QST Review - Icom America
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1. IC SOAD VHF UHF Dual Band Handheld Transceiver QST Product Review QST Magazine is owned and published by the American Radio Relay League ARRL Icom America expresses its gratitude to the ARRL for the permission to reprint and post this review on our Website This product review remains the copyright of the ARRL To join the ARRL please visit www arrl org a ee ee Boo tal a AT RPE area sere ee Seer Jee 2010 11 Icom America Inc The Icom logo is a registered trademark of Icom Inc PRODUCT REVIEW ICOM IC 80AD Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Reviewed by Steve Ford WBSIMY QST Editor One of the main stumbling blocks to widespread adoption of D STAR technology is cost especially in today s economy At about 100 less than its sibling the IC 92AD the new IC 80AD trans ceiver marks ICOM s attempt to lower the economic threshold But is it enough to get more hams to open their wallets for D STAR Perhaps especially when you consider that there is much more to the C 80AD than D STAR One Tough Radio When you first pull the IC 80AD from its box you realize that this radio was designed with rugged use in mind There are no plastic chassis here the case is aluminum with a finish that makes is easy to grip when wet Speaking of wet ness the IC 80AD carries a Class 4 Japa nese Industrial Standards JIS rating that means among other things that the radio is splashproof but is n2. adapter the IC 80AD can be connected to a larger antenna This boosts reception substantially but it also raises the specter of front end overload since the C 80AD really isn t designed to expect a sea of strong HF MF signals FM broadcast and AM aircraft monitoring was a breeze as was eavesdropping on public service frequencies Once again improving on the flexible antenna makes a big difference For VHF I used a 7s wavelength 2 meter magnetic mount antenna while cruising the high ways With the C 80AD s Key Measurements Summary 0 16 0 25 0 19 0 1 Receiver Sensitivity 12dB SINAD uV 76 10 MHz 67 10 MHz 90 Receiver 3rd Order Dynamic Range dB 58 20 kHz 40 60 20 kHz 70 Receiver 3rd Order Dynamic Range dB oit 50 ce Channel Rejection d IF Rejection dB 113t l at Image Rejection dB 375 Audio Output mW T R pr042 Tx Rx Turnaround Time ms Key t Off Scale Measurement noise limited at value shown Bottom Line With the IC 80AD ICOM offers a less expensive alternative for hams interested in getting involved with D STAR digital operation It s also a full featured analog FM dual band handheld and includes a wide cover age receiver lt 1ro arrl org flexible scanning functions there was no end of stations to fill the memory channels Speaking of memory the IC 80AD allows you to store your scanning d
3. download firm you ll find it much easier to enjoy D STAR with the IC 80AD For this review I used a serial data cable the OPC 1529R 16 to connect the IC 80AD to my computer If your computer lacks serial ports you can try the OPC 478UC USB cable 50 but the drivers included with the cable don t support Windows Vista For Vista drivers you ll need to visit www icomamerica com en support kb Article aspx ArticleNumber 812A2A454A on the ICOM Web site Note that the op tional RS 92 PC remote control software for the IC 92AD does not work with the IC 80AD With the IC 80AD and companion ID 880 mobile ICOM introduced a new DR mode to make programming easier It adds the ability to designate up to 300 D STAR repeaters as additional memories that can be addressed quickly Unfortunately DR mode is not compatible with add on DPLUS software commonly used to link D STAR repeaters nor with stations accessing the network with a DV Dongle connected to their computers Another good investment is the new Nifty E Z Guide to D STAR Operation by Bernie Lafreniere NOFN The Guide gives you practical instruction on how to use this innovative technology It was a great help during my review You ll find it for sale in the ARRL online store at www arrl org On the Air with D STAR So what was it like to operate D STAR with the IC 80AD In a word fascinating I programmed several D STAR repeaters for my destination cities prio
4. sensitivity 0 495 108 MHz 1 uV 175 222 MHz 1 8 uV 470 770 MHz 2 5 uV AM sensitivity 10 dB S N 0 495 5 MHz 1 3 uV 5 29 995 MHz 0 56 uV 118 137 MHz 0 5 uV 222 247 MHz 0 79 uV 247 329 995 MHz 1 uV DV sensitivity VHF 144 148 only 0 22 uV UHF 420 450 MHz only 0 22 uV FM two tone third order IMD dynamic range Not specified FM two tone second order IMD dynamic range Not specified FM adjacent channel rejection Not specified Spurious response VHF 60 dB UHF 50 cB Squelch sensitivity Not specified Audio output gt 300 mW at 10 THD into 8 Q Transmitter Power output VHF and UHF 5 0 W high 2 5 W med 0 5 W low 0 1 W s low Spurious signal and harmonic suppression gt 60 dB high medium 13 dBm low s low Transmit receive turnaround time PTT release to 50 of full audio output Not specified R eceive transmit turnaround time tx delay Not specified Measured in ARRL Lab Receive FM FM narrow AM DV as specified WFM 0 495 809 990 MHz Transmit as specified As specified Receive max vol lights on no signal external 13 8 V dc 400 mA 8 1 V measured battery voltage 200 mA power save 49 mA Transmit 13 8 V dc at 2 A max high med low s low with battery 146 MHz 1 80 1 13 0 63 0 45 A 440 MHz 2 04 1 46 0 73 0 43 A Receiver Dynamic Testing For 12 dB SINAD 29 MHz 0 16 uV 52 MHz 0 18 uV 146 MHz 0 16 uV 222 MHz 0 21 uV 440 MH
