[Icom] Took the plunge-initial impressions of the T2H sport

[John Geiger]

Took the plunge and decided to get the Icom T2H sport,
based on reports from these reflectors.  Also based on
price-found a demo unit from AES Cleveland for $84.94
shipped.  What a deal for a new HT, complete with 1
year warranty, etc.

The box came monday, after a weekend of anticipation. 
After opening it, my enthusiasm waned some.  It looked
like a $85 HT.  The HT seemed to be made out of cheap,
light plastic that would never stand up to abuse.  How
did this thing get a Mil Spec rating?  For the Iraqi
army?  Worse yet, the battery case had no cover!  The
cells just lay in their.  I was planning to get
another case and use it as a spare carry along
battery.  Well that would never work, the cells would
fall out.  I was disappointed and planned on sending
the T2H back or selling it.  Wonder if anyone else had
the same first impression.

Then I tried it out-and it performs outstanding! 
Everyone on the local repeater says it is the best
sounding HT I have had yet, and that is with 1 watt.
They all say "Keep it, you are actually solid into the
repeater all of the time now."  When I rarely go to 6
watts it really kicks butt!  Non QRP level on an HT! 
I do alot of bicycle mobile, and the audio out level
is perfect for overcoming road noise.  It is also nice
to have the HI/LO power and LOCK features are
accessible by pushing a single button, important when
you are riding on a bicycle.  Seems very resistent to
intermod.  I even solved the battery case problem by
running a couple of strips of electrical tape the
length of the case, over the batteries.  You cannot
see it from the outside, but it holds the cells in,
and even makes the battery case fit a little more
securely on the HT.  

A funny thing has happened.  Since that initial
impression upon opening the box, the plastic appears
more solid.  The appearance keeps getting better and
better, and I like this HT more and more.  I will get
another battery case and use more electrical tape.  No
I will not send it back to AES. The T2H is great. 
Great performance, just the right number of features,
and almost the perfect size.  A little shorter and
thinner would be nice, but it still fits in shirt and
coat pockets just fine.  For less that $85 bucks
shipped this was a steel.  I am really coming to love
this HT.

If you need a good, inexpensive, well performing HT,
here you go.  Wonder if anyone else has had such a
wide range of impressions as I have to the T2H?
Thanks for letting me ramble, just wanted everyone to
know you can't always judge an HT by your initial
impression. After all, isn't performance more
important that appearance anyway?
73s John NE0P

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
http://shopping.yahoo.com