Icom IC-2820H

From Free Knowledge Base- The DUCK Project: information for everyone
Jump to: navigation, search

Icom IC-2820H 2M/440 dual band Multi-Mode Transceiver

Icom IC-2820Hb.jpg

  • Encode/Decode
  • Diversity Reception
  • 522 Memories
  • Weather Alert (USA only)
  • Band Scope
  • V/V, U/U Simultaneous Receive
  • Three RF Output Levels 50/15/5W
  • Left Band Receive: 118-549.99 MHz
  • Right Band Receive: 118-173.99, 375-549.99, 810-999.99 MHz (less cellular)
  • Optional UT-123 DV Digital Voice / GPS

Options

The IC-2820H is D-STAR upgradeable with the optional UT-123. Power output is 50/15/5 watts on 2 meters and 50/15/5 watts on 440 MHz.

  • 0918 OPC474 OPC- 474 Cable for transceiver to transceiver cloning.
  • 1180 OPC478 OPC- 478 Cable for PC to transceiver cloning. DB9F to 3 conductor 3.5 mm mini plug.
  • 4735 Icom OPC-1529 OPC-1529R Serial data cable to PC.
  • 4475 Icom UT123 UT-123 D-Star DV Digital Voice / GPS Unit

CHIRP supports the Icom IC-2820H

D-Star

D-STAR DV mode + GPS receiver: The optional UT-123 provides D-STAR DV mode operation plus GPS receiver capability. Your location information can be sent simultaneously with the digital voice transmission.

Review

40star.png

After using the Icom IC-2820H I was thoroughly impress with the sound quality. I will post a full review here in time...

PRO

Many features, good quality, well built. Nice big display. Mag-mount removable face plate feature along with separation kit included standard with radio. Excellent value. Easy to do the so called MARS CAP mod. Wide receive coverage, including receive coverage of 1.25 meter. One push WX feature. Many many features and capabilities including D-Star and APRS in this compact radio that still sports a nice big easy to read LCD, again, excellent value for the money.

CON

Annoying difficult to remember needlessly complicated operation and programming. Keep a cheat sheet handy. Typical pinched tiny Icom audio when talking. Icom mobiles never sound as good as Kenwood. Microphone hole mod improves audio some. Radio defaults to narrow band, but can easily be changed to wide FM. Diversity receive can be confusing when connecting coax, make sure to read backside otherwise you could transmit w/o antenna connected to correct so239 (not good for finals.) I would prefer no diversity, so I recommend putting a piece of tape over that so239 if you are not running the second receive antenna.

Basic Usage

When in VFO mode you can quickly enter a frequency directly from the keypad after pressing the [T-OFF ENT C] button which is on the right side of the hand mic, second from the bottom. Icom won't let you enter a frequency on this one without first pressing the [T-OFF ENT C] button.

  • [T-OFF ENT C] - when in VFO mode you press this before directly entering a frequency on the keypad.
  • [DUP.MONI] - in VFO press this on the radio front to set - / + offset for repeaters or no offset for simplex. This radio has an auto repeater offset feature that you can override using this key.
  • [TONE.DTMF] - in VFO press this on the radio front to set DTMF, you may have to press more than once until display says "TONE."

cross band repeat

No modification to the radio is necessary to use the cross-band repeater capability. This is a native function of this transceiver even though it is not covered in the user manual.

  1. Select remote or repeater VHF frequency on the left side (in VFO or a memory channel)
  2. Select your local UHF frequency on the right side (In VFO or memory channel)
  3. Push the "F" button and hold in while next pressing both RIGHT and LEFT Band Knobs until you hear a BEEP
  4. The key icon will flash on the right of the LCD display if you successfully activated cross band repeat mode

TO DEACTIVATE: Press "F" until you hear beep and/or key icon (in upper right corner of display) disappear.

These steps will allow you to use your radio as a crossband repeater. It does not have an automatic ID announce. You must therefore announce you are operating on the frequencies with your FCC call sign.

Programming

Quickly save a memory channel

  1. In VFO select the Frequency, offset (default is none), and PL tone (default is none)
  2. Long press [M/CALL.MW]
  3. turn dial until desired channel
  4. Long press [M/CALL.MW], 3 quick beeps if successful

Modifications

Mods are available for the IC-2820H. Recommend mods: physically alter the microphone to increase low frequency voice response. Optional mods: expanded coverage modification. Other mods available.

Verified working mods will be discussed here.

Online Resources