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Reviews For: Standard C228A

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

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Review Summary For : Standard C228A
Reviews: 8MSRP: 750
Description:
Standard's 144/220 HT, now discontinued
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.standard-radio.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0084.9
N2MDV Rating: 2017-01-11
Commercial quality in an amateur HT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Being that I was a trusty for a 222MHz local repeater in the mid-1990's, I jumped on this rig when a friend did a total sell-out of his 222MHz gear. Still paid $500.00 for it 2nd hand, but wow! Incredible receive on this HT for both bands. And great rejection of intermod. You can use this HT was a base and mobile rig. The only time I ever heard intermod was on 222MHz side when I was parked next to an analog TV CH13 360KW TX tower. I'd like to see any commercial rig pass that test to do any better. Good perky TX audio and the 2M / 222MHz cross-banding is a nice plus. This HT is a keeper for sure.
VA7CRH Rating: 2009-06-26
A great oldtimer - if you can find one Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waited a year for a Standard c228a, bidding on a few on eBay and in May 2009 finally won an auction. Paid US$225 for it. The price was very reasonable given it's rareness on two counts:

1) A c228a for sale is few and far between
2) there were only two dual band 2M/220MHz dual banders ever made, and the Icom IC-V21AT is even more scarce.

Even though it is a throw-back in bulk, it gets the job done. A 12V battery is a must to get the full 5 watts out of the radio. Fortunately Batteries America and other 3rd party outlets have the CNB-152xs in stock for about US$50.

Operationally, it is straight forward, with some issues. The squelch control for each band is easily twisted when adjusting the volume knob. When the squelch is open the buttons will not work, so it took a minute to realize the squelch had been inadvertently opened - ie. the radio wasn't just locked up.

But reports from QSOs are good. I hit line-of-sight repeaters on lowest power from 50 miles away.

All in all a solid performer from another age.....

Meaning that after it's given up the ghost it really can be used as a boat anchor.

Check out: http://members.shaw.ca/francislyster/220/



The charging stand is handy, although its not the easiest task to remove the
K6WAC Rating: 2007-10-18
Outstanding Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
If you can find one buy it! I've only had this one for about seven months and find it to be one of the most rugged and usefull ht's that i've owned.Full 5watts on 220+2m plus the utility of X-band rpt. It may be a brick but it is strong and dependable brick.
AC6IN Rating: 2005-12-07
Standard is the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Standard ht's are simply wonderful CAN YOU SAY QUALITY :) If you can find any of the standard ht's buy them you will not regret it...I promise :)
W4HWD Rating: 2005-11-05
Like a tank! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
HTs are not made like this anymore! Rock solid construcion, beautiful receiver and quality transmit audio. A bit pricey when they were new, but with Standard HTs you got what you paid for - how many of these HTs made today will be around 20 years from now?! Bought it back 14 years ago when there was alot of 220 activity in my area. When I got back after 4 years with Uncle Sam there was no 220 activity here anymore, but I kept it. I refuse to part with it!
N8IWS Rating: 2005-01-09
Best Radio I Ever Owned ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio since it came out. Loaded with features it has become my primary radio. With the feature of 220, we were able to have the primary SKYWARN nets on 2m and the secondary traffic on the local 220 repeater without disturbing the main nets.

With the many battery options I was able to control how long I was on the air at a time. With the programming / clone function, you can set up a group of radios and save time getting everyone on the same page.
K2ROK Rating: 2004-06-11
If you can find one, great 220 rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Solid 90s-era 2 meter/220 HT which I bought mainly for the 220 side. Large but rugged. The only wear is on the volume and squelch knobs and the Standard case for this unit basically fell apart quick quick after only a few times of putting onthe radio and taking off. The rig itself has a hot receiver and great intermod reject. Nice S meter for both bands with dual receive, in the spirit of the Icom W32A which is a rare thing on HTs these days. Very expensive when it first came out, and Standard was soon absorbed by Yaesu/Vertex after I got this rig. I was going to get the Standard tri-band mobile but the company was gone by the time I was ready to get it.

The rig is a little large by today's standards but I used it mobile, so the size was welcome in the car. If you are looking to get into 222 for the first time, the new offerings from Kenwood or Alinco may be a better investment since Standard Radio is now gone.

Again, the most outstanding feature was the clear audio and sensitive receiver.
W6EMR Rating: 2004-05-02
Great, quality HT Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The picture above is too Dark............I have better ones
These were expensive rigs for what they are.
Don't try to compare this HT with any of the new stuff that is out...........remember, this is at least a 12 year-old radio, technology-wise.
This radio was built by Marantz Japan, Inc..........older guys probably have a Marantz stereo out in the garage to listen to music on.
Navigation is straight forward, but the manual is a little vague......
So, with 12V in, it's 5W out on 2M/220 on high (yes, it's from BEFORE we lost the 220-222Mhz spectrum), 2.5 W Medium and 350Mw Low.
With 7.2 battery pack, it's 2.8W on 2M, otherwise 2.5W medium and high;both bands and 350 Mw low.
Antenna is BNC connector, has speaker connections for SPKR/Mic: one band audio on radio, the other on speaker/mic. OR Both bands on SPKR/Mic.
Cross-Band repeat or turn off one band.
10 memory slots per band. More than enough for 1.35M..........
Displays both bands simultaneously. Separate vol/sql knobs for each band.
Dry cell case available.
Battery packs (NiMh)still available from the major battery distributors.
Low IMD on 2M, almost none on 220.
DTMF and PL tones incl. 67 to 250Hz
I had to change the memory batt. in the radio, but I am happy with it's function, quality of construction (Well made inside, comml. type)

One Downside: Will not charge battery while on the radio......
If you can find one of these radios; I would definately recommend it.
They were over $600 new........I got mine for far less than that and with accessories.