My First 10 Days With My ICOM ID-52A

[@K4SRF]

After 10 days of usage, I am quite pleased with the performance of the ICOM ID-52A. Here is a brief overview of this HT from ICOM.

[@exprmntal3724]

I too ran into the issue with the charger that had to have the power supply purchased separately. A bit of research yielded that the IC-BC-202IP2 charger comes with a power supply and is much cheaper. I bought this charger at HRO for $61.95. It charges both the standard battery that comes with the radio as well as the BP-307 battery. Hope this helps anyone who might be buying this radio. Having a drop in charger is a must in my opinion.

[@K4SRF]

Thanks for the information! Can you tell us the average "charge times"? Nothing exact, nothing to hold you to, but just your personal experience.

[@updownandallaround]

Glad I could be your 1000th subscriber. Strongly considering purchasing one or two of these. Thank you for taking the time to make the video and go over the HT, much appreciated!

[@K4SRF]

Thanks. 1000 is a milestone. More milestones to achieve at this point!

[@hpduong]

@@K4SRFsubscribed!

[@christiandettmer2561]

Finally a usefull video on groups setup, thank you. Coming from an Anytone DMR and the phraseology on Icom confused me. Good info, thanks again👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@thomastrame3850]

The power brick is for powering a number of the drop in chargers (Ganging) but they have a cheaper option for powering just one desk charger for 29.95. And that one is not on backorder. Check HRO.

[@K4SRF]

Thanks. Too late though as mine has already arrived.

[@joeframo3347]

Hulu to my KZbinr my best friend thank you for sharing very fascinating and very useful for situations and making new friends thank you again 👍👍💕❤️

[@stevelee6322]

Some handy info there as I'm a newbie. Thanks

[@K4SRF]

Glad to hear it!

[@daveborchard2019]

Thanks for the Icom ID-52 review! I like the Icom radios, generally. I have an Icom IC-7610 for HF, and I still have an Icom IC-2AT, but the IC-2AT is very old technology now, and the battery doesn't work anymore, and the case is pretty beat up over the many years of use. I'm thinking about buying a new digital portable, but I'm not sure with is the best digital choice of the multiple incompatible digital standards. I'm also thinking about buying a hotspot unit, but I'm still researching the hot spot units. I think a screen protector is an important accessory, and is a cheap way to protect an expensive radio, just like a screen protector and case is important to help protect an expensive iPhone cellphone. I was wondering why the hot spot features weren't built into the digital radios by now. Then you wouldn't need an external hotspot, just connect to WiFi directly from the radio.

[@thuff3207]

I agree it's very good radio. I also agree for $700 it should have real APRS. Then we would have a competitive reality good radio to compete with Yaesu on APRS.

[@m7bcwstuart84]

I love my 52. 21 mile simplex contact i had best ht to date great radio

[@dr.jamieadamspleasantph.d.1609]

wow!

[@ericlessard4406]

Can you connect the ICOM 52A directly to the internet without a node or hotspot??? I skimmed yr video and you mentioned something about going directly to different dstar repeaters /reflectors???

[@K4SRF]

No, the ICOM 52A cannot directly access the Internet, (maybe one day I am sure a radio will come out like this.) Until then, a Hotspot or connection to a Repeater with Internet access is still needed.

[@maschwerer]

Why is it Baofeng and Wouxun can provide a charging cradle and charger with the radio, but Icom and Yaesu can’t? Heck you can buy multiple cheap Baofengs for the price of Icom’s charger!

[@K4SRF]

My thoughts exactly.

[@DegenGaming]

Stop being poor. Problem solved.

[@joffito2495]

Because in japan the environment and people matter and these factories have to take care not to dump their shit somewhere and pay people well.

[@GordonHudson]

I am about to buy one of these. They are expensive, but taking account of inflation , in real terms, they are cheaper than the IC 2E was in 1981.

[@joeanderson3423]

Hi. Nice review. Is the a way to keep the display from dimming every 5 seconds (or whatever it is) ? I would find that very annoying. I'm suppose it's to reduce battery usage, but still.

[@K4SRF]

I plan on doing a video on some menu options, this being one of them, but until that is done, here are is the path: MENU > SET > Display > Backlight Timer From here you have a choice of 5, 10 or 30 seconds. I hope this is what you were referring to.

