Icom T70A-HD Overview

[@michaelbrown-ns4dl]

I ordered this radio to play with on field day this year and after reading the manual I downloaded from Icom while waiting for it to arrive I found this video. Thank you so much for posting it! I had the local machines programmed in no time and made my first 70cm qso the night I received it...in no small measure due to this excellent video. It is a very nice rig and I love using it...a big step up from my old IC-V8. I have been a ham over a decade and spent most of my time DXing on HF and am now getting back into the local VHF/UHF scene. Excellent radio and great video....thanks old man and 73.

[@K7AGE]

Glad that the video helped you get your radio programmed. It can be done, without a computer!!!

[@tomweaver1850]

Passed the Tech and General exams a couple weeks ago; thanks again for your encouragement. 73’s, KE0STU (Tom)

[@rickmlamb1]

My father just bought me this HT, I want to thank you for this amazing video, you should be a spokesperson for Icon😁 great job KC4AJF Atlanta

[@K7AGE]

I showed your comment to the Icom people at Pacificon. They appreciated your comment. Thanks.

[@AussieMark909]

Excellent video Randy. I'm a new ham and the T70 is my first handheld. I'm very happy with it, it does everything I need and more and is a very solid unit. I expect to get many years of service from it. 73s Mark.

[@K7AGE]

Enjoy the radio

[@hobojon44]

Th0

[@robertmitchum2972]

Thank You for this excellent video. I just picked up one of these at the local Hamfest. Of course, there was no manual with the radio. But this video made it possible to not even look for it.. You explained every detail clearly and made it possible to get this HT on the air. Thank You once again, and keep up the good work.

[@K7AGE]

Have fun with your new radio. Thanks for watching.

[@steveinkentucky]

Randy, thanks for the great video. I'm considering a second HT to go along with my FT-60. I'm using one for local APRS with a Mobilinkd. I'm very surprised why there are not more KZbin and eHam reviews of this radio. It seems like a workhorse that is very easy to use. Being able to put in an accessory power supply is a big plus with me. *What is the difference between the brick power cord and the regular DC power cord. I'm guessing it is perhaps a filter?

[@1fanger]

Thanks Randy, the presentations you give are much appreciated. 73, Joe KC3BXZ

[@adelarsen9776]

I love my T70A dual band HH. Thanks for uploading. Cheers

[@jriver64]

Thank you, Randy. Thank you for your time and selfless effort in making this video. I have learned so much from your other videos as well. You have been subscribed!

[@Rareed63]

Thanks Randy I just purchased this Radio the day you published this video,searching You Tube I found very few videos on this radio so I remembered you doing the V80 video I searched your call sign with Icom T70A and here I am its like you knew I bought one LOL! anyway I've been inactive for a few years purchased a few of the cheap Chinese radios all I could think was man these repeaters sure don't sound or have the range lthey use to untill my friend brought over his HT of Japanese origin and WALA it wasn't the repeaters it was my cheap HT besides I hate something thats hard to program or has too many knobs this radio is right down my alley I think I'll actually use it 73 es keep up the great work Awesome video's

[@K7AGE]

Robert Reed Enjoy your new radio. Glad to help.

[@agentbz]

Thank you for the clear and complete video with just the right pace and level of detail. I had not touched my T70A for a while, and your video taught me everything I needed to know in 15 minutes. I also appreciate your including the model numbers of the cloning cables.

[@K7AGE]

+Mark Powell Have fun with it

[@Quietus6]

Great vid as I'm considering purchase of my first ham radio. Two things: 1) Does it have alpha numeric naming of channels? If so, how many characters? 2) You mention necessity of enabling Tone (T) for transmitting - but what do those other options that you scrolled through for...the squelch, tone squelch? Thanks, Jim, kk6svk

[@K7AGE]

+Quietus6 The T70 can have alpha-numeric labels up to 6 characters long. The other tones have to do with using tone to open up your receiver and digital tone systems.

[@joshuaking999]

How to program a repeater frequency on this radio? Thanks! I am really confused on the user manual

[@wb8cxo]

Looks like a well thought out radio and Randy, you did an excellent job describing its function! I'd buy one if I wasn't already radio poor! Thanks for another GREAT video.

[@TimSleppy]

Great video as always Randy. Your videos are very helpful.

[@TheFiveyoungs]

Thanks for the information on the T70A-HD. Are you pleased so far with the performance of this radio so far? Thanks again, Mark

[@K7AGE]

This radio and the Icom V80 are good solid radios. For what I have done with it, it has worked fine. I have many HTs, so if I am going somewhere I'll grab either my Icom ID-51 or Kenwood D72, depending on D-Star or ARPS.

[@thescorpiontattoo]

K7AGE Thanks

[@rbmbogor101]

Thank's for this video...very useful..

[@blackperro86]

Great video. I find your videos very well made and informative. I'm a new Ham and I'm considering buying one of these. Seems like a cool radio. From what I've read, it seems most HT's aren't very loud and start to distort at higher volumes in a noisy environment. I was wondering if this radio can get loud without distorting too much.

[@K7AGE]

blackperro86 It seems to go loud.

[@sonicboom63bong42]

Can you make a tutorial on naming a frequency programmed to Name. Thank you. 73

[@tlonghorn19]

Okay, I am interested in dabbling in some amateur radio. So my question. Should I spend the extra money to buy the t70a is it that much better than the v80? I have to be honest most of the lingo you used in the video went over my head lol. Great video and thanks for any advise on which unit to buy.

