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Reviews For: ICOM IC-275A/H

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-275A/H
Reviews: 28MSRP: 800
Description:
VHF Radio
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/support/archive/amateur/ic-275h.asp
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15284.8
K3TD Rating: 2007-07-24
Superb performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my IC-275H about 4 years ago and have been extremely impressed with the TX and RX performance. My primary use is SSB but have also used it on CW and FM. The receiver is crunch-proof and great for contesting. My version of the radio has the Data Level adjustment instead of Passband Tuning - that is the only thing that could make it any better. The mode scanning of memories is a nice feature for FM use. This radio is on anytime I am in the shack - sure wish I could find an IC-475H to sit beside it in the shack!

73,
Tad, K3TD
EM10dq
G1LOE Rating: 2007-05-17
Great 2m multimode Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well what can i add to the previous reviews? not a lot, got mine from a friend in exchange for some surplus equipment, it is most decidedly a keeper, the only thing to have failed on it are the four bulbs behind the display and s meter, but replaced with led's as cheaper, (Just a bit dimmer) so may cough up the extremely expensive for what they are bulbs and do it properly, audio is excellent, using the standard hand mic, i have the HM56A with the dtmf pad on the rear for eqso/Echolink .
best set i have had and will be holding on to unless someone offers me serious money.
VK5FX Rating: 2006-05-29
Great 2m All Mode Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
G'day, initial RX problem on purchase (bought the IC-275H second hand, delivered via post). Probably something just came loose during transit. (Queried my Yahoo Group - Amateur-repairs). Did the well advised, open, dissect & clean. No problems now, thanks to the Yahoo Group... Thanks guys. Now time to sit back and enjoy a truly fantastic rig. If you get the chance, buy one and enjoy !!
G0FVT Rating: 2006-02-17
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine is the IC275E which is the European version of the 25w rig, differences with the 275A are very slight. I have owned this radio for roughly 10 years.

This is a radio I had wanted for a long time before i bought it, mine is stock other than having CW filter, I trawled around to get a tidy example with the PBT instead of the data-level control. (I believe a copyright issue was the reason that Pass Band Tuning was removed from later models although it can stil be fitted).

Very pleased with the radio, it has performed extremely well on SSB and FM. It drives my tetrode amplifier and produces a good narrow clean signal. I have only had one negative criticism on air, it seems the Icoms speech compression caused a little spreading. In fairness to the radio I was beamed straight at the station that observed it and we were 60+ over 9 signals each way, he had previously been impressed by the narrowness of my signal before I ran the compression. He used to have one of these radios himself and says he ran external compression as he had observed the same with his rig.

The controls that "pop out" for adjustment and then can be pushed flush with the fascia are a deterrent to accidental fiddling in multi-operator contesting and similar, the receiver is sensitive with a good dynamic range.

The display is very clear, and the controls logically laid out, the internal speaker sounds quite good as it is bolted securely to a diecast heatsink assembly, all in all a very pleasant radio to use. For FM use CTCSS encode as standard is another plus.




IW0HOU Rating: 2006-02-03
Oldies goldies Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
One of the "Oldies but goldies" rigs from ICOM.
I had the H (high power, 100W) version: great RTX for VHF SSB contests with a superb receiver, the best I ever heard (TS711, FT897, TS2000) on 2 meters.
If you're seriously working on VHF, a 275H in good shape is probably the best you can have with an affordable price.

73, IW0HOU
FORMER_W4KTX_JC Rating: 2005-11-12
Great 2m rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a great rig. I managed to pick one up off of eBay for a good price from the daughter of a SK. These are really getting hard to find, but if you find one, buy it.

The first thing I noticed was the outstanding receive audio, and I get great transmit audio reports as well. I also like that fact that there are no menus. There is a button or a knob for everything. Very easy to program, and it is nice having 100 watts available for tranmit on all modes

This one is a keeper. I will not be selling this any time soon.
N0WF Rating: 2005-06-24
Excellent overall Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought the Icom 275H in 1992, it has been a great weak signal and all around 2 meter base rig. Specifications second to none. Check 'em. Is it perfect? No, but there is/was nothing better than the 275H when it was new and there still isn't anything better. Had to send it in for alignment and got new panel bulbs and a lithium battery after 13 years and thousands of hours use. The 100% full duty cycle rating says it all, the x75 series of Icom Radios is superb.
K1ECW Rating: 2005-04-03
Buy One Today Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a definite 2 meter enthusiast and this is THE transceiver for 2 meters!!! I've had Yaesu, Kenwood, and ICOM multiband rigs and even tried the ICOM 910h; but, the 275H beats them all on the 2 meter band.

The receive is simply the when used WITHOUT the pre-amp. With the pre-amp it's pure heaven.

I use an electret SM-8 mic and get the best audio reports ever. With the optional filtered ICOM speaker, you don't want to eat, sleep, or go to work!

I just can't understand why ICOM quit building this one. It's got to be the world's best all mode 2 meter rig -- EVER.

If you can find one, but it today!
N2ETJ Rating: 2005-02-12
FANTASTIC RADIO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried just about every all mode 2 meter rig and have found no better than the 275H. Great for weak signals, cw, arora, really pulls the weak ones out....get fantastic audio reports on FM and SSB.. nice to have 100 watts..great for driving that amp. There is something to be said for a monoband radio... if you can find one, buy it, you wont be sorry...73 Rick

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2ETJ on 2003-08-29

I have tried most all-mode 2 meter rigs over the past 20 years and have found no hotter receive than the 275H. Some say it is a bit pricy for a single band rig but they are the ones who haven't tried this rig. Coupled with a receive preamp, it doesn't get any better than this. The 100 watts output is a real bonus and find most times don't need the amp. Audio reports are consistantly favorable and the compression really works............. if you can find one, buy it. You will not be disappointed.
K5YY Rating: 2004-12-05
Wonderful 2m all mode Time Owned: more than 12 months.
MUCH better than the 2 meter section of any of the 160-2 meter transceivers out there. Designed for 2 meters with better receiver design, better dynamic range and less overload from highly populated areas of ham activity. Mine has the PBT mod. NO problems at all in 6 years and I operate 144mc very heavily, CW and SSB with a KW. I do however use a preamp which ALL stand alone 2m and 432mc rigs need for the weak ones. Equals the 2 meter portion of the 970H which I had 6 years ago too. A transverter setup might be the best overall, but requires taking up the HF rig's use. I recommend going separate rigs for just 2 or 6 or even the 6-1296 VHF rigs like the 736R or such. Do not expect much from the HF/VHF rigs except to just get on the VHF bands in a casual fashion. My thoughts and experiences, yours may vary.. San K5YY