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Reviews For: Alinco DR-605TQ

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

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Review Summary For : Alinco DR-605TQ
Reviews: 62MSRP: 339.99
Description:
2 Meter/440 FM Mobile/Base Radio
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.alinco.com/usa.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00624.1
VR2YWW Rating: 2009-05-25
Not bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently got a used 605T with the following problem. When scanning the VHF channels, it stop on call channel and everything dead except the display. I needed to turn it off and then on again. It normal when scanning the UHF channels. It lock the machine everytime I tried to scan the VHF channels!! I did reset many times but it just don't work. Did anybody got a similar problem and any input are all wellcome. Thanks a lot 73.
K2LGO Rating: 2009-05-25
POOR COMMUNICATIONS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have sent two emails to the ALINCO distributor in Texas, with jpegs of the microphone cord problems, and they do not answer my emails at all...The least they could do is acknowledge receipt, even if they intend to do nothing about it...Two perfectly good 605-s, but the microphone cords are virtually disintegrating from the sun(UV)...any similar problems en counted by other users of the 605??? Other than that I would say the radio has been a good performer...Shame that a major player in amateur radio would ignore this situation..
KA5KBM Rating: 2009-05-02
mic cord problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have owned the 605TQ for 7 years, i won the radio at a local hamfest, so it was very affordable! all things considered, this is an excellent radio, with one glaring exception. the mic cable is not uv resistant, the cable in my radio has been breaking down for about 2 years.i have had to tape up the cord in about 3 different places...the radio still works fine, but i am concerned about the deteriorated mic cable..i'm wondering if anyone else is having this problem?..is the cable replaceable by itself? or will i have to replace both the mic and cable? this could be an expensive propisition! any comment alinco? de ka5kbm.
W0RMS Rating: 2008-02-06
Great Dual Band For Money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got 605TQ used so dont know how it was used befor I got it...Had to replace finals after 6 months. I enjoy being able to listen to both bands at same time but think it is not as easy to program as other rigs...just MY opinion. Also had it lose all programing a few times when turning the power off...still have not figured that out. Over all I still like the radio even if I dont use near all the features.
OE5BFM Rating: 2007-11-25
Just a trouble-free radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own this DR-605E now for three years, used as a base-station and sometimes mobile too.
In my opinion, especially when using a rig mobile, you should use the brain for driving and not thinking about using / programming the radio. And here is the big advantage of the DR-605.
When using this rig the first time, I tried all functions once with the manual. And then, I was able to use this transceiver without reading the manual any more. Great! I also had the Yaesu FT-7800E for 2 years. This rig had all bells and whistles, but it was a pain, especially during driving, e.g. to program a new repeater.

So the advantages of the Alinco DR-605 are:
Rugged
Really easy to use
Good readably audio in RX and TX.

The only one disadvantage I could find:
There are only two steps of power output. Because there is no fan mounted, the DR-605 gots relatively hot, when using the high-power for a longer time. Anyway, I do not know any failures because of heat. But a third power-step in the middle would be great. But it´s not difficult to mount a little fan from the pc-industry, probably with a 100 Ohm resistor for slower and quiter running. Then the DR-605 gets just hand-warm, wven when using the high power.

So I sold the newer Yaesu FT-7800 because I want a radio for talking and not playing with - and thinking about menues, and so the DR-605 was my choice.
PA5COR Rating: 2006-12-11
Good value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have it in the van for the last 5 years, reduced the modulation because it was too wide.
Put up output power to 70 watts on 2 and 50 on 70 cm's and added an temperature controled fan to the heatsink, running like that since new.

Didn't mis an beat, just an pity the UHF doesnt tune on the wideband recieve missing the tuned frontend the VHF part does have.

For the money i paid new, it is good value, the connection of the powersupply should be made with as short as possible cable directly to the battery, the rig uses an lot of Amps on high power setting.

Traveled with me all through Europe in hot and cold weather.

73,
Cor
OZ9ELS Rating: 2006-03-13
A small 5/5 .... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First of all: I Like the 605! (got it used)
After James' (KB7TBT) audio-mod, it sounds GREAT, and after a small 3x3cm vent on the heat-sink it does not get warm at all...
Only thing I havent been able to fix is the clicking sound while memory-scanning (Scanning is also a little slow)
I miss a alpha-numeric display, like on my Yaesu VX7r.. But thats probarbly because i'm a newbie ...
KE4HEN Rating: 2005-12-27
great radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
had this radio as primarily base for 3 years now. The radio had a bad on/off switch when I bought it. I just turn the ps off and on to activate crossband. The main complaint on this rig is heat, especially during crossband. I solved this issue by mounting a 4" computer fan on the top of the fins. I haven't had a warm radio since.
I highly recommend this unit for anyone, especially if you want the crossband function.
KF4PN Rating: 2005-04-25
Great radio with solid performance, easy to use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the '605 in my office shack, and it stays on nearly 24/7. Crossband repeat works exceptionally well, allowing me to roam the campus w/ my HT on 100 mw and still hit my club's 2m repeater 25 miles away. It has all the necessary features for basic operation: Dual receive, simple push buttons & knobs, tone encode, tone squelch, offset, 51 memories per band, NOAA wx, 5w/50w(35w) L/H (70cm) etc.
Hand mic is rugged, has extra long cord, (which is nice in the office) and I have received excellent audio reports from this rig.
Crossband repeat & high power operations gets this rig very warm, but the extra large heat sink has proven effective so far.
Drawbacks: only V/U receive, no V/V or U/U.
no midrange pwr setting, no mic control of functions.
I highly recommend this radio if you want a simple, no frills, reliable, dual receive rig.
KJ7YL Rating: 2005-01-13
605TQ good product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two Alinco 605TQ radios both of which have never failed in the three years I have owned them. The radio recievers do not have intermod problems because the reciever frequency range does not go up to 800mhz. They stop around 420 or so.My Alincos work well here in Seattle in a high RF area have very little or no intermod at all.


The radios are solid easy to use, ans sound well on the air. You really get your moneys worth with this unit. Plus the cross band repeat instructions are very easy and are included in the instruction manual, which means you do not have to ask for them. I have never had any transmitter problems with the two units I have. Plus you can download the service manuals off of the Alinco website for free. Who else does that?

Also RT Systems makes great cloning software for this unit. The total software and cloning cable package is about 50 dollars.