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Reviews For: ADI AR-146

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

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Review Summary For : ADI AR-146
Reviews: 26MSRP: 179.00
Description:
7w/25w/50w 2-meter mobile
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.pryme.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00263.7
KD7SVR Rating: 2006-09-27
3 Year review Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After a little more than 3 years of owning this thing, I thought I should post a little bit of an update.

Still having the intermittant display issues. I turn it on and get Japanese Konji-type charatcers. Just tap on the screen a few times and it goes back to normal.

The bloody backlight on the display went out about 2 years ago. Haven't been able to get it back since. Not too shabby really.

The radio is now dedicated as a shack rig, along with a Vertex commercial. I have started using the 146 for digital comms with my new Tigertronics SignaLink SL-1+, works great!!!

All in all, this is an ok rig, not very good, but not crappy either. You get what you pay for. Remember, buy once, cry once.

73,
KD7SVR

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KD7SVR on 2003-09-09

For the amount I paid, this is a great radio. My only real complaint is that there is no DTMF, other than setting a preset. I am unable to use this rig with the local repeaters to use the HF link, autopatch or IRLP.

Otherwise, at 50 watts, with expanded rx and tx, there is little that this rig can't do.
K7VO Rating: 2005-02-28
More than a little hard of hearing Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A few years back I had one of these in my car for maybe nine months. I bought it brand new because I though the price was right. It worked but the receiver was more than a little hard of hearing. I picked up an old Yaesu FT-230R and realized just how bad the ADI was. I sold the ADI at a huge loss and was honest about what a turkey it was.

Nowadays I run a rig that I paid a lot more for but I got a quality radio. I think the AR-146 was cheap in every respect.
2W1AED Rating: 2005-02-28
good for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have no complaints, i have used my 146 every day in the works van for over 18 months with no problems, i have always recieved good audio reports, what more can you ask! especially when you consider that you can pic these radios up for around 70 GBP
W7RLL Rating: 2004-09-18
Good rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio 4.5 years ago, on e-bay, 1 month before I got my license. The day I found my callsign on the database it was installed in my car.
2 years ago the letters and numbers started to come off the mike buttons. I replaced the mike, due to a broken wire in the cable (no fault of the mike or radio), with the mike for an ADI AR-147. The rig is now my base unit and there has been no other problems.
KC5SPR Rating: 2004-08-27
great working rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one that I bought when I first became a ham that I still use today it has been a good radio. I have owned mine for 8 years now and still going.
MM0BGQ Rating: 2003-11-10
Cheap & Cheerful! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned and operated the 146 for about 7 years now. The silly antenna lead became defective after 1 year. I had to resolder it to the board. Then the internal speaker also went defective and I rplaced it. Then the SO239 socket fell off the antenna fitting lead. The display goes stupid once in a while but like other users I tap it and it sorts itself out. Sensitive receiver, good transmitted and received audio. Not robustly made but fine for the money. Be careful if you do the 'wide band' mod as it does NOT restrict transmission.
W2MSK Rating: 2003-07-06
Easy to use and Great performance! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this rig both mobile and in the shack for about 4 years and use it almost everyday. Keeps on working great without any reported display problems. Big audio output and full power. Easy to use, good quality and recommended if you can find it used.
N1UKW Rating: 2003-07-06
Great Radio over the years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I too have had this radio for about 6 years ...and I have had no problems... my screen does loose its mind, but a tap on the glass does fix this. I would get a second one if the 146 was still made, I have to read up on the 147+ to see what has changed
K5JEP Rating: 2003-02-26
Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my AR-146 for 5+ years....it has done everything I needed it to and then some! The only problem I have had with it is the display tends to do funky things (shows scrambled characters) but a little tap on the glass it comes right back.. This radio was a dedicated mobile and base unit to include running a simplex autopatch for years! Takes a likin' and keeps on tickin!
Awsome radio for a beginner, easy to use and friendly!
KD7IBK Rating: 2003-02-10
GOOD RADIO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this radio for almost 3 years. It is the only mobile I have owned. There have been no problems with this rig EXCEPT the letters and numbers on the mic buttons have disappeared. I bought this used radio on e-bay and it came with tones and dtmf mic just like the manual and the box indicated. I would buy this one or the AR 147 if this radio should become SK