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Reviews For: Icom IC-208H

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-208H
Reviews: 137MSRP: 319.95
Description:
2M / 70cm mobile with 55 watt VHF and 50 watt UHF xmtr. CTCSS/DCS encode and decode, tone scan, detachable and remotable control head, 500 ALPHA-NUMERIC memories, etc
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151374.4
VE7REN Rating: 2014-12-29
excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
ive had the 208h for a couple yrs.. it does everything my icom 2300h and 2200h does.. the rx is good,the screen offers good visibility.. the fan is a little noisy,,,,little,no more so then my ft8800 or v8000 icom I had... overall im very happy with this dualband radio.. it is and has been solid performer
WB4COJ Rating: 2014-08-10
Great mobile Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2. One was bought new in '03, the other used from a friend getting out of Ham Radio 2 years ago.
When I buy a new radio, I download manuals and play "what if". Example: what if there is a repeater on the same frequency in another area, but on a different CTCSS. How does the radio detect this and load into a memory? The radio with the least keystrokes wins.
I was a professional radio technician and had access to test gear.
The receiver in this radio is hot. Broke squelch at .1 uv, 20 Db at .18.
The transmitters get their rated power. If tested with more than a 1:1 SWR, the radio will lower its power to avoid frying a final. Mine are mounted under the passenger seat and the display where it can be read easily. This is important with today's smaller cars. Separation cable comes with it.
The fan running is not an issue.
Also likes is the computer program to load frequencies, power, CTCSS etc.
Problems: I wore out a PTT switch.
The radio has a tendency to wipe out memories when subjected to starter spikes. Mine are powered thru a relay to the battery, which is keyed by the "accessory" line in the cars.
KC4BTU Rating: 2014-05-14
Keying issue Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased an ICOM 208 in 2009 and am extremely pleased with it. I must use it on low power if I am within 30-40 miles of a repeater. I like the fact that I can set a call freq. with the mic. either by up-down scan buttons while driving, imputing via the mic. or using the tuning knob. All useful mobile functions are on the mic. I also receive public service freq.
The only issue it has developed is an intermittent tendency to not release the transmitter when I release the mic. PTT key. I have replaced the mic. and cord. It worked ok for a few weeks, then the same issue arose again. Has anyone else had this issue?

WA0ZZG Rating: 2014-04-24
Built like an Avonics Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I got one of these at an estate sale about a year ago. It does a great job except for one quirk. This radio looks to have been designed by an avionics engineer in that there is not one single internal adjustment for alignment. Everything is done via the computer from the front panel, EVERYTHING. The quirk is that for no particular reason, an alignment point 'hops'. It changes value on its own.
Otherwise, this radio is exceptional.
It appears that frequency alignment is the most noted but there are others. The AM detector is only something an Avionics engineer would come up with but is does great. It has active temperature compensation in that the CPU monitors the case temperature and alters alignment values to compensate. It has four front ends. All are well designed and tracked tuned by the computer. The 800MHz is not so hot.
Synthizer alignment won't put it right on frequency because the computer moves it in defined steps but it's still possible to get it within 100Hz at 450MHz.
An alignment jig is needed but can be made by cutting a short data network cable in half, stripping the wires and doing a little soldering. The schematic is in the service manual. If ICOM ever figures out why the alignment points hop, this will be an exceptional radio. Dave...
SA3AYF Rating: 2014-02-28
Great rig ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Never mind the so called wobbly knobs (I have not had any problems with this), this is a fantastic radio.

Small in size but packs a lot of punch !

Also, as all Icom, modulation is crisp and sharp.

Since I have had the opportunity to do an A/B -test I can safely say that the front-end of
this radio is MUCH better than the newer and bigger IC-2820 in all aspects,
especially selectivity.

For the prices these radios are currently selling,
buy one ! Forget about FT-7900 etc, this is a far better rig.

Me very happily ;)
NW0LF Rating: 2013-12-09
After 13 years, still strong. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a long overdue follow up. I bought this radio back in 2000 or 2001. Most of it's life it has been mobile. It has been in and out of at least 6 vehicles. It looks a little worse for wear and the mic is a bit sun faded but it is still as strong and awesome sounding as when I bought it. It has always been remote mounted and I am still using the original remote cable. I finally replaced the mic cord as I couldn't get a new RJ-45 connector on that soft cloth like wire. I have no plans on replacing it. Actually, I did replace it--with a Kenwood TM-281 in the house so it could go back in the car.

Tom, NW0LF
K9IKE Rating: 2013-12-09
Get One! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've owned both the Icom 207 and the 208. The
Icom 208 is by far the better radio. When used
in a hi rf area the 207 was rendered totally un-
usable. The intermod on 2m was so bad that a very
strong machine was not copyable. That very same
repeater was received with no problem with the
Icom 208. I was also able to test other machines
with no problem whatever using the 208. Also the
distant repeaters in my area that I can keyup
with my Icom 706 ( but cannot hear ) I have no
problem at all hearing with the 208. Programing,
no problem. With great ears, great rejection,
and a very readable display... why not??
WZ3O Rating: 2013-12-09
Nice Dual Band single receive.. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Could be a 4.7 so I'll round up...

Just got one used for a good price in very good condition, functionally and cosmetically..

Good size display, love the extra wattage, does what I need without spending hundreds more. Easily programmed with cable that came with, and Chirp, it's free and very functional, use it for my other Icom rigs as well. Need to relearn how to do memory channels from the rig/mic, just in case Hi...

Frequency receive range is quite impressive, as to the Intermod mentioned, I've not experienced it, however not living in a densely populated area, probably get a pass on that.

So as time goes by hopefully I still feel this way...I expect to.
W0FEN Rating: 2013-10-18
Good Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of these radios. I have replaced the Mic cord on both. That is the main reason for the 4 instead of a FIVE. The squelch is designed with a strange behavior. Why reduce the RF gain?? This radio is more susceptible to front end intermod in high RF environments. The radios were bought about 2005. They both are still going strong as I write this. The nitpick is that both only put out 50 Watts on 2M instead of the rated 55 Watts.

----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by W0FEN on 2011-11-09

I posted earlier that this radio had no power output. This was a bad coax out of the radio. The 208 protected itself from damage.

I still did have the problem with the cord going bad prematurely. I have other ICOM 2M radios that have their original Mic cords and are 20+ years old.
K4TIN Rating: 2013-03-02
Negative Reviews....Puzzling Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine about 2003 and placed in my small pickup truck for the long hour-commute to work. After about 5 years, took it out and placed it in my new at the time Yaris. Finally the separation cable got strained and had to be replaced. Later this year it will be entering its second decade of service. I plan to get an FT-857, so perhaps it will go back in the truck.
The little face clips on the visor and has a large, easy to read display. It covers 2 and 440, and receives police and aircraft bands. With the rig under my seat, I have yet to be concerned with fan noise.
With the exception of the dirty mike, the radio looks as good as new.
What's not to like?