[@K7AGE]

Well, the V80 is just 2M and the T70 is 2M and 70cm. 2M is the most common band.

[@tomweaver1850]

Thanks so much! I’ve been struggling with the IC-T70A manual while studying for my Technician class license (hopefully the General as well). Now I know about Fire and Police band monitoring (who knew!) plus exactly what each button does. And why! I’m looking forward to being licensed so I can use that PTT button on the left . I’ll subscribe now; you’re vastly superior to any manual! Great job. 73’s, Tom - Des Moines IA

[@K7AGE]

Tom, thanks for the nice comments. Glad to hear that my video is helping you with the radio. Hope you pass your test soon. 73 Randy

[@yobzf.aldeguer8486]

This DUALBAND RADIO is a Dual Standby Or Not?..

[@daa3417]

I'm curious about icom's claimed "military grade" construction. Is the T70 as rugged as the v80?

[@K7AGE]

+Da A I don't know if they are that different from each other. I found this about the MIL spec 810 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIL-STD-810

[@daa3417]

K7AGE Thanks for the reply but claiming a MIL-STD is really meaningless as there are no certifying bodies to review such claims. Even working for the DoD we only have in house quality people that assure we are within the standards called for by our particular SoP. Basically, since you have both HT's I'm interested in your impression (or anyone else reading this) of how rugged they are. I plan to keep it in my backpack at all times and it would need to hold up to mild impacts and possibly any water that could soak the bag.

[@K7AGE]

I think I would put the radio in some type of protective case and then into a backpac. I have found some of the beer coozies work good for HT cases when you need to pack it away. I have some that are the rubber material without any metal that would scratch the radio when sliding it in and out. I saw a guy at a airport one time pull a big sock out of his bag, and inside the sock was his HT. I think the MIL spec claims may be mostly marketing....

[@fredshead3956]

Hi Randy, i have one of these radios, nothing wrong with it, works fine, only downside i have found is if you dont keep the battery charged up all the time, if goes completly flat it wont charge up anymore, i am on my 3rd battery at the moment hi...the memeory still stays there ok even without the battery on, running off psu...maybe i should leave the battery off when i dont use it, as it takes a slight bit of power even when not being used..Fred g4vvq Uk.

[@K7AGE]

Most of these radios draw a bit of power when they are turned off. Try removing the battery from the radio. Best is to use the radio. Let if run for a few hours weekly and then recharge it.

[@fredshead3956]

@@K7AGE Hi Randy, Yes i have done that now, i bought a new one and when put it on the radio it was fully charged, i took it off left it a couple of weeks and still fully charged, and about a month later still fully charged i put it on the radio, to try it, now taken it off again, i hardly ever use the radio...from Fred g4vvq thanks,.

[@josephdan8410]

Thank you sir very helpful Do you have review on Icom-V88 thanks

[@K7AGE]

Kc D Sorry, no review of the V88

[@wildbanjoman99]

very nice, i recently got a icom t90a new in box for $90 at a local Ham fest, it was a much needed upgrade from my baofeng ht

[@K7AGE]

Enjoy your Icom

[@AppalachianFreedom]

Newbie Question: I just picked up a IC-V80. I have a programming cable for my IC-208H mobile. The jack looks the same. Will it work on the HT? 73 and thanks for the great info Sir!

[@K7AGE]

+Appalachian Foothills Outdoors I don't know, check the manuals and the manufacturer of the cable.

[@AppalachianFreedom]

K7AGE I've tried it and it didn't work. It sure fit the jack though! Thanks for the great info!

[@edgardoramos156]

Thanks for this video, got mines today, need to figure out how to label my channels

[@akosiraulo1433]

Hello i just want to ask can this be full deplex like ICOM IC 32AT. 73... DW8CDS 🇵🇭

[@K7AGE]

No

[@dcentral]

Are Icom HT significantly better in quality, range, power output than popular Baofeng UV5 series and Yesue HT models? Are there inherent disadvantages to Dual Band HTs vs. single band HTs?

[@K7AGE]

dcentral I would say the Icom - Kenwood - Yaesu radios are about the same in quality, range and power. The Chinese radios are fine. They typically have no support within the US. If they break, you toss it and buy another, but at $39 that might be okay. They are harder to hand program than the I/K/Y radios. You can get free programming software and a USB programming cable is also usually cheap.

[@dcentral]

K7AGE So between Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu is one brand known for simpler/smarter programming options or they're similar?

[@K7AGE]

Hard to say. I have all, and they are all a bit different, can't say that one is much better than the other.

[@pieman192]

Hi in your video you show vfo mode without showing PSkip on the display, I've tried removing it as on page 46 of the manual but no luck. Any ideas thanks G7DSG (radio is USA version)

[@K7AGE]

+pieman192 I'm not sure either....

[@djaymigz98]

Hi ! What is the difference between T70A and T70A HD ??

[@K7AGE]

I think, there was a change with the battery type that came with the radio

[@swang6782]

Thank you for the video

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

Thanks for this, 73 !

[@williammoney962]

Why the comparison between the two radios?

[@K7AGE]

William Money I use the single band radio in my 3 videos about getting 2M FM. The dual band is nicer to control with the extra control.

[@pieman192]

Thanks for reply, found it on page 55. 73

[@jpintek]

Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelbradley8508]

Excellent video. Thank you. Michael VA6XMB

[@KandiKlover]

I heard monobanders were best