[ICOM] NEW IC-7000

[Michael P. Olbrisch]

This is an interesting comment.

Do you really think ICOM has given up on 222 just to spite you?  Or do you
suppose there -MIGHT- be some sort of a rational decision there?

I have the 2005 ARRL Travel-Plus.  I have an ICOM IC-901A equipped with 28,
50, 144, 220, 440, and 1240 MHz modules.

When we travel to dog shows, I print out a list of repeaters for that route.
Within 500 miles of my home there are 461 144 MHz repeaters, 485 440 MHz
repeaters, but only 60 222 MHz repeaters.

Within 500 miles of San Francisco (a LARGE city) there are 724 144 MHz
repeaters, 735 440 MHz repeaters, but only 303 222 MHz repeaters.

We have 1 222 MHz repeater in El Paso.  I scan past it all the time.  I
cannot recall ever having heard anyone on it.

Obviously - ICOM doesn't see much of a market for 222 MHz radios.  And as a
business, the market decides what they build.  They don't see much of a
market for 222.

As much as I would like to see ICOM re-make the IC-901A with 100 (or more)
memories per band and a (BIG) alpha-numeric display, I don't see any market
for that either.  Had YAESU made the quad-bander for 144-220-440-1240
instead of 28-50-144-440 my wife would have a Yaesu in the van instead of
her own 901A.

There are 222 MHz radios on E-bay all the time.  Dunno what that means in
the big picture - but they are available.

Mike.  KD9KC
El Paso, TX.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John Geiger
> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 6:05 AM
> To: ICOM Reflector
> Subject: Re: [ICOM] NEW IC-7000
> 
> 
> 
> I think Icom has given up on 222mhz, as they are the only big 
> manufacturer
> that makes no 222 gear currently.  Too bad, as they used to 
> be the leader in
> 220 gear, with the 375A, the V21AT 2/222 HT, the 3SAT, etc.