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On the World’s Stage

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As amateur radio operators, we often take for granted our ability to easily reach out to the far corners of the globe. A late evening QSO with Europe, while exhilarating, is by no means uncommon. We’ll regularly trade ‘fish stories’ about that crazy contact that we made on low power with a ramshackle antenna but rarely stop to think about just how strange a notion this would be to someone not familiar with our hobby. Double this effect for anyone not familiar with the principals of RF communication, and HF communication in particular. Read More...

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Amateur Radio: The Ultimate STEM Activity

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External display output on the IC-7610 makes instruction easy.

How time does fly. It seems like just last week I made a post about my Field Day adventures in and around the Atlanta area. I explored the concept of Field Day as Amateur Radio’s open house and spending time with several different groups to learn what makes Field Day special for them. In truth, of course, it’s been a full 12 months and yet another Field Day is in the log. This year, I took Field Day on the road and spent the weekend with a marvelous group of young men and women up in the Boston, Massachusetts area. Read More...

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F52D: It’s More Than Just the Size

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For public safety, service and security workers, communication tools are key. There are numerous devices on the market designed for these individuals. But do these devices have everything? Do they have all the features you have become accustomed to, and are they compact in size for easy handling? Or do you have to sacrifice one for the other?

The F52D/F62D series is the newest edition to the Icom IDAS™ portable line-up. This new radio has it all, impressive features, modern design and compact in size. Building on the success of the F50V and the innovation of the F3400 series, this new radio will easily fit in the palm of your hands. The F52D/F62D is the smallest series on the market, which makes it perfect for discrete use and convenient carrying. Read More...

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Connecting Icom Customers with AIR. LAND. SEA. Interoperability

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Customer service is the heart of any successful business. It is not just about providing the basics, but going above and beyond is what makes a company’s customer service soar. We have all experienced good and bad customer service, and the good service is what creates customer loyalty.

At Icom we pride ourselves on providing top quality and service to all our customers. Anyone who does not believe in going the extra mile for a customer would have recently been proven wrong.

A couple of weeks ago, James Mueller of the King County Search and Rescue Office approached Icom’s Service Manager Dywane Black. They wanted five of their Icom F5601 radios to be interoperable. King County Search and Rescue Association (KCSARA) is a volunteer organization. Members respond to numerous incidents every year involving lost or injured hikers, missing aircrafts and assist with natural disaster incidents as well. Having interoperable equipment is vital to complete their missions. Read More...

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Is Your Digital Repeater Ham Friendly?

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Digital technology continues to flood our repeater frequencies, leaving many questions about standardization. If you are one of those who are holding out, or have been sucked into the bandwagon of the latest craze of the repeater gods, take a few steps back and ask yourself: do we have a ham friendly repeater?

Many of the advances over the last 35 years for amateur repeaters have come from the land mobile or commercial radio world. For instance, the use of tone and tone squelch to allow repeater frequencies to be reused across a geographical area that previously was not possible. This was a great advancement and allowed more people to have their “own” repeater. However, I feel that the latest phase in digital has brought in a dangerous trend that few understand, and as a result, there are several fundamental freedoms that ham radio operators are unknowingly giving up! Read More...

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Communicating in the Worst Environments with Icom’s F52D

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F52d graphicWhen a fire strikes, time is of an essence for the firefighters and those trapped. Being able to have effective fireground radio communications during these situations is vital, but can be proven difficult. Firefighters are engulfed in a hostile environment filled with smoke, water and falling objects, all while in a cloud of ash-filled darkness. They have safety equipment to help combat these conditions, however during these stress-full situations everything needs to work perfectly, even their radios. Read More...

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Advancing P25 Technology with Icom

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Government, public safety and public service agencies relay on digital two-way communication solutions. With such an important purchase, the most current technological and operational features should be available. Many public agencies use P25 products and Icom’s 3rd generation of P25 advances this product line to the next level!

What is P25?

P25 is a set of standards for digital radio communications. It is used by federal, state/province and local public safety organizations within North America, allowing interoperable two-way communications between agencies. With a standard in place, government agencies can choose from multiple products when selecting their communications equipment, ultimately saving money and gaining the freedom to select from the widest range of features. Read More...

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EMCOMM-1, IWCE and a Short Stint in Jail

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EMCOMM-1

A mobile interoperability platform, EMCOMM-1 is based in northeast Florida. It contains communications equipment including radios from HF thru 2.4 GHz, as well as satellite PTT with POTS interface.

EMCOMM-1 and its state-of-the-art equipment, large antenna and flashing lights made an appearance this year at IWCE in Las Vegas. Owner Mike Lee and his assistant Phil McElrath traveled over 2,300 miles and across eight states, from Florida to Nevada. It took Lee and McElrath two weeks and nearly 12-15 hours of driving time a day to make the journey. Traveling through heaving winds and rains, and the occasional traffic jam, EMCOMM-1 finally made it to Las Vegas.

The show was a great success, as EMCOMM-1 was definitely a highlight. People all around could not help but stare and inquire about this impressive communications vehicle. Excitement was all around, and it followed Lee and McElrath even as they left Las Vegas. Read More...

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An Adventure Visiting Japan and Icom’s Roots

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Dealers in Japan

Earlier this year a contest was introduced, giving Icom Land Mobile dealers the opportunity to earn an all-expense paid trip to Japan for them and a guest. How did they do it? By meeting their purchase goal. Twenty dealers finished in the winner’s group of their tier, and in early November they headed off to Japan for four days.

The trip to Japan was an extraordinary experience for all involved. It was not just a flight to Japan, the awarded dealers were able to visit Icom Inc headquarters, the Wakayama Factory and a number of historic sites. Read More...

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How can Icom’s next generation IDAS™ help me?

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Next Generation IDASThe way we communicate has changed tremendously over the last two decades. As technology advances in two-way communications, so do our devices. A radio is no longer just a radio. With each new generation, additional features and functions are included. But what do all these features do? How do they fit in real-life situations and who will benefit from them?

Bluetooth®
With many states now passing hands-free laws, the ability to use a communication device while driving is changing. Two-way radios with built-in Bluetooth® provide hands-free communication. While paired with a Bluetooth® headset, commercial vehicle drivers are able to answer a call hands-free and still be complaint with FMCSA. Read More...