View Full Version : ICOM 208 H
KC6CME
06-13-2009, 03:11 PM
Id like pros and cons for an Icom 208 H.
Thanks.
KC9OSX
06-14-2009, 05:18 AM
I love mine.
Pros:
small size
face is remote mountable, and cable is included.
55 watts on 2 meter
50 watts on 440
Cons:
Confusing to program (for me, anyway)
low/pinched transmitted audio on 2 meters (I found this is fixable in the main settings menu, but it makes the 440 audio sound rough or over modulated).
Other than that, it's been a decent, reliable radio so far.
VE3LDJ
06-29-2009, 04:00 AM
I've had mine for many years, it's on its second car.
It has seen me through hotter than heck summers, and
nose-hair freezing winters.
I keep my display set to green.
Nice big display
Receives out of band
easy to use menu.
I bought the ID-800H last year.
W7HMV
07-14-2009, 01:28 PM
I've had my 208H for about 10 months now and I like it a lot. I find it easy to program, as compared to my two Kenwood dual banders. It is very easy to read the display and I particularly like the ability to "label" the frequency display with alphanumerics.
The only thing wish Icom had incorporated in the radio was to have a control head mount bracket that allows you to remove the control head from the bracket so you can take it out of the car easily.
Fine radio, IMHO.
KC6CME
07-14-2009, 04:26 PM
Thanks for the replies.
Im still on the fence about which one to put in my Jeep.
KC7YRA
07-15-2009, 12:22 AM
We have one in my wife's car. It has been there for a little over a year.
I really like the rig. I really enjoy the programming of Icom radios. The interface makes sense to me (but messes with most others).
Like another poster said, the audio on 2 meters is messed from the factory. Make sure you have it set to WIDE audio and you have the mic gain set to HI. That pretty much fixes it.
The radio is moderately intermod sensitive. I have the squelch setup to go into the attenuator (a menu option) and once turned past 12 O'clock, it cuts the intermod very well without distorting the received signal.
The control head is TINY and can be mounted anywhere. That is what drew me to this rig as it fits in my wife's Nissan Sentra very well.
Brad
For those who don't know the IC-208: ICOM IC-208 specifications and reviews (http://rigreference.com/rigs/view/2980/ICOM-IC_208D)