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Reviews For: Icom IC-F3S (F4S) VHF and UHF LMR portables

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-F3S (F4S) VHF and UHF LMR portables
Reviews: 4MSRP: 349.99
Description:
32 channel land mobile portables, the F3S is VHF version and the F4S is the UHF version. Includes CTCSS and DCS encode/decode, priority scan, 5/1 watt (VHF) and 4/1 watt (UHF). Full keypad and limited keypad versions available. Radio was chosen (F3S) by the US Army for their Soldier Intercom program in 1998.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.5
KG4RRN Rating: 2016-03-30
Great Solid Portable-F3 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had one of these for a few months.
Had it programmed by a LMR dealer.
It is a high quality, robust and excellent receive radio. It has loud audio and simple operation.
This radio would be great for those needing a bugout bag or EMCOMM field use radio.
I have WX and a fire freq also programmed in .
Never misses a beat on scan.
Adjustable High low and reverse (input) function is
also standard.
Higher quality than ham designs, this LMR product is functional and solid as a rock.
Only soft spot is the plastic belt clip, not a spring clip, so be careful with it, or put in a holster.
SQ3HTB Rating: 2008-10-25
Icom - good parameters but delicate case and alu schasis. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
LCD ok. better from ma new V82
antenna better from my new V82
work time better from my new V82
speaker better from... V82
modulation better from ... V82

Fault: Icom create delicate radios, good working but mechanical losses, low ruggedness, low quality material.

Alan CT22 its heavy pastik front and aluminium rear,very resistant,its amateur radio but ruggednes from comercial radios.

Why old icom F3 it's better from new V82 ? :(

AA3VO Rating: 2006-09-07
Solid Radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
These are great radios for VHF ham use. They make two versions 136-150 MHz and 146-174 MHz. I picked up a 136-150 MHz version on e-bay for less than $10 with shipping. I cleaned it up and it works great. The programming software is easy to find on the internet. It requires a standard ICOM cable for progamming.
KB4TPP Rating: 2005-11-26
Icom commercial radios rock and the F3S/F4S is no exception Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have both the F3S and F4S and they are superb radios. The F3S has been showing up alot lately on Ebay and most are in the desired 136-150MHz split, ideal for ham, as these are surplused military radios. If you own an Icom IC-T2A/H ham radio you'll notice it's very similar, and uses the same batteries and chargers. Of course like all commercial HT's you'll need software and cable to program it, there is no VFO or direct entry.

The radios have a solid feel and no wonder the US Army chose Icom, they even beat out Motorola and M/A Com for durability and ease of use. The F3S and F4S have excellent RX audio. The display is clear and easy to read with it's 7 character alpha display. With the 1050 mah battery (standard on these radios) they last a good while even on high power.

You can't go wrong with this one. The UHF version F4S covers 440-470MHz with no tuning needed, great for ham, GMRS and commerical use (which is legal as the radio is both Part 90 and 95 certified). These radios can usually be found for around 100-150 dollars used and are well worth every penny.