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Reviews For: Icom IC-821

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-821
Reviews: 16MSRP: 2000
Description:
uhf/vhf allmode
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00163.7
JN3XCV Rating: 2003-06-20
Worst radio ever made Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had the same problems as other posters have noted. Either we all have the same radio or the design just stinks. I am glad I got rid of this and got at least half of what I padi. There person that bought it got an earfull from me on what was wrong with it!

BTW I have to say this had the worst receiver I had ever seen on a piece of equipment made for weak signal operation. Lots of tuning nois and very poor selectivity!

Pass on these no matter what price you are being offered.
K4TB Rating: 2003-02-19
Good satellite rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I thought I did this review earlier, and a follow-up? I don't see either on eHam anymore, so here's another, updated review, with some pointers.

My rig has performed well for 5 years or more. It does the job on satellites, and works fine for LOS SSB, CW and FM. It has plenty of sensitivity and good selectivity, with the optional CW filters I have installed in both the main and sub receivers. The operation takes a bit of practice but isn't that hard to master.

Incidentally, for those who have ever experienced the strange mode changes, etc., here's the cure: I found that the large connector on the main board, which you have to disconnect to install options like the CTCSS board, filters, etc., occassionally needs cleaning! Disconnect it by pulling up on the connector socket, then take a pencil eraser and easily brush off the copper contacts at the end of the ribbon. Reconnect the ribbon cable into the socket, taking care to seat it solidly, and you'll be back in business. I've had this problem recur about once a year. Guess ICOM could have done a bit better on that one, but what the heck, it's as good a rig as you can find for satellites, the FT847 notwithstanding.
K9PO Rating: 2003-01-30
A A boat anchor in the making Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Terrible radio!!

Poor receive quality. The VCO had a tremendous amount of noise that would wipe many a weak signal out of the pass band.

The uP and software had some kind of serious problem where the radio would lockup or go into strange modes without any warning, explination, nor solution. Eventually it would fix itself but I could never figure a key sequence or procedure that would cause it to self repair. The only I can guess at is that their was some sort of watch dog procdeure in the software itself.

The radio was checked out by AES technicians but they could never find out what was happening.

I sold it for scrap and consider my experience a hard and expensive lesson learned.

DF1AS Rating: 2003-01-25
One problem within five years ... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned one for more than 5 years. Had it equipped with both CW filters and the TCXO. Also had set it to work outside bands, so transverters could be attached easily. Worked almost w/o problems. Just once after apr. 1 year it felt sick and started to act up (confusing numbers on the display a.s.o.). But, after demating, cleaning, and remating of all internal flat ribbon cables it ran smooth until I sold it (for quite a good price) to change for the 910.
IZ6BYY Rating: 2002-09-01
love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use it for satellite operations and never had any problem.
Receiver is wonderful, human interface is very usable after you get used to it.
Now I remote control this radio by the ci-v interface over the internet. THe radio is permanently turned on and still no problems at all.
PE3HMP Rating: 2001-09-09
lots of trouble Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had 2 icom IC-821H trancievers both with major problems on 70cm
the first (serial number 2230) gave strange trouble,after a few hours (packet 9k6) the center lights would turn orange and would have no power on 70cm, on 2 meters it sends on a different freq and when switching to ssb if still recieves on fm, the dealer couldn't find it and it had to be send back to icom, I was not planning to wait months untill it got back so I bought a new one (serial 2231)(had to pay 250 extra)
After a few months the power on 70 had problems, while transmitting it stoped for a few mSeconds (noticeble as a crackle by other listners and you could see it on the S-meter)

Dealer could not correct the problem so I asked my money back.

NEVER an icom 821H for me again!!

PS: for people who suddenly have no outputt on 70 check Q43 !!! (that smd thing gets too hot !! and Icom knows that, just replace it with a non smd part)