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Reviews For: ICOM IC-228A & H

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-228A & H
Reviews: 7MSRP: $620 Cdn$
Description:
Older great compact 2 Meter Mobile
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0075
K7IN Rating: 2021-02-16
Bulletproof Front End Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the IC-228H set up with my station that is in daily use. I also have four IC-228A's I collected over the years that all work perfectly. I had used a Yaesu 2m rig for a few months and kept having problems with interference as the receiver seemed to pick up every bit of static or strong signals from adjacent frequencies. I don't have that problem at all with the IC-228H or A version.

It is probably the easiest radio to program ever and really like the multi-colored display which is very easy to read, even at a glance while using it mobile.

These are starting to wear out from lots of use and the first thing that goes is the display back lights. They are a bit difficult to replace but, lower intensity LED's make for a good replacement and will outlast the radio itself!

You don't need hundreds of memory channels or lots of bells and whistles for 2-meters. With 20 memories, it pretty much has everything I would ever use and if I take it to another area, I can easily program another frequency to accommodate my needs. The earlier version IC-28A/H were just as solid as these and there are many of those still being used. I expect this one will still be going when I'm not. If you find once in good working condition, you can't go wrong on getting it.

I also have the IC-448A UHF version that is identical to the IC-228 except for the 440 band. Both are set up on my base station and in use daily.
K2AU Rating: 2016-08-07
Good unit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio about 14 years ago and have not had any problems. I use it as a base station and put in on in the morning and it stays on most of the day.
No complaints and highly recommended.
W0FEN Rating: 2013-10-18
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought an IC228A about 30 years ago. It is still going. I bought an IC-228H about 28 years ago. I get them mixed up. One did have a problem in the PLL but I fixed that about 15 years ago by plugging one into the other radio and further troubleshooting. Both do come unlocked in extremely cold temperatures. Like about -30 degrees F.
These radios don't have the front end intermod problems that the newer wider band radios do. The squelch circuit works like it should. Newer radios that adjust the RF gain as well as squelch with one knob are horrible. The panel lamps burned out long ago.
The Mic cords may be about to give some problems but after 25+ years thats OK.
What more can I say. They both are still working with one repair.
K6SDW Rating: 2010-03-24
Solid Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Nice and small 2-meter rig. Just the right amount of features and works and works.
WX1F Rating: 2009-07-03
Best for the money! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned/operated a 1/2 dozen of these great little rigs over the span of 12 years..and every time I sell/trade one, I instantly regret it. With 45watts, 20 memories, ease of programming...you can't find a better rig for the price. I have never had a bad one. They still pop up on internet auction sites, classifieds and ham fests at $25-$75, depending on their condition and what is included. Mics, manuals and brackets seem to disappear into that mysterious black hole that is in every ham shack. They make a good first rig for newbies and a last rig for us old timers who have tired of rigs with MENUS!! My advice? If you see one...buy it and tuck it away "Just because"!
WI4NDS Rating: 2005-03-01
Bulletproof Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a 228H brand new back in 1989 or 90. I used the rig for a few years, sold it to a friend, and he was using it up till last year when it was stolen. That rig came out of the box doing 50 watts. I adjusted it back to the 45 top speed. That is when the adjustments were in the owners manuals. That radio would get so hot it would peel your skin if you grabbed the heatsink on long HP QSOs. However, viewed on the wattmeter, it never lost a watt, EVER. I used it mobile and base and loved it. Built to last with excellent receive and transmit. It was sweet!
VE7BGP Rating: 2005-01-27
A great 2 Meter Mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am really suprised that no one has reveiwed this great older vintage (1988 to 1992) Icom Mobile 2 Meter rig. I just recently bought this rig from a friend that got a new 2100H. Mine is the 25 watt IC-228A version. It replaces the old TR-7400A in my '90 Ranger PU missing CTCSS & DMTF tones. Wow do I ever like that Multi-colored LCD Display. It is a simple to use rig and has the needed tone encoder and DMTF Mike needed to use and link repeaters. This rig so far seems to have a Great Intermod free front end that still covers the 138 to 174 Mhz VHF general coverage Receive range. I will be the first to review this nice Icom like the IC-28H from that great era of the 735, 751A and 765 hf rigs that Icom made.
73 Gerry