| KB3JAU |
Rating:  |
2003-05-25 | |
| Great Performer |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| This is a great performing radio for those who want wide band receive coupled with dual band performance. There are plenty of controls available for any amateur operator to adjust the radio to his or her liking. It is quite easy to install and is a rugged rig. I just don't understand the complaints about intermod -- you get that with all wide band receive radios -- not just this one!!! |
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| K7LAF |
Rating: |
2003-05-23 | |
| Unacceptable |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
As I stated before this unit is used in a pretty tough environment (MACK truck). The first one I bought in November lost transmit. AES in Las Vegas replaced it since it was under 30 days old. The replacement unit lasted three months and was returned for loss of 2 meter TX. It was repaired and lasted less than one month. Sent back again for no 2 meter TX plus no 440 TX. Today I'm sending it back after only 4 days. Yep same problem. The Icom just can't take the vibration I guess. Back to the Yaesu 7100, at least it works in the truck.
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Earlier 4-star review posted by K7LAF on 2003-04-13
I like most of the features of this radio. It did suffer interference from some pager systems, etc.. I have had a Yaesu 8000, 7100, and an Alinco 605. This is the first radio I can see the display on easily. First 2720 I got lost 2 meter tx power in less than one month. It was exchanged for a new unit. Second one lost 2 meter tx power in 3 months. It just came back from Icom where they replaced the 2SK3075 transistor, a burnt diode, resistor, and thermal pack. They also implemented an upgrade mod, which probably included some of the above parts. Now it must be stated that I drive a Mack truck for a living and these radios are on 12 hrs a day in a high vibration environment. I also have to remove it at the end of my shift. More importantly I talk a lot! I believe that this is still one of the best dual band radios on the market. 99.9% of you would have no problems with it, and more than likely Icom has already modified their new productions. |
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| KC7ZLJ |
Rating: |
2003-05-16 | |
| Great Radio!!! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
For what this radio is, ..... it is awesome!
No it is not for a beginner, but with time and study anyone can use this thing. I'm currently using it as a base and have not had it mobile. Even with that, I can still see why some people are having complaints with the view of the display. If you get to the left of it just a little it fades right out. But I would think people would try out different angles before they hard mount it. Eveyone I have talked to while using it, have given me good reports, and the receive audio is good.
I do wish the crossband repeat was not so noticable. With the older Icom dual banders, you never knew if someone was crossbanding. While not being too obvious, if you know what you are listening to you can tell with this one.
Alphanumerics is no big deal to me, in my application I have everything written down anyway. I like to keep records though.
I am shocked that the reviews are not more approving. No this radio is not perfect but which one is?
Well that is about it. If you are considering this radio, right now on the market it is in my opinion, the best dual bander for current production. The new Alinco will not crossband, nor will the new Yaesu, the Kenwood TM-V7a comes pretty close though. In a base enviroment I would say the V7A and the 2720H are equal. In a mobile, I think the Icom would win out. I had a V7A mobile for a year, and hated the display, especially at night. |
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| KD5UVA |
Rating: |
2003-05-06 | |
| Lots of Radio, Some issues |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I'm Giving this Radio a 5 because there is nothing wrong with the unit, and it is exactly what I expected in the way of performance and features. Yes, it has some small issues, which you should know of before purchase. I do not belive these warrant a poor performance rating.
The first issue is the intermod. Okay, so it can be suceptable to Intermod. But what radio isn't that is both a sensitive wideband reciever and costs less than $350? I'll trade the small annoyance for incredible receive range and performance while I'm mobile over the occasional hit. For those who have heavy intermod problems, they should consider a different type radio, or purchase a filter.
The next issue is a much smaller one. The display is optomized for a viewing angle that is best from the right and slightly above the face. Thats not too smart(they made it for right hand drive cars?). however, it's not that bad, and unless your mounting it to the extreme right of you, your not going to have trouble with it. console mounting works fine. it will not be useable for overhead.
I Like the features, and there are alot of them, and Icom only provides basic info on each. so you will do well to be familiar with Icoms, or have a friend who is. on both 2m/70cm I will almost always outperform most mobiles in coverage and signal from my single dualband antenna. It's got the goods when you need it.
If Icom wants to make this radio a true legend, they need only fix the display, add some sort of built-in selectable intermod filter, and add alpha numeric memory displays.
But if your inthe market for a dual bander, that can offer flexible installation, and you understand how intermod works...do consider this radio.
