[ICOM] Icom Handheld units

[STeve Andre']

On Tuesday 17 May 2005 19:12, Duane B. Fischer, W8DBF wrote:
> Today I visited the family of a Ham who became a SK last month. One of them
> showed me a pair of Icom two meter handheld units, they did not look much
> alike,
> but both said 02a. However, one did have another letter after the "02a", a
> "T" I
> think.
>
> They seemed to be older models to me, there was an original manual for
> each. One
> works for sure, the other I am not sure of.
>
> I know nothing about this model. Can one of you tell me when it was made,
> why there is an obvious physical difference and what the
>
> They are in good cosmetic condition. As stated, one works the other I do
> not know. Working with the assumption that both do work, about what is each
> one worth?
>
> thank you very much.
>
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF

Duane,  It sure sounds like those are Icom IC-02AT HT's.  These were the 
second series of Icom HT's after the IC-2AT, IC-3AT and IC-4AT came out.
(actually there are IC-2A/3A/4A's as well, without a touch tone pad).

There may be an IC-02A without a touch tone pad; I've heard that such
a thing existed but never quite believed it.

These are well made radios, but limited by todays standards.  5W out
with 13.8VDC, 10 memories and PL, but the older units couldn't keep
a PL tone when wandering around in VFO mode; you had to put it back
in every time you QSY'd.  A minor annoyance that they fixed with better
software in later units.

All in all, excellent radios.  I recently got an IC-03AT as a spare for about
$45, so the price of the 02AT's is probably a little less.  These were made
in the early to mid/late 80's.  I got my first 02AT new at Dayton in 1985.

--STeve Andre'
wb8wsf