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Reviews For: Icom IC-2200H

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

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-2200H
Reviews: 100MSRP: 230.00
Description:
2 meter mobile.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001004.5
N5IKG Rating: 2007-03-30
programming nitemare Time Owned: N.A.
Agree that it is built like a tank, and probably sends out a good signal and has good reception but I guess my brain is analog and programming this tcvr is not very intuitive. I even bought nifty notes to help me where the manual didnt. The labeling on the butttons is confusing, the microphone is totally different and not a simple process. I doubt that I will ever be able to do anything with this tcvr without the manual in my hand. I programmed some repeater stations and then when I went to use them, pushing talk jumped the transmission to another frequency, not 600 away. I will take an extra dose of Ginko before I attempt to use it again. I have no problem with Icom or Kenwoods. Bought this based upon the reviews eHam that indicated this was the best 2m for the price. The fellows at HRO indicate that once brain wired for one tcvr hard to switch. Maybe they are right.
KI4MYD Rating: 2007-02-04
Great Buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've owned the 2200H for about 2 months now and have consistently been impressed with its performance. I used a 50w rig previously and the extra 15w really helps out. The radio doesn't get very hot on 5-10w QSOs, but it does get quite warm on the long conversations or on high power. Menu system gives you control over nearly every aspect of the radio, but it's a bit complicated to do some fairly basic functions... then again, it's quite simple to do a number of things as well. I did get the D-Star unit with it, but I haven't installed it yet. As for the previous review, my volume knob is a bit loose, but as stated, that's no problem.

Overall, it's a great buy for someone wanting an impressive step up from the basic 50w rig to something with more power and greater capabilities (D-Star, AM Receive, etc.) I've had no problems with it, and have had consistent rock-solid performance.
DY3LMK Rating: 2006-12-09
great Time Owned: N.A.
after reading all the reviews stated here, I decided to buy one this three days ago. it cost 7,900 Pesos here in the Philippines ( 160 USD). I love this radio. I just noticed that the microphone back light is always lit. is this normal or is there a way to turn it of? also the squelch knob is a little bit loose (but does not affect the operation), is this also normal?
KI4IDB Rating: 2006-11-23
Great Little Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these radios a 2100 and 2100-H. I love these radios and they are easy to use. If you can find one buy it!
NV0U Rating: 2006-11-01
Awesome and cheap Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the first mobile rig I have owned from Icom. I am sorry it is the first as I would have saved so much trouble from owning other rigs. This thing is built like a tank. I swear, if someone ever tried to do bodily harm, one could throw this thing at them, knock 'em cold, and the rig would work perfectly when you hooked it back up.

Audio quality is outstanding on both transmit and receive, and the receiver seems to be really hot.

But, analog is not why I bought this thing.

I have owned an IC-91AD for a few months now and still had not made a D-Star QSO with it, so I figured I was going to make one even if I had to make the QSO with myself. That's just what I did! If you have not heard DV, you are in for quite a treat. It sounds, well, like it has some digital artifacts in it, but for the most part it is just outstanding in quality. There are times it is hard to tell what is being said by the transmitting station, but those are few and far between.

I have not tried DD through it yet, but that will happen as soon as I make the super simple cable needed.

Simply put, if you have this rig, you really should go ahead and get the UT-118 D-Star board. It will really improve the experience with this radio.
KE7FEJ Rating: 2006-09-15
Durable performer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased mine new in October 05 and give it a solid 5+. I have a unique operating environment in which the radio must be moved between 3 diferent vehicles every day! From my car to a truck to another truck and back to my car at the end of the day. I have no problem hitting the area repeaters in very mountionous terain. I typicaly run 25 watts through a vise-grip-mounted 5/8 wave mobile antenna, of my own design, mounted on the right mirror bracket of one of our 18 wheelers. The 65 watt TX is nice when needed (which isn't often). This radio replaced an FT-8500 that proved a little "fragle" for my opperating environment. I fashened a bracket that hooks over the edge of the dash and uses small bungie cords to secure it to the instrument panel screws and defroster ducts in the big trucks. I also built a cradle to hold it firmly while in my personal vehicle. I can't say enough about the abuse it will take. 500-600 miles of vibration and bumps every day. The display is quite easy to read while bumping down the road. The remote functions on the mic are very handy, too. I do have to use a large external speaker to overcome the noise in the trucks, but the internal speaker is very adiquate in my personal vehicle. For the price it realy can't be beat. I know alot of truckers that spend at least twice that on "tuned-up" (read that illegal TX power!) C.B.'s and can still only reach a few miles. Besides, I usuly find more inteligent QSO's on 2 meters than on the ol' 11 meter box! (I can't stand talking to those guys that have echo and roger beeps!!!)
N9IXX Rating: 2006-08-02
Fantastic audio quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After owning 2 FT2800m yaesu radios and dealing with "your audio sounds distorted or compressed" I finally got fed up and traded them both in on this radio. WOW is all I can say it was like someone took a blanket off of my microphone! I have been getting nothing but rave reports from people about the audio quality now, not telling anyone what I was doing they just asked what did I do get a new mike or something because you sound great.

Would highly recomend this radio to anyone, built very solid and I like they squelch control with the builtin rf attenuater.

73's

Brad
WB5RPU Rating: 2006-07-03
Superb Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This radio is superb for the price. I paid $159 from HRO and couldn't be happier with the radio. I am in a very rural area in Central Texas and with the 65 watts can hit 16 repeaters in the area with a no-gain J-pole at 20 feet. I have had excelent audio quality reports as well. I have to keep the manual handy for the more obscure settings but for the most part it's straight forward. I have developed an MS Word form for recording programming settings and am willing to share for the asking from WB5RPU@ARRL.NET.

Pete
WB5RPU
Kempner, Texas
NN3D Rating: 2006-06-10
Great radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Icom really knew what they were doing when they made this radio! It has an amazing RX and TX gets me everywhere I need to go with 65 watts and a Ringo Ranger on the roof! Awsome radio!

73 and good DX!
Chris- KB3MTV
KI4GKS Rating: 2006-05-28
Great 2m with digital Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the second Icom I have purchased, the other is a 208h, a fine radio. I purchased the IC-2200h for the D-Star functionality. Side by side testing shows that the digital mode reaches father with a lot less power and a cleaner signal. It can be a complicated radio to program and I would recommend buying the additional software and cable. It is true that D-Star has some growing to do but, in the digital mode the 2200h can communicate at distances of over 25 miles with perfect clarity. It is a portion of the beginning of the digital radio world for amateur radio operators and it still does outstanding analog FM. If the menus were simpler for the digital configuration I would give it a 5+!
Ed Tyler KI4GKS