| K4JCW |
Rating:   |
2012-04-19 | |
| Wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This review is a little late, but I bought one of these radios when they first came out. I *really* wanted to like it. 50 watts on 220MHz, and less expensive than an Alinco DR-235T MkIII. Unfortunately, this was a pig in a poke. I paid $250 for mine, no sales tax, no shipping charge. After a couple months of intense dissatisfaction, I sold it on eBay.
My little list of complaints goes like this:
* Freakin' *huge* compared to an Alinco DR-235T or the TYT TH-9000.
* Customer support? Non-existent.
* When in VFO mode, entering numbers on the microphone allows going directly to a frequency. Supposedly in memory recall (MR) mode, entering one or two digits should * take you to that memory number. This does not work.
* Using UP/DOWN to step through memories is brain-dead. It should not move to an un-programmed memory.
* Using UP/DOWN to start a scan requires pressing the UP/DOWN key for 2 seconds, but no longer. If pressed longer, just goes into "fast forward" mode.
* The display is pretty bright, even on 'dim'. Brighter than I like at night when driving.
* The PDF copy of the operator's manual is a scan of a paper copy, and a poor copy would that. I would prefer a PDF copy derived from the original sources.
* Although unimportant to me, AM mode is not supported (available on the DR-235T)
* There is a cut-out in the back of the casting for a DB-9 for packet use, but unlike the DT-235T, the connector isn't actually *there*.
* Microphone is somewhat clunky and heavy, and the cord plastic-y and stiff. I still prefer the Icom HM-133 over any mike made yet.
* The PC programming software is weak. Entries can't be copied and pasted to rearrange them, and it's not possible to sort.
The Alinco DR-235T is the de facto standard. The TH-9000 lacks the packet connector mentioned above, and while it's a nit, I don't run packet. The PC programming software for the TH-9000 suffers from the same issue as the Jetstream.
I maintain wiki pages for the radios I own (or used to own), which contain opinions, manuals, software, mods, etc. The page for the JT220M is located at http://www.tinymicros.com/wiki/Jetstream_JT220M |
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| WB3IGR |
Rating:     |
2012-03-19 | |
| OK SO FAR |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Got my JT220M at the K1CRA Radio Store. The service was great and so was the price. At first I thought I had a problem with the high power TX. I had put my Bird 43 on the line and was only getting 35 watts power on the high setting, 26 on mid, and 11 on low. After checking all my connections I felt the power line was quite warm. Didn't like that so I changed out the power cable and installed a new one. Checking the TX high again, I got 50 watts out. So now the radio is operating to it's advertized specs. This radio replaces my 25 watt Alinco DR235T, but I'm keeping it for a back-up just in case. Over all just only having the radio for a couple of days, I'd say very good so far. |
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| KI4GTJ |
Rating:      |
2012-01-12 | |
| great 220MHz radio |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I pick this radio up at HRO in CA. great radio great power out. Works like it should easy to use I get great s9 599 reports on the JT220M would like to see jetstream make a 440MHz radio |
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| KA3NXN |
Rating:      |
2011-10-22 | |
| First month of ownership |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought mine from the folks at cheap ham.com. And it arrived in one day. Great service from the dealer. First thing I did was check mine for the low power issue, and also to see if my display was too bright as some folks have reported. I put mine on my Bird 43 into a dummy load and I am getting 51 watts on high power. In the dark I did have to set the display to the lowest setting but it is perfect. It's no brighter than my Yaesu FT-7800 which sits right on top of the Jetstream rig. The audio reports have been excellent, and I also like the compander feature that comes with the radio. It gets rid of a lots of white noise on the signals. I also like the build in volt meter that gives you source voltage readings. A neat and useful little addition. Good radio so far. Not like the ADI's that I just finally buried, but that's another story.
I'll post more as time progresses. |
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| N5XO |
Rating:    |
2011-07-09 | |
| Love it, pissed at it |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had 3 of the 220 rigs from Jetstream for a little over 2 years now and I have loved them. Very pleased with the audio quality.
However all 3 of my rigs, a friends rig and another local hams rig all put out between 26 to 31 watts.
My bitch is that if you advertise 50 watts than they should be putting out 50 watts or darn close. Another friend has one he picked up a few months back, have not metered it to see the power out put as of yet.
