[Icom] Re: HT dilemma-HELP! - Kenwood F6 Comments

[Gary Pearce KN4AQ]

Sorry for the Kenwood-exclusive comments, Icommers...

> >Kenwood F6A-no 6 meter transmit:

True, but it receives six FM and SSB (and cw) well, given antenna 
limitations.  I've found six FM operation with an HT (I have a T-81) to be 
quite limited unless I connect a longer antenna, or an external 
antenna.  The 220 band works great with an HT.  I wish Icom made radios 
with 220 again.

>terrible stock antenna

There was a problem with the antennas on early units.  That's been fixed, 
and the currently shipping antenna works fine (looks the same as the original).

>possible low transmit audio (according to eham)

In general, the F6's have very good transmit audio, both volume and 
fidelity.  There is a setting for "FM Narrow" that meets the 2.5 kHz 
deviation standard for new commercial equipment.  FRS radios use 2.5 kHz, 
too.  A ham thinking of "narrow band FM" - what we call our usual 5 kHz 
deviation - might see that menu option and say "I should set it to 
'narrow'."  But don't, unless you're operating on one of the very few 
repeaters set up for that deviation.

The speaker volume is adequate.  I clip it to the front of my bike and 
listen to broadcast FM and hams while riding.  It won't overcome freeway 
traffic noise, but it's pretty good for such a small speaker.


>only 2 power settings-5 watts, which drains the battery, and 500mw, which 
>can be useless

It also has a 50mw setting, but if 500mw is useless, 50 won't make you happy.

Battery life with the F6 is amazing.  It's a lithium-ion battery, charges 
in 6 hours from the wall-wart, and "lasts all day."  Obviously, that 
depends on transmit/receive/standby duty cycle.  In an all-day event, like 
communications for a 100 mile bike tour with lots of active receive and a 
moderate amount of transmitting, one battery is all I need, and it's still 
got a lot of juice at the end of the day.

I've always gotten the lower-voltage, higher capacity batteries for radios 
like my W32 and W2.  No need with the F6.

The W32 was my chief recommendation to students in my classes.  It's now 
about $100 cheaper than the F6... BUT, I'd also recommend a second battery 
and rapid charger to those who didn't want a radio that just becomes an 
expensive battery charger after a few hours use.  That makes it about the 
same price as the F6.

I'd still recommend a second battery with the F6 "just because"... but 
you'll never use it.

My F6 downsides:
- a little more junk and intermod than the W32, especially on 220 (on the 
"A" side - the "B" side is even worse).  Not bad in the suburbs, but 
downtown it's hit hard.
- single volume control and "balance" switch.  With the W32's independent 
volume controls, you can almost listen to two conversations at once by 
keeping one loud and the other soft.  The F6 has a three step balance 
switch - 50/50, 75/25, and 100/0.  Not really useful.
- single freq switch.  Actually, the "multifunction" switch.  You have to 
pick the A or B band before you change freq or other functions.

These are not killers, just minor complaints.  On the other hand, the radio 
has a 5-way "joystick" that is easy to use, unlike the 5-way rocker switch 
on my T-81 that is IMPOSSIBLE to get right the first time.

I waited for Icom to make the F6... but they didn't.  I'm hoping that on my 
next HT cycle, about 3 or 4 years, that Icom has winner.

73,
Gary KN4AQ