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Reviews For: icom IC-FR4000

Category: Ham Repeaters

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Review Summary For : icom IC-FR4000
Reviews: 3MSRP: 2083.00
Description:
Icom’s new all-in-one repeater operates as a desktop, rack mount, field or vehicle repeater or as a base station. This high powered (50W), feature rich, repeater with good specifications, also contains a built-in power supply and room for a duplexer and isolator.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0035
KM9E Rating: 2008-02-03
Great Ham Repeater Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have recently replaced GR500 with FR4000. Our system consists of three remote receiver sites rf linked back to main site with Doug Hall voter system (total of four receivers) & CAT-1000B. Interfacing very easy through DB-25 connector on rear panel of repeater. Documentation is lacking in many ways (spelling & important ommissions). The most important info left out is that to use the DB-25 connections, you MUST put into remote mode. Alignment mode confusing & cumbersome if your not familiar with Icom software. Rx sensitivity is great & built like a tank. Sounds great but special note to CAT users .... change .0047 uf caps on receiver input amp to .01uf & will correct "tinty" audio. Overall, this is a great choice, even over Motorola's & Kenwoods. Audio quality is outstanding compared to the commercial M's & K's. Check it out when in Indy, IN on the 443.25/R 100hz PL. KM9E
N8EKT Rating: 2007-09-04
Expensive but worth it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I tuned this repeater up on 444.975mhz and was surprised by both the receive sensitivity and stability.
50 watts continuous duty with battery backup terminals and cw id and dtmf control built in.
K4EZK Rating: 2005-05-19
On the AIR for 3 months, WORKS GREAT!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had my IC-FR4000 on the air for 3 months and it has worked GREAT!! Great reception, audio, and performance. If you buy one, someone will have to tweek it down into the ham band if you go below 443.900 then realign the repeater. I am using the internal controller after having a firmware upgraded which to allowed DTMF control of the repeater (required). I have spoke with some hams that are using this repeater with CAT controllers also and they say it performs well. The programming software allows you to control and change may functions. It can be a bear to learn and the programming info is not very good. But taking my laptop to the repeater site to make programming changes was easy.

This would make a WONDERFUL REPEATER if ICOM would make a ham version with an easy Windows based program for the internal controller or be able to select programming options and cables for several different controllers. Also, allowing one to select from 5W/10W/25W/50W output would enable use of an amplifier. A model like that, at a good price, would be a big seller.

K4EZK

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K4EZK on 2004-08-26

I just bought the ICOM IC-FR4000 UHF repeater and the software, but I haven't started trying to program it yet. I have searched for any amateur info on use of this repeater in the ham band. I have found none. I did email ICOM support and someone did say they had reports of use and operation within 5% of specifications. However, use and programming outside of the model specs does void the warranty. I will be working with it the next couple of weeks. Any other remarks, comments, opinions, assistance, or experience would be very helpful. ICOM does market this repeater in a model for 430-450 use in other countries (New Zealand), but not in the US. That's a shame. It's a great repeater from everything I have read. I hope they will in the future. If it doesn't work, then I'll trade it for a Kenwood TKR-850, add a Henry PA, and forget about it. I have the ICOM RP-4020 repeater, which was produced for amateur use, and it works great. Maybe ICOM will wake-up and sell the amateur model soon. Many repeaters are being upgraded for HLS readiness.

Charlie - K4EZK