I echo the comments about how easy it is to program, the software would take as long to plug in and boot up on your computer as it does to program in some freq.
Over all I like the radio and it's one of the FEW rigs out there that allow us on 220 which is a great band that I enjoy.
Now if someone would just come out with an all mode rig for 220 I would be on cloud 9 |
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| N0FPE |
Rating:     |
2011-04-03 | |
| Mines fine |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
well since someone said they were not putting out full power i pulled out the Bird and checked. Well well what do you know! Mine is putting out 50+ watts on high! Not an Alinco clone huh?? wonder why the heat sink has the same design? the same cut out for the DB? And true the DB9 is not there but I doubt it was forgotten! More like left out to cut costs. And the software STILL sux! And from time to time the software asks if the radio its connected to is a DR-235!!! LOL but then its not a Alinco clone so the software must know something we dont!!
Seems I have one of the few radios that is what it says it is! Oh and the second one I have I also found to have 50+ watts output but its still in the box so it hasent decided if its a alinco clone or not yet.
But the software sux! points off for that....
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| W5TXR |
Rating:   |
2011-03-27 | |
| Low TX Power |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Someone mentioned that it was an Alinco clone.
It is far from an Alinco clone (except the microphone) Completely different design (Electronically)
These are clearly made in China.The Alinco radios are made in Japan! As a ham radio dealer we have found that most of the radios are not transmitting at the full 50 watts!
Get out the Bird and check it. We have found that 95% are transmitting around 31-38 watts.
As a ham radio dealer we also do service and I can tell you that the craftmanship is poor.
The fix to the low TX is VR200 (Inside the radio)
The radio does NOT come apart very easily, There is a rubber gasket that must be in place before you close up the radio!
also, there was supposed to be a DB-9 connector on the back for exteral connections, I guess they forgot to install it! There is a mounting hole for it. Overall, The Alinco DR-235 is a far superior radio. |
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| N6KZB |
Rating:      |
2010-12-24 | |
| It Works Fine |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
As a low cost entry for a 220 FM radio, not bad at all. The manual is poorly translated, but the radio is easy to figure out.
Good audio reports and is doing what I wanted as a base station. Rig is built solid and the mic is beefy, perhaps a bit too stiff of a cord.
Does DTMF with correct deviation and I like the receiver sensitivity. The speaker is a bit tinny for my taste, but an external solved that issue.
Don't have the programming software, but after I got the few repeaters loaded that I can hit anyway, don't need it.
To sum it up, mine works, and for the money I can't complain. I think for what you pay for, you get a decent 220 MHZ FM radio. |
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| N2PPV |
Rating:      |
2010-11-28 | |
| Great mobile 220MHZ |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had this radio and its been very good to me,I think its more than a year old now.And folks that know me,know Im particular about the way a radio is.Guess what?No issues!,this is where some of your trusted beloved radio manufacturers have fallen short lately.I took my front faceplate and reversed it,so my speaker is on the top.The mic audio on the radio is clean and crisp.I like it because it has a real 8 pin mic jack not this modular BS!50 watts!yeah thats right,who else is doing this?I want to talk and 50 watts is where its at on 220.The 220 band is nice if you want to get away from the usual.Hey if we dont use this
band its going to disappear and who wants others taking away OUR spectrun !?Lets get out there and get on 220,for around 200 its not going to break the bank,is it?(hint hint)
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| K2MIT |
Rating:    |
2010-11-19 | |
| 2 Bought: 1 DOA, 1 Fine |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I ordered two from KJIElectronics. Gene is a great guy. Even thought I bought it after the first batch, both radios only have 2 lights lit. I called JetStream and asked "what's up" and the guy was polite and said "we mixed in some old stock with new deliveries." Guess they like to sell old stock and see if it "sticks" with hams who won't call them.
Regarding the DOA unit, I have to rip it out of my truck and send it back to them. The one in the shack works great and is fine.
One thing the manual is wrong in, is that in order to get to "Alpha" (A) tagging in memory, you must press SQL while in set mode instead of up or down button. With the up and down buttons it misses "A", with SQL pressing, it lands on A. Very strange. |
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