[@joeanderson3423]

@@K4SRF yes thank you for that. 30-second seems like a short time still but I guess that's the way it is

[@K4SRF]

@@joeanderson3423 Thirty seconds work fine for me, but I agree there should be an option for "never", but I guess they are thinking of battery life.

[@Thordmz]

@@K4SRF Just go to display in the settings and choose backlight 'on' and it will stay on indefinitely.

[@mrtonicsvls3624]

Can it do analogic cross band beetween V/U or U/V?

[@K4SRF]

No, it can not, at least not in the way I think you are speaking of. It will do cross band on through the repeater with D-Star though.

[@RichardFriedlaender]

Is it full duplex for satellite?

[@K4SRF]

No it is not.

[@TheKiltedHam]

Icom radios use DPRS. They will not do APRS in their radios is the answer I got.

[@raydavidsonm0ray.777]

Hi Steve, I know that it's an excellent but expensive Radio for just a handset & yes, it Has a lot of brill features on it. However, I would have liked to have seen it much more clearly and much closer to your video camera so that I could see everything that you were attempting to show. It also rocket scans much much faster than its older dstar and other other older siblings like the IC D 92 A & E versions & with many more functions. My only gripe with it, is that for the price, they could have added fully Operational SSB TX/RX for 2mtrs & 70Cms. Plus FULL HF RX Only All Modes. I do agree with you though about that desktop charger should have been included in the box.

[@K4SRF]

Thanks for the input. I have been wanting to do another video on the features, and you may have just given me the inspiration to do so.

[@hpduong]

I’d love to see another long video going over the features!

[@afj3rd]

Sure would’ve been nice if you’d given us the cord part number!

[@K4SRF]

I don't remember it.

[@whollymindless]

No video/comment on the party trick, band scope?

[@K4SRF]

No. I planned on it, but life happened and I've not been able to get back to making videos yet. But I will do one.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Can any one use this ? I just want a Kool radio (HT) that can transmit as far a possible just for the cool factor . I just got my gmrs license . I might study for ham if I feel I can learn the material and pass

[@K4SRF]

This radio is designed for Ham use on the VHF/UHF frequencies of 144-148, 440-450 MHz. GMRS frequencies are 462.5625 to 467.7250, so no, you can't use this radio for GMRS. You can use the radio to monitor the VHF/UHF frequencies for which it was designed, but to LEGALLY use the radio required a Federal FCC license.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

@@K4SRF ok Kool . I might get just listen too . Lots to learn in amateur radio 📻 but I’m enjoying all the new stuff I’m learning. Thanks

[@MikesPOV]

Why erase it?

[@K4SRF]

Personal choice.

[@ThatCleanMT]

Why are hams so f’ing awkward 😂? “Hey, Steve here…” 😂

[@whollymindless]

A $25 radio includes a dock, but a $650 radio requires a continued commitment... I picked up the BC202 and that came with a lower supply.

[@somethingcool7903]

But.....for some that's the best part. I like getting a new radio and learning little by little something new looking up videos....some call it entertainment or intriguing learn a lot as well. It makes it worth the price instead of taking it out day one boom done sit on a shelf.

[@barneymerrill3188]

I got a screen protector for my 52a.🎙👍

[@daveborchard2019]

Where did you buy the screen protector? What’s the manufacturer and model number? How much does it cost?

[@barneymerrill3188]

@@daveborchard2019 Enter this in the search line...👉 brotect icom id-51

[@hdryden7652]

Really good video, not sure if you're aware, but they make screen protectors for this radio. If I get this, for sure i'll be purchasing one. As far as price, I think this is a little overpriced and should come in around what the Yaesu FT5D is.

[@K4SRF]

I have yet to find one, or hear of one that is worth the money. They all simply peel off. If you know of one that is worth it and does work well, please let me, (us) know!

[@pathfinderpolska]

I am 1000 subscriber!

[@K4SRF]

Thanks for subbing!

[@neoretrophoto9198]

Ft5d or ID-52?

[@K4SRF]

Either or.

[@TrashyButClassy1776]

I loved this video thank you