Anyone here used the new Icom IC - 41S ? (Australian Radio)

[losangelescop]

So heres the deal, I have been looking into getting some new radios, and just for the hell of it i went to Icom's website and found a new radio that came out in November i think it was, anyway its called the IC - 41s, comes pre-loaded with all 48 Australian UHF CB channels, and something like 80 spots after that for programming of private channels, also has selcall, radio ID etc, also has Talk Permit Tones (What are these anyway out of curiosity???) anyway So I have put this radio into the pile to consider, I was wondering if anyone out there who has used them could give me some feedback on how good they are etc, and how they compare to similar radios from Motorola...Always been a Motorola fan, but I'm considering these coz they can do all 40 channels right out of the box plus extra channels, for $400 AUD with battery and charger compared to $1700 AUD for the similar Motorola GP338 or MTX960, and being pre loaded with all 48 CB frequencies means no messy arrangements or fees for programming until i get my private channels......

PS sorry, i kno usually only Moto stuff is supposed to be on this forum (i spose this question is Motorola related anyway, between the decisions and stuff)

Thanks all [/img]

[HLA]

i'm gonna guess that the radio being made for australia, it's not fcc approved for over here. and being an australian radio the charger is going to be made to run on 240v/50hz.

[txshooter]

i'm gonna guess that the radio being made for australia, it's not fcc approved for over here. and being an australian radio the charger is going to be made to run on 240v/50hz.

I am pretty sure he actually resides in Australia......

[HLA]

i figured he was in los angeles with that screen name?

[emsbuff3240]

why dont you read his signature line?

_________________
Motorola RULZ, LA Cop is my handle, i actually live in australia

lol

[Tom in D.C.]

AU$400 is about US$315.

I thought that talk permit tones were used only on
trunked systems. On a channelized analog FM system
it's just a gimmick that does nothing...I think.

A nice Saber 3 will yield the same results for about
the same or a little less money, and you'd be using
a Motorola radio instead of an Icom. Don't get me
wrong, I like Icom's product, it's just that no one radio
is best for all situations and I don't see the 41S as
the clear choice here if you can use a Saber instead.

[HLA]

no way, that was edited in after i posted that wasn't it? oh well if not then i missed it.

[losangelescop]

NOTE: Yes, I do currently live in Australia...LA Cop is my Screen Name....lol, anyway now that's hopefully cleared up, I'll continue...


I would rather love to use a Saber of some kind, thing is... in Australia they are really really really rare and the main ones we have are being used by police and feds who must have imported them from the good ole USA years and years ago, I have rarely seen sabers in Australia on the Australian eBay, or for sale anywhere elce. No Moto dealer anywhere here seems to have the software and cables to program them and If they did, a simple 12 channel Saber would cost a fortune to program. Basically the only reason I was interested in this Icom IC - 41S was because it is a new model and seems to do twice as much as a similar model Motorola for well under 1/2 the price, not only that but it comes programmed to do all 48 of our UHF CB channels right out of the box (which is what I mostly use), without any programming hassles. Basically due to my tight radio budget, all I have is a bunch of second hand Waris radios lying around, all missing accessories, and of course programming costs a fortune even for 4 channels. (I have 6 radios) And it has been like this since I got them a couple years ago! It would be nice to go with a lighter, more compact and feature-filled radio that is of professional standard, works right out of the box and comes with all the accessories needed for a good price, compared to Motorolas recent trend in the past 5-10 years of producing crap with overly high and simply rediculous prices. Dont get me wrong, I love Motorola, but I dont see the point of all this radio hassle. It is also too bad that all we have over here is the Waris series, and the XTS series (which you can imagine is way out of my tight price range)

If anybody out there can recommend a good general radio or a radio deal (pref. Moto) that is of professional standard, comes fairly cheap and can be programmed for free before shipping (to Australia), let me know. Maybe I could even get my Waris units fixed up and trade them for something more rugged and ready to go with no hassles....anyway, it remains to be seen considering I also want to take some GM300's and build me a cheap yet simple repeater, which is more strain on my already abnormally low budget.

- Nic.

[HLA]

have you thought about finding a used ht1550 with the red battery and you alter the programming yourself? you might find somebody on ebay that will pre program it for you and ship one to you?

[losangelescop]

have you thought about finding a used ht1550 with the red battery and you alter the programming yourself? you might find somebody on ebay that will pre program it for you and ship one to you?

A good Idea, but I wouldnt need a radio with that many features, it would not be a wise choice for me to go and buy a radio that has too many features for what I need and that is rarely cheap on eBay, and after all that hassle and trouble that the Waris line has given me in the past, I am reluctant to go back to them.....

btw out of curiosity....what is the "red battery"...neva heard of it....

[HLA]

the red battery allows you to program the 1550 yourself with the front keypad.

[losangelescop]

oh ok, sounds good, i expect its rare and expensive? also do you know whether it works on any radios other than the 1550?

ALSO IF ANYONE OUT THERE STILL HAS ACTUALLY HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEW ICOM IC-41S, PLEASE POST HERE OR PM ME...THANKS!!!!