, but expect to do so in the near future. To date, it performs very well.

The only thing I have yet to figure out is if there is a way to set a default (receive) volume. When I load a data file (RT Systems) into the radio and then reboot the radio, the volume defaults to 20... if that could be set to a default of (for example) 10, a minor annoyance would be removed.
W2GT Rating: 2022-03-21
Great radio, but not for me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Let me preface this with two statements. I buy virtually every new handheld that Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu releases, some are "keepers", most aren't. Also the ID-51 series was my all-time favorite handheld ever made by anyone.
The ID-52 "fixed" two problems that I never heard anyone complain about, bigger screen and larger speaker/louder audio. These are nice improvements, at the expense of a larger, bulkier overall size. Side by side the difference looks minimal, but hold it in your hand and if feels totally different. My plan was to buy the ID-52 and sell one of my ID-51 which are bringing a premium on the used market right now, but after spending a week with the '52, I couldn't do it! I was talking to a friend and he offered t takel it off my hands.
The GOOD part is, Icom had the wisdom to change very little from the '51 except a new channel grouping scheme (that really threw me a curve) and a very nice Bluetooth implementation. The Bluetooth immediately connected to anything I tried to pair it to, speakers, earbuds, headsets and my iPhone X - this makes it VASTLY more functional than I found the Bluetooth in the TH-D74 or the FT3dr/FT5dr - YMMV.
My overall advice is to put your hands on one before you take the plunge, you may want the additional size, it just wasn't for me.
ZL4TE Rating: 2022-02-20
Awesome radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned a couple of Icom d-star radio's (ID-5100 and ID51 plus2). I was a bit hesitant upgrading from the ID51 as I thought it would be hard to improve on. I really loved the 51. Just such a versalie radio when travelling, walking the dog etc, on FM or with a hotspot linked to my cellphone data, as well as listening to commercial broadcast stations. I thought it would be hard to improve on. I was wrong.

The price tag for the 52 is hefty, but you get an awesome amout of radio for your money. Icom had a number of poor reviews for the high price of "optional" accessories, such as mounting brackets etc for the 5100. With the 52, all the accessories and batteries for the 51 are interchangable with the 52.

With the 51, the Icom RS-MS1A android app was frankly useless for me, as there was always the need for a cable to be plugged between the radio and your phone.........no more. The software links easily via bluetooth, and is frankly a pleasure to use. The inclusion of decent bluetooth makes the radio much more useable and versatile. I have the bluetooth VS3 headset. Again, works seamlessly, and you have numerous output options.

On digital modes, I have not tried the teminal or access point modes.

The speaker is very good, and is a real improvement over the 51. This is particularly noticable on FM broadcast stations.

I prefer the slightly larger size of the 52 over the 51. The menu is very straightforward, and keeps to the usual Icom format. The Icom programming software works well, though you cannot copy directly from the 51 to the 52. I believe you have to save as a csv file and import. GPS locks on quickly (usually less than a minute).

Compared to the 51 it seems to have a bit more grunt on tx - I can access repeaters I struggled to hit with the 51, and the audio reports have been great.

And then the screen. I love it. I have seen some are not happy that the screen is not jet black in dark mode. For me, that is not a biggie. I love the fact that I can see it in pretty much any light, and it is so clear. After the fading lcd when the 5100 screen gets warm, and the much smaller screen on the 51, the screen on the 52 is a massive improvement. Its is not touch screen, and I guess some may feel that is an opportunity missed, but would I want a handheld with a touch screen in my pocket, probably not.

I suppose the bottom line for many is the price.

For me the ID-52 is worth every dollar. It is not a slightly different radio with a new number (like the Yaesu ft-817 then 818). Icom have really thought about this radio and it is in my opinion a massive leap forward from the ID-51.