I've had this radio just over a week now (I received it on 19 June 2008) and have used it exclusively in the shack until the morning of 28 June, when I fitted it into my car in place of the IC-2800. I have tried to use it as much as possible and written the mobile observations as late in the day as possible.
The IC-E2820 (I call it the Owl - 2wait 2woh!) is the latest Dual Band (VHF / UHF) radio from Icom. It is an impressive piece of kit that will receive from 118 MHz to 550 MHz and from 810 MHz to 999.99MHz (higher frequencies only available on the right hand side) in AM, AM narrow, FM and FM narrow. It will transmit on 144 - 146 MHz and 430 - 440 MHz with FM or FM narrow.
Available as an option, and what really makes this radio stand out, is the UT-123 D-STAR module which adds the D-STAR Digital Voice and Data modes to the 2 transmit bands (though only one at a time as there is only 1 decoder) and also a GPS receiver to the radio.
The IC-E2820 is the successor to the Icom IC-2725 (which is my current shack radio), the IC-E2820 gives the option of receiving 2 frequencies at once, whether in the same band or not (referred to as V/U, V/V, U/U), each with it's own display area, the Left and Right sides. Each side not only has a display of frequency, mode, shift, tone etc but has it's own basic controls as well.
Volume and squelch are concentric rotary controls at the top on each side (and they have a good amount of friction, easy to turn when you want to but accidently knocking the volume full when reaching across for the squelch is not so easy) while the VFO / Memory channel selector knob has a push button facility to change the side that is the Main side and, if held in, allows you to change the desired band.
Pressing the PTT will transmit on the Main side. Buttons for VFO selection, Memory selection and Duplex are along the bottom of the display for each side with a centre button for Tone / DTMF selection, which modifies the Main side.
Further options are are accessible from the menu system (upto 3 menus, depending on UT-123 fitment and current mode, FM, DV etc), accessed via the button on the right hand side above the VFO (press again to see next menu, when available), while the power is switched on and off via the button in that same position on the left.
One very useful feature of this radio is that, due to the dot matrix dispaly, if your sight is not so good and you only wish to work on 1 frequency at a time, you can set the display to single mode which is easier to see (see photos). When in single display mode the volume squelch, VFO controls and buttons on both sides affect the one frequency.
2 MOSFET power amplifiers (1 for VHF, the other for UHF) provide 3 levels of power output, selectable by the operator: 5W (Low) 25W (Mid) and 50W (high) on both 2Mtr and 70cm bands. This is fairly standard for radios of this type, although many dual banders only transmit a maximum of 35W or so on UHF. Foundation Licence holders must use the 5W setting to comply with their licence, a nudge perhaps toward the Intermediate Licence?
CTCSS, DTCS and DTMF are all there, including tone squelch, ready for use with minimal set up.
The radio comprises of the main unit (150(W) × 40(H) × 187.7(D) mm) and the controller head (150(W) × 58(H) × 31.5(D) mm). Supplied with all the mounting hardware, an HM-133 remote control microphone, a 3 metre power lead and 2 leads for the controller head to connect with the main unit, one is just 8.5 cm (3 inches) long for connecting the head to the main unit when using with the head affixed to the main unit, the other is 3.4 metres for remote placment of the main unit.
If using the radio as a single unit the head connects to the main unit with 2 powerful magnets. Warnings in the manual and on the main unit itself tell you not to pick up or carry the transceiver by the head unit and to be careful where you put the head if the magnets are installed.
When this radio is fully equipped it can have 3, yes, that's right, 3, seperate antennas connected to it.
Eager to try this radio out I unpacked it and fitted the UT-123 (remove top casing, 10 screws, plug in the module board and affix with 3 screws, supplied, replace top cover and screws), which took me no time at all. From opening the box to on air on the local repeater in less than half an hour, including reading the manual for the UT-123 fitting instructions and setting the CTCSS and repeater shift (possibly helped by the fact that I'm quite used to Icom radios).
I spent about ¾ hour with the local evening net on GB3BC, the radio acting perfectly with only 1 drawback; the speaker. To my ears the audio output quality was "tinny", as I expected from such a small speaker (much like my 2725) so I quickly plugged in a good quality external speaker, the received audio was immediately improved. I should mention here that there are 2 speaker sockets, if you use a speaker in each socket the audio is split, 1 speaker for the Left audio, the other for the right. Using just 1 speaker you have the option of all audio to the external speaker (socket next to ANT2) or in the other socket for Left audio from the internal speaker and Right audio from the external speaker.
Transmitted audio (both "through the box" and simplex) was reported as "very good", "couldn't tell you were on a different radio" etc with access to the local repeater (approx 8-9 miles away) on 5W no problem.
The Owl performs well on VHF and UHF, even quite low level signals are audible, providing you use a decent speaker. I've had no adverse reports about transmitted audio and, when asked for, receive reports of "Lovely" or "Clear" audio and "Sounds just like you" (oh dear!).
I spent about ½ an hour programming some 100 or so of the 522 memories with the 2 metre and 70 cms repeaters (including CTCSS and wide split where required) and 2 metre simplex channels. I found the programming method easy, well it is basically the same as the 2725. One main difference here between the 2820 and the 2725 is the ability to use alpha tags, or, name the memories so you know what they are (I added the names in later using the CS-2820 PC software, that makes it even easier!). Alpha tags were available on my IC-2800 (which this radio will replace in the car, there is nothing wrong with the 2800, I'm just upgrading) but, sadly, missing from the IC-2725. This feature makes a very welcome return on the Owl!