KD5UVA |
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| WB0VAM |
Rating: |
2003-05-04 | |
| GREAT RADIO-HARD TO PROGRAM |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This is not a radio for a beginner. I have had both Kenwood and Yaesu. My first ICOM..After reading the book on the way home from the Hamfest and one of the main reason I purchased it was for the cross band operating mode. But no where in manual did I find out how to enter cross band mode. I found how to do it from the internet. Now everything is working OK.. Now biggest problem is telling the wife we have another ham radio. Guess I better go out and buy her something..Ha-Ha |
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| K6BIR |
Rating: |
2003-04-22 | |
| OK until problems |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I have had the IC-2720 since they first came out in Nov. of last year, and using it mobile. I have notice some intermod at some locations that I drive by. And I do miss the alphanumeric that some of my other mobile radios have. But just the other day, after working fine the day before, the radio started to act up, first it did not receive very well, then after turing it off and on again, that seem to take care of the problem, but then it made a loud squeling noise when it was turned off. I tried the full reset, and this did not cure the problem. So I have boxed it up and sent it back to Icom for repairs. I am still waiting for its return, It has only been about a week since I sent it. This is the first mobile rig that I have had to send back for repairs, and I have eight of them, 2 Kenwoods, 2 Icoms, and 4 Yaesu. I hope that this is not going to be a problem with this radio.
Would I buy another one? probably not, it is not very fun removing a mobile radio for repairs, if it is not going to be reliable, and I use this radio for doing a RACES net at times. Maybe with time, if it works OK when I get it back, I may feel better about it.
Vince, K6BIR. |
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| NC1N |
Rating: |
2003-04-18 | |
| Neat Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After a month, I like this radio a lot. I first saw it (pre-release) at Dayton last year and liked it immediately. I'm having an enormous amount of fun with it.
Commenting on the recurrent themes:
1. Lack of alpha display: Yes, it's a pain. With 200+ memories and a wide receive range, this would be really nice. I bought it, even knowing this limitation, and the clean control panel and display are well suited for operating while driving. But an alpha display would have brought my rating to a 5.
2. Off-axis readability of the display: depends on which side of which axis. The readability (on mine) is asymmetrical. (!) It's easier to read from the right or from above. I view it from above and from the left and it's fine.
3. Intermod: haven't experienced it on 2M on the left receiver. But it's easy for RF noise sources to break the squelch on the right receiver on 440. (I ought to try reversing them.) Squelch attenuator helps here a lot. I suspect (but don't have the personal experience to say for sure) that it's similar to other wideband receivers.
4. Mounting head to radio: I do have the kit (to keep future options open). The head can mount in front of, or above, the radio. Contrary to some opinions, it does not block the air vent (openings top and front). But the mount is kind of klugey--this rig is really designed for separate use. (Related note: front air vents are the exhaust. Intake is at back.)
5. Weather alert: does interrupt the receiver; annoying if you want to use that receiver. If you are only actively using one receiver and just scanning on the other, it would be fine.
6. Fan noise: only noticeable with the engine off. (Note: fan runs for fixed 2 minute interval after transmitting. Not controlled by temperature. Exhaust gets only mildly warm.)
Other notes:
7. Having few buttons means they serve multiple functions. I find it easy to push the "right button at the wrong time." Functions are modal. But it's better than zillions of tiny buttons or hierarchical menus.
8. Speaker options: default is to mix the right and left receivers on the internal speaker. By selecting which of two jacks you use on the back, you can have an external merged speaker, separate left and right speakers, or left internal/right external. The missing option (left external/right internal) is the one I would prefer to have, as I primarily use the left receiver. In any event, I recommend separate speakers to avoid confusion when both are picking up a signal.
9. On that note--there's an option (that I haven't tried) to mute the secondary receiver when the main one is receiving. I wouldn't want that. I *would* like an option to mute when transmitting; haven't found one.
10. Note to Icom: it would be nice to have a detent in the squelch knobs at 12:00 (so you can tell by feel when you start attenuating). Looking at small knobs for their markings while driving isn't my idea of fun.
11. I don't have the programming software yet. The cable itself seems simple to make (schematics abound on the web) and is a relatively easy DIY project.
