icom radio group buy?

just about done with our icom rep to become a dealer. i am wondering if there is enough interest in a group buy. i am also curious as to what radios you all prefer. please let me know your thoughts.

Sorry, have one IC-706MIKii LOL
Nice radios!!!

Yep interested but dont know which one to get. Some experts here got info?

Hockster said:

Yep interested but dont know which one to get. Some experts here got info?

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same boat here. not exactly sure what everyone is using right now

I have the Icom F5021 prgramming cables and software. This seems to be on average the prefered radio. It has long range and it is a military specification design. I would like to see everyone that goes on outings to have radios as communications is so important. These would be typically permanent mount however can be easily made for quick in and quick out... I have mine programmed to local fire police and highway patrol so I can quickly find out whats going on and roads to avoid...

Is there benefit to using one of the portable units (handhelds) in case you need to exit the truck and radio out? A certain video of a Raptor in flames comes to mind.....

The handhelds only out put 1-5 watts typically and the F5021 does about 25-50-100 watts depending how you set it up... You can talk a lot further than with a handheld. Snowball drivers complained when using hand helds they could not talk all the way up and down the groups. In the right conditions you could use a fixed mount to reach over 100 miles.....

I have a f5021 and it works flawlessly. I just wish there was a more portable solution, 12v power cable and longer antenna cable.

Speaking of, anyone know how significant the little ball at the top of the antenna is? Mine made a crap load of noise at the snowball but I don't want to cut it off if its going to effect something

Icecobra said:

The handhelds only out put 1-5 watts typically and the F5021 does about 25-50-100 watts depending how you set it up... You can talk a lot further than with a handheld. Snowball drivers complained when using hand helds they could not talk all the way up and down the groups. In the right conditions you could use a fixed mount to reach over 100 miles.....

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F5021 max power is 50 Watts. Right conditions for 50 miles would be talking to a repeater on top of a cell tower with a high dollar antenna and coax. I've been on the national seashore down here, with no obstructions, no RF interference, and was only able to get 10 miles talking to an identical setup.

Huck said:

I have a f5021 and it works flawlessly. I just wish there was a more portable solution, 12v power cable and longer antenna cable.

Speaking of, anyone know how significant the little ball at the top of the antenna is? Mine made a crap load of noise at the snowball but I don't want to cut it off if its going to effect something

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The total length of the antenna is significant for the frequency that you're broadcasting on. The antennas come with a tuning chart. 151 mhz = 53" and so on. Cutting a little off wont make that big of a difference, but the antenna will still make noise.