5. X power limited 35 CP 19R cigarette lighter cable with filter 40 OP C 254L external dc power cable 15 Current consumption was typically 5 mA higher in receive and 50 mA higher on transmit in DV mode No PN9 GMSK signal generator was available at the time 20 kHz offset measurements were noise limited at the values shown JSF December 2009 41 Che Yii EOOD Ta mi era DpjSi00 Yes La SO OL ed ha pF od ee Figure 1 The ICOM CS 80 880 cloning software makes it easy to configure the IC 80AD for D STAR operation uninitiated D STAR is a digital protocol developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League JARL Most hams think of it as a form of digital voice but D STAR is also capable of transporting any sort of data you desire The IC 80AD supports the D STAR DV mode which transmits digital voice concurrent with a low speed 1200 bps data stream At 1200 bits per second you aren t going to swap large files or surf the Internet but you can efficiently communicate other information such as short text messages and GPS position data In fact ICOM offers a microphone equipped with a GPS receiver the model HM 189GPS but I did not test it for this review We covered the similar HM 175GPS speaker mic in the IC 92AD review Since that review was published ICOM has substantially reduced the price of these accessories D STAR operating is substantially dif ferent from analog FM so much so that the le
6. arning curve is rather steep for most individuals There are some similarities to packet radio in which call signs are used as digital addresses To use a D STAR repeater for instance you need to program its call sign into the radio beforehand Then your transmitted data included your digitized voice will be routed appropriately through the system either locally or through gate ways to distant repeaters You can talk to other D STAR users in the open similar to conventional analog FM operation in which everyone can hear all the stations or you can use call sign routing to keep your radio quiet when you re not communicating with specific stations Call sign routing keeps your radio squelched until someone directly addresses you by putting your call sign in the your call field 42 December 2009 JSF of their radio Then you hear them and only them until you turn off call sign squelch but everyone else listening can still hear both sides of the conversation You can even set the radio to respond only when specific stations are on the air Operating Aids The free ICOM CS 80 880 cloning soft ware for Windows Figure 1 is a blessing when you need to set up multiple D STAR system call signs That s not to say that you can t program the radio based on the instruc tions in the IC 80AD user manual but it is Slow going By investing in a data cable and downloading the free software www icom co jp world support
7. e radio became rather warm to the touch Naturally the IC 80AD offers a huge array of features for analog operation includ ing CTCSS continuous tone coded squelch system encoding and decoding and digitally coded squelch DCS functionality CTCSS decoding was particularly convenient when I took the IC 80AD on the road Many repeat ers require CTCSS access and retransmit the low frequency audio tones on their outputs If the repeater doesn t announce the CTCSS frequency or if you don t have an ARRL Repeater Directory or TravelPlus software at hand to look it up the IC 80AD can decode the CTCSS tones as they are transmitted and display the results Digital Operating with D STAR I ve dabbled in D STAR before but the IC 80AD provided my first opportunity to try it for an extended period For the Table 1 ICOM IC 80AD serial number 0501001 Manufacturer s Specifications Frequency coverage Receive 0 495 823 990 849 868 990 894 999 990 MHz transmit 144 148 420 450 MHz Modes FM FM narrow AM receive only WFM receive only DV Power requirements 10 16 V dc Receive 170 mA typical 215 mA DV standby 62 mA typical 106 mA DV power save 30 mA typical 38 mA DV transmit 2 1 A max high power t Receiver FM sensitivity 12 dB SINAD 1 6 30 MHz 0 4 uV 30 118 MHz 0 25 uV 118 174 MHz 0 14 uV 174 350 MHz 0 32 uV 350 470 MHz 0 16 uV 470 600 MHz 0 32 uV 600 999 99 MHz 0 56 uV WFM
8. iscoveries in more than 1000 channels that you can con figure in 26 separate groups Alphanumeric tagging allows you to keep track of the memory channel contents when your own wetware memory fails you The IC 80AD has NOAA weather radio frequencies preprogrammed in dedicated memory slots You just press the M CALL button several times until you select the weather channel mode then rotate the dial to select the desired station There is a weather alert function that commands the IC 80AD to monitor the selected weather channel ev ery 5 seconds listening fora NOAA weather alert tone When it detects the tone you hear a persistent beep The only downside of monitoring with the I C 80AD is its very small speaker It produces a tinny sound that is prone to distortion at higher volume levels In most instances I used earbuds or a headset for improved fidelity If you plan to use the IC 8OAD in the car adding an external speaker is a good idea Analog FM The IC 80AD did a respectable job with analog FM on both 2 meters and 70 cm Transmit audio reports were consistently good With selectable RF output levels at 5 2 5 0 5 or 0 1 W you have the option of using full power in fringe areas or extremely low power when you need to squeeze the last drop of life from the battery I gener ally operated the C 80AD at 2 5 W which worked well in just about every application On a few occasions I needed the 5 W boost but I noticed that th