Setting the radio up for Digital use seems confusing at first but a couple of read throughs of the instructions (over 20 pages, all told, but for a first, quick simplex contact only the first 2 pages need to be read, the rest comes later!) things fell into place and I was set for my first digital contact.
There are not many stations on the D-STAR mode at the moment, the Cardiff D-STAR voice node (repeater) GB7CD is not yet activated and I can't get into the Alveston (GB7AD) one from my shack location so this mode is quite quiet for me at the moment, once this radio is in the car location will not be so much of a problem.
I have had a few simplex contacts and all I can say is Wow! I was talking to Steve, GW6CUR (around the corner) and Wayne, GW1UDK, (6.3 km away, thanks to the GPS location information exchange!) on UHF DV mode. Usually, on FM analogue, I have to turn the volume up for Wayne and down for Steve but on D-STAR no adjustment was required. Received audio was clear and crisp with none of the background hiss or fading that is often evident with FM. I also had a quick contact with a station in Bristol on VHF and the received signal, again, was as clear and crisp as Steve just around the corner! The only problem with the digital system is that as a mobile station moves out of range or past a large building etc it garbles the audio, somewhere between the operator sounding drunk and a Dalek on speed! but when you have a passable signal the quality is, in my opinion, better than FM.
Well the rain held off and I managed to fit the radio to the car. I had done most of the groundwork previously, see the article on the fitting in the Mobile Installations area.
The display is a little washed out from the angle that I view it at, changing to single display mode makes things easier on the move. Changing the control heads' position slightly would make it clear again but the front seat passenger would not be able to see it at all (not that she actually uses the radio, but she wants me to put her callsign into the D-STAR My Call…).
Using the radio on the move is fine as long as you don't need to access the menus. Due to the washout the options are a little hard to read, especially when you should be watching the road! Your install may have a better location for the control head, from a vision point of view, it's certainly worth trying different locations if you have them available before committing screws to dashboard. Analogue mobile was as you would expect from a normal mobile Dual Bander, no surprises to report (I've not tried Diversity Receive yet though). Digital mobile is a whole new ball game though!
Denise commented on how clear the digital signal was, with no background noise received from the stations contacted. There was a bit of garbling and a few drop outs but we were using UHF, with its' limited range and the ability of large buildings to block and/or reflect signals. I was managing readable contacts between 4 and 12 miles whilst moving. GPS data was being sent (when I realised it had been turned off and reactivated it!) and it was reported back that my GPS reported position was moving (in the same direction that I was) so that works well too (I couldn't take my eyes off the road long enough to change display and read the other contacts position, distance etc, but when tried out in the shack it seemed to work OK).
Access to GB7AD was achievable once I had parked up (in Newport actually) but the only reply I had was from the box itself (callsign and pips), there was nobody on there that was willing to speak to me (or even, nobody on there!).
I haven't tried Data mobile yet (I will be parked when I do!), I need to put the software on the laptop first (now where did I put that darn mains lead to charge the laptop?)
Some of the "extra" features of this radio are:
| Frequency range: | TX: 144-146 / 430-440 MHz RX: 118-550 / 810-999.99 MHz (5 / 6.25 / 10 / 12.5 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 50 KHz steps) |
| Mode: | TX: FM/FM-N (DV-option) RX: AM/FM/FM-N (DV option) |
| RF Power Output Both Bands: | Hi: 50 W Mid: 15 W Low: 5 W |
| Sensitivity: Guaranteed Amateur Bands only | FM (12 dB SINAD) <0.18 µV DV (BER 1%) Less than 0.35 µV (when fitted) |
| Selectivity: Guaranteed Amateur Bands only | FM: 10 KHz (-6 dB), 30 KHz (-60 dB) FM-N: 6 KHz (-6 dB), 20 KHz (-60 dB) DV (with optional UT-123) More than 50 dB |
| Image rejection: | >60 dB |
| Voltage: | 13.8 VDC ±15% |
| Current drain: | RX: 1.2-1.8 A TX: Max 13 A |
| Impedance: | 50 ohms, 2 × SO-239 |
| Dimensions (W×H×D): | Main unit: 150×40×188 mm Controller: 150×58×32 mm |
| Weight: | Main unit: 1.5 Kg Controller: 210 g |
The radio seems to be solidly built and should handle the rigours of normal use easily.
Easy to use as an analogue radio if you've used recent Icom radios and not that difficult to use if you haven't. As for D-STAR, well it is new technology but once you have read and understood the D-Star section in the manual (and if you do understand it please fill me in on the bits I'm not sure of) it is fairly easy to set up and use. The GPS seems to agree with my SatNav so no problems there.
Good performance on both the analogue and digital modes make this radio, in my opinion, a good all round performer. Couple that with the excellent Icom after sales and technical support (first hand experience of that) and I would say that this radio is a cracking buy.
The cost of the basic radio is (at time of writing) around £380 and with the addition of the UT-123 D-STAR module (including GPS antenna) the price rises to around £520, perhaps a tad expensive for a dual bander but, in my opinion, worth the money.
The downsides that I have listed above do not really apply to my use (Mic extension already in the car, GPS and Data sockets clear, external speaker no problem, power levels all useable. The control head socket was the only one to give me concern but once the head was fitted the offending socket was hidden anyway) with the exception of the display angle, so personally I can't find much fault with it. Yet.
Impressed as I am with this radio I may yet sell my IC-2800 (Noooo! not my baby!) and IC-2725 (sensible offers to the usual address please!) to fund toward another D-Star Owl for the shack as I already miss it and it's only been in the car for a few hours!