Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: ICOM IC-F521

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : ICOM IC-F521
Reviews: 3MSRP: $450
Description:
Small mobile that is built like a tank....
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/land_mobile/mobilevhf/icf520main.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0035
W7EKB Rating: 2020-11-29
Absolutely top notch. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is one very solid VHF transceiver. Covers 136 - 174 MHz, 50 watts output. 256 channels in 16 banks. Lots of features. As someone else said, built like a tank. Almost indestructible. Military and commercial use.
KE4SKY Rating: 2004-12-21
Also the UHF IC F621 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the F621 UHF version because I needed a type accepted radio which would permit transmit in GMRS and 70 cm ham band from the same rig, which the available 440-490 split does.

My local area Bearcom landmobile shop was very helpful. The salesman who demonstrated the rig for me was a ham previously known to me, but I didn't realize that he was in the commercial landmobile business. Local price in September 2004 for the IC 621 was $350.

I highly recommend that you do ahead and buy the programming software so that you can tweak the set-up yourself, since once you become familiar with the radio you may want to change something.
This was important because as received from Bearcom all my channels were default programmed with DPL and I was unable to hear some repeaters which didn't pass tone through on transmit, or simplex chat without tone. The programming software is intuitive once you get into it and the rig has some useful options not available in ham rigs, such as a boot-up password protect function, selectable programmed transmit inhibit, narrow or wide FM mode, compander, "stun" and "kill" options to disable a stolen or lost radio over the air, etc.

The rig is very solid and absolutely intermod proof. Having 45w RF output on UHF is a plus.
I like the simplicity of a landmobile layout for ARES / RACES use by other hams who aren't "knob twiddlers." Once set up the rig is a lead pipe cinch to use. Get one for your XYL.
KC2KUY Rating: 2003-12-08
Really solid rig... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a great rig i have had mine for a little while and love it to death.. If you can get one it will make you happy trust me.......