9. ot waterproof For amateurs involved in emergency com munications durable construction is not a trivial feature They want radios they can trust to withstand brutal conditions The IC 80AD has a sizeable LCD display that could suffer scratches but otherwise I m confident the rig could survive a fair amount of abuse Extended Receive Coverage A major difference between the IC 80AD and the IC 92AD is that the 92AD includes a dualwatch feature so that you can listen to a main and sub receiver simultane ously With the IC 80AD you can listen to one band at a time Another difference is that the IC 80AD 1G Pearce KN4AQ ICOM IC 92AD Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Product Review QST Sep 2008 pp 39 43 QST Product Reviews are available on the Web at www arrl org members only prodrev MarkJ Wilson KIRO Product Review 40 December 2009 05 doesn t have the simple band scope display found in the 92AD From a reception standpoint the IC 80AD is a dc to daylight rig span ning 500 kHz to almost 1 GHz I had the pleasure of taking the IC 80AD on a family vacation and its extended receive coverage really came in handy Reception below 50 MHz with the standard issue flexible helical antenna is fairly limited Despite this handicap I was still able to listen to strong local AM broadcast stations as well as shortwave powerhouses such as Radio Havana With an SMA to female BNC or SO 239
10. owever the IC 80AD still costs significantly more than a comparable dual band analog only handheld transceiver Are the benefits of D STAR worth the higher price That decision depends on how much you value having the ability to partici pate in the D STAR network and whether you are willing to invest the time necessary to become familiar with D STAR technology Manufacturer ICOM America 2380 116th Ave NE Bellevue WA 98004 tel 800 872 4266 www icomamerica com
11. r to leaving for vacation On the road I used the open CQCQCQ mode to scare up conversations on several systems While in Dayton Ohio I listened to a D STAR roundtable on the W8BI sys tem There was never any doubt about who was transmitting because I could see their call signs on the IC 80AD display Some transmissions were also accompanied by short lines of text declaring names or loca tions The voice characteristics can be unusual at times with some voices having what might be described as a compressed robot ic quality This isn t a pronounced effect but it is noticeable if you listen closely And unlike analog FM with which signals can still be understood in noisy conditions D STAR transmissions are all or nothing propositions While listening to conversations when mobile for example voices would abruptly drop out for several seconds at a time and then suddenly return When I reached the edge of a repeater sys tem s coverage I fell off a digital cliff One moment the repeater was there the next moment it wasn t Balancing Cost and Benefit Compared to ICOM s top shelf IC 92AD the IC 80AD is a less expensive way to get started in D STAR and its analog features are certainly attractive Current ICOM owners will appreciate that it shares accessories and connectors with other mod els such as the IC W32A IC T90A and IC 91 AD making the switch less painful With an average street price of 450 h
12. z 0 19 uV 902 MHz 0 25 uV 100 MHz 1 2 uV 10 dB S N N 1 kHz 30 modulation 1 MHz 0 53 uV 3 8 MHz 0 42 uV 14 MHz 0 41 uV 29 MHz 0 42 uV 50 MHz 0 5 uV 120 MHz 0 41 uV 146 MHz 0 38 uV 222 MHz 0 48 uV 440 MHz 0 46 uV Not tested 20 kHz offset 29 MHz 60 dB 52 MHz 64 dB 146 MHz 58 dB 222 MHz 59 dB 440 MHz 60 dB 902 MHz 65 dB 10 MHz offset 146 MHz 76 dB 440 MHz 67 GB 146 MHz 72 dB 20 kHz offset 29 MHz 60 dB 52 MHz 58 dB 146 MHz 65 dB 222 MHz 62 dB 440 MHz 62 dB 902 MHz 57 dB IF rejection 29 MHz 71 dB 52 MHz 31 dB 146 MHz 105 dB 222 MHz 112 dB 440 MHz 123 dB 902 MHz 96 dB Image rejection 29 MHz 93 dB 52 MHz 87 dB 146 MHz 113 dB 222 MHz 440 MHz gt 134 dB 902 MHz 2 dB At threshold VHF 0 41 uV UHF 0 45 uV 375 mW at 10 THD into 8 Q 2 7 THD atl Vews Transmitter Dynamic Testing With battery pack or external 13 8 V dc VHF 5 2 6 0 5 0 1 W UHF 4 9 2 5 0 5 0 1 W VHF gt 70 dB UHF gt 70 cB Meets FCC requirements Squelch on S9 signal VHF 244 ms UHF 244 ms VHF 72 ms UHF 70 ms Size height width depth 4 1 x 2 3 x 1 3 inches weight 10 3 ounces Price IC 80AD 450 HM 189GPS speaker mic 200 TBP 217 battery pack 7 4 V 1500 mAh Li ion and BC 167 battery charger supplied Available options Replacement BP 217 90 BC 139 desktop drop in rapid charger 2 5 hours 100 BP 216 battery case 2 AA cells T
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