Icon UHF radio
Submitted: Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:10
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97906
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Member - Murray R (VIC)
Has anybody got
views on the Icon IC440n radio. I've searched the net but not much there in reviews. I'm also looking at the GME TX3540 and would like to buy aussie, but know a few mates that use Icon radios with great success in the high county ,so hence looking at Icon. My old GME's display has died after many years of been on 24/7. so its a bit of a toss up between the two.
Murray
Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:25
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:25
Gday Murray
What's wrong with tin cans and a long string............
AnswerID:
494526
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:33
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:33
Muz
I cant find a string long enough to reach your place.
FollowupID:
770168
Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:36
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:36
You can always ring......
FollowupID:
770169
Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:38
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:38
Murray
I saw some for sale in a trucking catalogue the other day and they seemed to be a good price. I will look again on Monday and give you a ring..
FollowupID:
770170
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:47
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:47
Muz
Will await your call,Old radio still working, just a mongrel if you change channels
FollowupID:
770172
Follow Up By: Member - PJR (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 06:47
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 06:47
Tin cans don't have hands free twit!!
When are you going to learn.
FollowupID:
770178
Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 08:03
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 08:03
Gee sorry PJR i forgot..
FollowupID:
770185
Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Monday, Sep 10, 2012 at 20:04
Monday, Sep 10, 2012 at 20:04
Good evening Murray
I had a look today and can't find the catalogue. Sorry old son.
FollowupID:
770295
Reply By: Member - Gordon T (NSW) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:28
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:28
Icon is reputed to be good - GME is said to be a shade under them (I don't know where the difference lies) but a fair bit cheaper. I started out with Uniden in 1989 but had lots of problems with them so changed to GME and have been using them (40 ch) for years with no problems. Just purchased 2 x 80 ch handhelds and they give excellent reception.
Camperman2
AnswerID:
494527
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:41
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 22:41
Gordon
Had uniden hand helds with not much success. My car and hand held are both GME units and have preformed
well over the years of hard life.
Murray
FollowupID:
770171
Reply By: Pebble - Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 23:33
Saturday, Sep 08, 2012 at 23:33
The Icom you're looking is the one we purchased for our Troopy. We've had mostly Uniden in the past.
We did consider both Icom and GME this time around. The Icom was recommended because the speaker is on the hand unit. I'm not sure if that's the case with the particular GME you're considering, might be something to
check for yourself. Obviously it's more important if you're planning to mount the head unit in a strange spot.
Quote from the ICOM site
"Easy to hear,
with audio directly from the controller microphone"
Haven't really used it enough yet to say how
well it performs.
AnswerID:
494530
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:04
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:04
Pebble
thanks for the rely, I will be using external speaker
Murray
FollowupID:
770199
Reply By: Member - PJR (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 06:56
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 06:56
After playing with heaps of radios both local and international I learnt two things. The simpler the better and if you are happy with what you have don't change.
That said get the simplest radio with the features that you want. And if I was you I would stick with GME seeing that you have had good service before. Yes; Icom are excellent.
I also thought that Icom were made in Japan. At least the ones I have had have been made there.
Personally I would not get the one with a speaker in the microphone. A much narrower audio oputput and harder for the passenger to also listen in at the same time. The sound also does not "carry" as
well. Harder to hear when a way from the microphone. Okay if you want to sling it over the shoulder and be a real macho operator. But not very practical. Just my
views.
Phil
AnswerID:
494535
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:16
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:16
Phil
Yes 9/10 years been on 24/7 is good service, not much differance between the two in specs or price. THe speaker ian't a problem as willuse external.
Murray
FollowupID:
770201
Reply By: Kris and Kev - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 07:14
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 07:14
We have had a Icom 440 for over 3 years now and have had no problems at all. Have travelled on numerous very rough roads/tracks.
We have never had any audio issues as Phil has referred to.
One feature I liked with the 440 was that I was able to fit the main body under the driver’s
seat and then just have the controller microphone on the dash.
Kevin
AnswerID:
494536
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:23
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:23
Kevin
My mates that use then in the high country have had broken antennas and water ,they just keep working tough radio the icon
Murray
FollowupID:
770202
Reply By: Wolfy03 - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 08:28
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 08:28
Hi murray
I have the above mentioned radio and find it easy to use once you get basic understanding of how to set up a radio i.e. Operating procedures. In regards to the speaker on the handheld piece i have a bilatural hearing loss aided by hearing aids and have no trouble hearing it with it mounted on the dash. Hope this helps.
Cheers Troy.
AnswerID:
494544
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:34
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:34
Troy
thanks for your reply
Murray
FollowupID:
770204
Reply By: Member - Minty (SA) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 10:19
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 10:19
I have an Icom 440.
Very neat, less clutter in the cabin.
I have put an exextension speaker on the main box so I/we have no troubles hearing it. The transmission and reception are excellent...best of any I've had...Uniden, GME, Ormicom. When I bought the Icom I was told it was the Rolls Royce of UHF...and it may
well be. All up a good easy to use unit.
AnswerID:
494551
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:30
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 11:30
Minty
Thats the problem with modern uts etc there is nowhere to put things,and thats my main reason at looking these two radios.
Murray
FollowupID:
770203
Reply By: River Swaggie - Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 20:54
Sunday, Sep 09, 2012 at 20:54
I have 2 x41s Icom Handhelds and there a Top Spec Japanese radio...Last time I spoke to GME they were not looking at putting the sound in the radio head...
Of course they can change there mind at any minute...
AnswerID:
494603
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Monday, Sep 10, 2012 at 22:14
Monday, Sep 10, 2012 at 22:14
I have used the icon hand helds and agree a high quality radio, one of the reasons I'm looking at Icom
Murray
FollowupID:
770308