[ICOM] IC-7200 Release Announcement

[Alex]

C'mon Adam. You didn't really make this up, right? This is Icom provided text I hope:

"
What, no ATU? It will be noted that the IC-7200 is not equipped with an internal ATU. This makes a lot of sense in an entry-level transceiver; by omitting the internal tuner limited to a 3:1 VSWR range, the radio manufacturer can pack more performance into a smaller, simpler package and allow the user to select an ATU as required.
"

Sure, as if with a built in ATU one could not select an external tuner, also. And yeah, the radio will be so much easier to operate without it. Phew, I'm glad they omitted that one confusing tuner button from the front panel. At least there's an admission that a 3:1 SWR matching unit is limited (which could be easily extended to tune a wider range, but then that would eat into the accessory market...). 

This is silly marketing talk. Leaving that text out makes a heck of a lot more sense than providing the public with a half-a.... excuse for why they are saving manufacturing bucks.

Now if they'd said that they exchanged the ATU for an internal 110/230V power supply, that would have made sense. Packing in more performance....puhlease!

73,
--Alex KR1ST

 
  -------------- Original message from Adam Farson <farson at shaw.ca>: --------------


> The IC-7200 group has been authorised by ICOM HQ to announce that the
> IC-7200 will be shown at Dayton 2008.   The IC-7200 is not yet FCC approved
> for sale in the USA at the time of this announcement.