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Reviews For: Icom IC-27A/H

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-27A/H
Reviews: 17MSRP: 329.00
Description:
Icom 2 meter mobile from mid to late 80s
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00174.1
K2WH Rating: 2021-11-24
Great Rig. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first rig was a KDK 2015r which I loved and still have 4 of them. Then the 27a hit the market and I was hooked. Bought the 27a, 37a and the 47a. All worked flawlessly stacked vertically in the mobile.

K2WH
VA3CK Rating: 2021-11-24
I loved it until I took it into the big city Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The 27A was my first mobile after I bought my first ever new car just after graduating from engineering school in the 1980s. I loved it until my job took me into the densely populated area of downtown Toronto, Ontario. There, it was nearly useless with off-channel stations breaking the squelch constantly.

ICOM must have realized this because they came out with the IC-28 A/H which was equipped with what ICOM called "Agile Helical Resonators" on the front end to keep strong off-channel signals from breaking through. I sold the 27A and bought a 28H which worked like a charm, keeping silent except for on-channel signals even in the busiest areas of the city. I also liked the design and display of the 28H much better than the 27A. I used the IC-28H for many years with no complaints.
WB6CSH Rating: 2021-08-11
The usual Icom Volume Control problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The one feature I depended on while mobile was the "SCAN/STOP" so I could let it scan til it locked onto a station, then disable the scan function and begin listening/chatting with the other hams that were on the found frequency.

I used mine many, many years when 2-meter repeaters covered the entire I-5 and US 101 route between Fort Bragg, CA and San Diego, CA. I was able to talk to hams the entire route after getting through the hills between Fort Bragg and Willits, CA. The advent of the cell phone seems to have killed the 2-meter repeater population.

Overall, I am NOT impressed with this radio. It transmits and receives pretty much as it should, but is putting together a VHF FM rig any sort of a challenge? It has always had a washed out frequency display in any sort of strong ambient light.

Compared to my Yaesu FT-5100, it fails. Granted the FT-5100 is a decade newer, but all Icom mobiles I have owned develop fatal volume control problems; IC-230, IC-27, and IC-37.
KA4AQM Rating: 2014-09-30
Built like a brick.... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned & operated this radio as original owner since Aug 1986 (27A). It has never given me a problem. Managed to locate a voice announcer which is nice to make the radio complete. I paid $279 for it and by today's standards that's quite a bit. It still puts out full power on high, audio is great, does not ever get hot, digits read clear, knobs fully functional. If you find one....turn it on, make sure pots are all functional and that it puts out power. Then BUY IT! Don't think you will regret it.
W6RV Rating: 2013-10-08
Excellent Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My Icom 27a was the first rig I bought before I rec'd my first call sign in 1989. It has served me flawlessly as a mobile rig, as a packet radio for the DX cluster in the Bay Area and now as a base station radio in the Ham shack. Nostalgic and dependable.
I took it out of service as my primary mobile rig because I bought a Kenwood TM-731a, another excellent mobile radio. I still have the 731a and as all of you know, an excellent radio, and quite versatile.
I have owned an Icom 47a and it worked great for many years and unfortunately sold it.
Today I got the 27a out of it's box, hooked it up to a Diamond X200a antenna and it's working great and tripping repeaters without a problem!
KB6QXM Rating: 2012-11-09
Stopped working Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I would have given it a good rating, but I powered up the rig after 20+ years of the radio sitting on the shelf. I powered it up and it did not transmit. I am quite disappointed and believe that the repair would exceed the value of the radio.
IK8TEO Rating: 2011-04-18
Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine IC 27H, 27 years old, is serving as APRS digipeater HP over an high mountain for years, without batting an eyelid.
Sensitive, selective, indestructible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcrxhNAQs_c
Francesco IK8TEO
JA2XXXSWL Rating: 2011-02-03
Good features, but... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I will be short - all good apart from fault of Vol and SQL potenciometers. As result i wouldn't recommend to buy this RIG, if pots hasn't been replaced recently
RADIOWEENIE Rating: 2007-04-06
Oldie but goodie Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Am running ICOM radios in 3 cars. This IC-27A is 20 years old and is installed in a Toyota T100. Judging from comments received over the air, it is one of the best radios i have ever owned. It is durable, rugged, and reliable. I have used it all over the country and its performance is nothing short of flawless, impressive, and outstanding.
W4VD Rating: 2007-01-08
Good little radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I would have to give this one a 5, I picked up one used for the W4VD-R Echolink Node and it's been a solid performer, good audio coming and going,

Low cost, high performance