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Reviews For: ICOM IC-2100H

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-2100H
Reviews: 196MSRP: 140
Description:
Two meter mobile
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/2mmobile/ic2100hmain.asp
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001964.5
AI4EP Rating: 2006-04-02
EASY to use / program Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it used , complete with all but the box .It already had most of the local repeaters programmed, but I had to change a few. I had initial problems using the DTMF function, but figured that out FAST. I am NOT all that thrilled with all these buttons on the microphone ( used to the 0 - 9 buttons, abcd and PTT button and up.down corner buttons ), but I do not guess there is much that can be done about that. RX is great, finally see a radio that does NOT give a s-9+60 reading to every repeater it can access, that on this unit it DOES vary !! I use an external speaker with all my rigs.

TRANSMIT is great, usually 5 watts accesses all the repeaters I talk on anyway, apparently great audio.

PRO ---
small size
easy to program
green / amber color on display WITH DIMMER
squelch knob (year 2006 )
time - out - timer
CON ---
too many buttons on supplied mike ( should provide one also that is just a plain microphone and NO buttons besides PTT )
modular mike plug -- prefer 8 pin old style.

So, in spite or mike situation, I like the rig.I would recommend it to any one, whether new or an old-timer.

AI4EP (Robert)

N4SQH Rating: 2006-03-13
Only minor problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a simple to operate radio with good power output (50+ watts), and a good receiver (advertised as intermod proof and works pretty well).

It has demonstrated only minor problems so far. The PTT button on the mic failed after about 6 months - It's a poor design. Now after two years, the mic is failing again with noise in the transmit audio.
KI4IDB Rating: 2005-12-28
Great 2 meter rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I currently operate two of these great radios. I started out with one in my work vehicle and then placed one in my pick up truck.

The radio is easy to use and is packed full of power.

I purchased the first one 1 1/2 years ago for $149.oo and then purchased the second one used for under $100.

Hope you have as much luck with yours as I have had with mine!
N8AME Rating: 2005-11-22
Good Mobil Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this rig brand new from a dealer about 1 year ago and have used it mobile ever since. I have been happy with the operation and rock-solid durability of the rig. Works great and gives a good clean signal. My only complaint is with the programing. Seems I have to go to the manual a lot as I can't remember how to do certain functions. Could be me, but I think programing could have been made less confusing. It's great to have that kind of memory for storing frequencies and alpha-numerical is handy too. My microphone works great and have had no problem with it whatsoever. It's very nice to be able to control everything from the microphone(except turning rig on and off!) I use 5 watts most of the time. Rig tends to heat up if I use 50 watt setting for what seems to me a small amount of time. If I need to get in, I use the 10 watt setting. All in all, I'm very happy with this rig and would recomend it to anyone that wants to go mobile on two meters
KG4NCK Rating: 2005-07-16
Never Any Problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this little radio for almost 5 years now, and never had a single problem with it. I found it easy enough to program, and simple to operate. I enjoy the fact that it allows alpha-numeric tags, and the choice of display colors is nice too. The audio quality reports I get have always been good, which is a plus. The radio is very good on recieve, and doesn't have any problems with intermod, not even in any of larger cities I've used it in. Icom did a nice job building this one.
KC8TJO Rating: 2005-06-08
Microphone Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Best 2M Mobil ever made !!! Have 3 ea. of them ?? ICOM has it All together ,""BUT"" the PTT system on the Mic Sucks !!! After several key ups , the tab bends inside AND doesn't push on the switch tab !!!! After Moo - Choo bending the spring steel Bar finally gave up ?? ICOM should Re - Engineer this problem on future Models. Other than that, had them for 5 yrs.with No problems ??
PU2LED Rating: 2005-05-28
In Portuguese Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Este rádio é uma solução excelente para operação móvel. Para áreas congestionadas de RF ele se mostra insuperável. Ótima seletividade e sensibilidade.
Livre de intermodulação.
Display claro.
Botoes sem inscrição que se apagam com o uso.
As inscriçoes estão no proprio display LCD.
Microfone com todas a funçoes para operaçao movel.
Soludez na contruçao e robustez na operação.
Ótimo preço.
KC4TDM Rating: 2005-05-23
Nice radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great receive! I really like the ALPHA feature and AMBER/Green display. You can't go wrong with this rig.
KC0NPF Rating: 2005-03-18
decent little 2m rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Antenna: 5/8 wave wilson base loaded vertical on a trunk lip mount
Power: deep cycle battery in the trunk.

does all it's supposed to. the DTMF stuff is wacky though, there's like 2 separate DTMF modes, just another icom thing to get used to. Never measured output at full power but i assume it's close to where it should be. I'm currently running it from an auxilary battery in my car because eventually I will have a dual battery system. i can be on the radio for 2 weeks and not worry about the 'start' battery :-D. Anyway, so back to the rig, it did pick up a tiny bit of alternator whine when plugged through the cig lighter <- i know, bad idea but i like jurry riggin stuff just to see if it works, only low power tx to avoid smoking things that aren't supposed to smoke. The whine was on RX only. I've also used this rig inside on my twin 11 element beams, seems to get out just like the yaesu FT-2600 i had in here before. My little RS-10A power supply actually does run it full power transmit, i assume the RF out is down a bit though.

I was able to figure out how to program it, though it's not really intuitive, it's not that bad either.

Doesn't seem to get waffle iron hot on full power TX like the 2600 did, maybe cuz icom is smart and knows that heat rises? so the heat sink is on top... hmm

I like the 4 level back lighting for night driving, it's on level 4 (full bright) all day, and then when i get in the car to go somewhere in the evening, it's 3 buttons or so to drop it to a dimmer setting. One thing i noticed on the 2600 that was annoying, the speaker would 'whine' when the display was dimmed on the yaesu.. no such problem on this rig.

Finally i LOVE the remote control buttons on the mic, you never have to touch the front of the radio. Most convenient when you're driving and perhaps calling your mom on the autopatch (yes... i do that lol) For some reason I can talk on a radio and drive, but i'd rather pull over while talking on a cell phone... wierdness

73 de KC0NPF
K4IDX Rating: 2005-02-21
Great little rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine at the Shelby Hamfest about 3 years ago and this little baby has been a real surprise! I used it in my truck for a couple of years and now have it mounted in my basement shack for casual use. Excellent TX/RX and absolutely NO complaints. For the price I paid, only over $100 with rebate, it's the best on the market.