Thursday, May 7, 2009

Icom IC-2200H VHF Radio


I have a good memory about this Icom IC-2200H VHF radio unforgetable, this is my first buy-from-new radio. I bought my IC-2200H at year of 2002. First, I'm very happy and enjoy. Then suddenly turning into dizzy and cry after one week. Why? I will tell you the story on the end of the post.

Basically, Icom IC-2200 is nice vhf radio. It's simple and easy to use. The metal body is carefully casted so give strong impression and rugged. Choice of LCD light colors add more impressions. Function buttons also carefully programmed to make easy during this vhf radio operations. Icom IC-2200 give high 65 watts of RF power output, an adequate power to establish two way radio communications for up to 80 km on normal rural circumstances. But the most favorite feature I like is Icom IC-2200 also capable to receive vhf air band operation with is wide receiver coverage. I like to listen air band traffic. And Icom IC-2200 is equipped with 118-174 MHz vhf receiver coverage and AM mode.

Icom IC-2200 vhf also ready to D-STAR internet operation. But this feature need UT-118 module installed before you go to D-STAR. UT-118 module is needed to provide digital voice and data communication at 4800 bps speed.

The bad thing about Icom IC-2200H vhf radio is usage of RF final module that very easy to broke. Not broke the mosfet, but the base ceramic where all the modul components placed. When the ceramic broken, it will disconnect the connection strip. And the result is no RF output from your vhf radio. I experienced this one week after purchase IC-2200. So I open the radio case (and broke the warranty), open the final module and resolder it.

I always use high power during my operations. Unfortunately heat created is hotter than ceramic can handle. So it broke. Then I sold my Icom IC-2200 one week later after I fix it.

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