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| KG4QWC |
Rating: |
2003-04-03 | |
| Good price, ok performance, and flaky out-of-the-box. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I used to have an old ALINCO 25-watt 2-m only rig in the car (see that review). I bought the ICOM IC-2720H the last week of March 2003. Initially I got bad audio reports and intermod was very bad. I boxed the thing up to return it. I had a day off and decided to play one more time with the rig. I unpacked it, put it together, and attached it to my Astron 30M power supply... Now it works fine. Why? I have no idea... I did do the full rest on first power up this time. Maybe that was the difference? Intermod is still there, but I also get it on my VX5-R. Wide-band and high sensitivity makes it hard to control intermod. I haven't yet tried to adjust the RF squelch attenuator yet but suspect this might help but essentially reduce sensitivity. The display is basic and fine when viewed on-axis, viewing off axis is absolutely a problem. The controller head is mounted in my cup holder. It is attached to a wooden plug and beveled face to allow the face to point directly at the drivers head. Viewing is not a problem. I find the amber screen has the most contrast for day/night use, the green is used when I get bored with the amber! Alpha tags are nice but I don't really miss them. I know what frequencies I am transmitting on. This is an important basic HAM radio requirement in my opinion to know where you are transmitting with out prompting from the radio. I heard a 20-degree elevation UO-14 pass last night but didn't transmit because I had two speakers plugged in so would have gotten feed back into the satellite. Easy to solve that with headphones in the receive side audio (VFO-B).
Overall it is a nice rig. I can't give it a 5 tho because of the poor performance out-of-the-box. |
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| N0RQ |
Rating: |
2003-03-27 | |
| nice rig, some flaws |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The IC-2720H is my first dual-bander (not counting HTs), and though it has some glitches, I like it.
First, no Alpha tags on memories. Come on Icom, that should be there. And on the next model, when you do make them, it would be really nice to have a display that shows BOTH the Alpha AND the frequency AND the memory channel #. That might make for a big display, but it sure would be nice.
Second, the 2m recieve side seems real loosy-goosy. I live in a semi-rural area, and use it as a base rig (with a Comet GP-9 at 40'), and there are no towers nearby, but I still receive lots of 2m intermod. A Par Electronics VHFTN152-158 intermod filter ( http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/385 ) cured the problem, but it sure would be nice not to have to pay an extra $80 for something that should be handled by the radio.
The display is good (I like the green), the mic controls are nice, and the layout of the control head is excellent. Having separate vol/squelch/dial/etc buttons on each side is great -- easy to use.
Software is good, though it could use a comment field for each channel. The separation kit that comes with it is an excellent idea. Cross-band repeat works fine as well (though instructions are not in the manual).
Overall -- nice radio -- I'm pleased with it -- though there is room for improvements. |
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| W1CAR |
Rating: |
2003-03-10 | |
| take the time to get to know it! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
OK.. lets clear some things up.
Display issues: maybe try a different mount location? why mount the faceplate where it's difficult to see? I have ours mounted to the top of the dash in our Blazer (on the right hand side) and I can see it flawlessly. Gripe about something else; that's not in your power to fix!
Crossband Repeat: SUPPORTED. It is not listed in the manual because the rig is sold to other countries where crossband repeat isn't legal. There are websites out there that explain the function (Universal Radio) or you can simply email tech support.
The S-meter fluctuates its reading because you are mobile. Another thing to look at is the squelch attentuator. If the squelch is set too high, it will fluctuate rampantly. In rural areas, set the squelch lower to accept the full incoming signal, and where intermod is abundant, turn it up and deal with the S-meter. All that matters is that you can hear the other station(s)!
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Now.. this rig is very appealing to me, but it does have some bugs to talk about. I own two of these, one used as a mobile and one as a base; and I think I know a little about them.
Intermod reject: Not the best in the world. Squelch is touchy, and when the attentuator is on, the squelch causes the S-meter to jump like crazy (as written above). I hate using this rig near our hospital because of this... so, the squelch stays above the 2:00 spot. This is not very cool when using 2m simplex, so I plan to install a filter when I get the chance.
Crossband Repeat: Simple to use and set up; but DOES NOT accept over-the-air DTMF commands like a lot of the older Icom rigs. To me, this sucks. I guess they want someone to be in front of the rig when in crossband mode that can turn it off if need be.
Weather Alert: A bunch of crap. My V-8000 has this same feature, but is completely SILENT when activated. It can be activated on either or both banks, but this rig interrupts your monitoring every five seconds to check the weather freqency for alerts. This makes it totally annoying; and completely useless to me.
I like having more choices for power levels.. and 5 - 15 - 50 dosen't seem right. I'd like to have 5-10-25-50 like some Yaesus. It also draws more current than a 5 watt mobile should on low power.
Even with these pet peeves; I love these rigs and it's about time Icom came out with a true dual-receive dual-bander with crossband capabilities. It has a super-fast scan and I love the extended receive. Volume controls (in addition to the squelch controls) on the mic are a great idea!
For pure funcionality, I give this rig a high rating, but not nearly a 5 as I thought it might be before it was released. I'm thinking Icom just got in a hurry and made it available before thinking some of these problems out. The V-8000 is a prime example of a near-perfect 2 meter FM rig... and I was expecting the 2720 to be the same; of its species. It wasn't, but still turned out to be a great rig.
Don't like your? Sell it to me! :) |
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