oe7drt-website/content/equipment/radio-stuff/handhelds/icom-id52/index.md

---
title: Icom ID-52
summary: >
  A really awesome handheld radio -- and it does D-STAR as a
  bonus. Check it out -- it's cool!
date: 2021-12-10
lastmod: 2024-03-17T19:59:25+0000

showBreadcrumbs: true
showReadingTime: false
showWordCount: false

---

This is actually my number one handheld radio. I find it very intuitive to use
and also the audio is quite good and the speaker is also one of the louder ones.
I haven't much used this on digital yet but I heard people saying it to be ok
on digital mode (D-STAR).

## Easy to use T-CALL and SQL

### T-CALL

Right away: there are two ways to open a repeater with a 1750Hz tone.

1. Push _PTT_ like you would perform a double-click with your computer mouse
  and hold _PTT_ on the second "click".
2. Open _MENU >> SET >> DTMF/T-CALL >> DTMF Memory_ and select _T-CALL_ with _OK_
  key. Go back to standby screen and press _PTT_. Now additionally press the
  _SQL_ button.

### SQL

In standby screen this button is momentary to open the squelch on the currently
used frequency (simplex). If an offset is set, it will open the squelch on the
transmitting frequency (so you might hear the other OM directly).

Press _SQL_ and move the main dial for one click, the actual squelch setting
appears on the bottom of the screen (default: AUTO).

- Turn the dial further left to open up the squelch permanently -- you can
  release the _SQL_ button in this case.
- Turn the dial further right and you can choose a squelch level (1 to 9)

## Repeater list

I really like the repeater list, although it is not very accurate when you first
download the list from the internet. But once you filled it with actual repeater
data (including location data) the scan function will definitely profit from
this -- it should re-arrange the scan list for you while you're moving.

I'm still working on that one; this takes time (a lot of time) sitting on the
computer and updating a nearly never ending list of false information _HI_.

## Recordings

### Memo recorder

Goto _MENU >> RECORD >> Voice Recorder >> Record_ and hit _PTT_ to start the
recording. Press _PTT_ again to stop. You can fill this with memos or
conversations (just let people know when you record them!). Change the Mic Gain
with the _Quick button_. Find the recorded files on the SD-card in
_ID-52 >> VoiceRec_.

### QSO Recorder

This lets you automatically record QSOs as they come in. Per default settings
the record gets already started when you press _PTT_. In settings you choose to
split files on mic change or not. Splitting files will add metadata to the files
so you can re-view them (like GPS data, frequency, signal strength) on the radio.
You can also download those files to your computer, find them on the SD-card in
_ID-52 >> Voice_.

### QSO Logger

Similar to the one above, this records your QSO into a csv file. You find this
data on the SD-card. Specifically in _ID-52 >> QsoLog_. Open them with your
favourite text editor or any spreadsheet program. I got an example for this one
right here:

![QsoLogger example](QsoLog-example.png)

### Rx Logger

This is quite the same as the Qso Logger, but I think this only logs received
calls from D-STAR. You find those files on the SD-card within the folder
_ID-52 >> RxLog_.

### Voice Tx

Files for this will be in _ID-52 >> VoiceTx_ on the SD-card. Set this up in
_MENU >> VOICE_. That can be used for automated CQ-calls or similar. I haven't
used this yet.

### DV Auto Reply

This should send your recorded clip automatically on incoming calls. Also this
is something that I haven't used yet, but to make the list complete, you know.
I have no idea where this is going to be saved.

## Sending and receiving pictures

The Icom ID-52 lets you receive and transmit pictures either on direct frequencies
or on reflectors (both need to be digital, just to mention that). I also haven't
used this either for now.

I occasionally receive pictures that others send while they are transmitting
normal voice, view those pictures in <kbd>Pictures</kbd> → the picture screen opens
and displays the received (and transmitting) picture on the bottom. Select <kbd>RX</kbd>
and hit <kbd>Enter</kbd> to view the last 50 received pictures in the history. Hit
<kbd>Enter</kbd> again to view details about the selected image (like sender and
receiver information, time and date as well as some basic info about the picture itself).

## Power output

| Power output diagrams | |
| --- | --- |
| ![output power on 2m band](power-2m.png) | ![output power on 70cm band](power-70cm.png) |

I've found out how to measure more than 4 traces at once (hint:
disable <kbd>TRACKING</kbd> in the Marker options)

The measured output power around 144.500 MHz and 433.500 MHz are:

| Power setting  | Output power 2m | Output power 70cm |
| :---- | :----- | :----- |
| S-Low | 107 mW |  99 mW |
| Low1  | 539 mW | 443 mW |
| Low2  | 1.09 W | 783 mW |
| Mid   | 2.45 W | 2.21 W |
| High  | 6.26 W | 4.94 W |

## Harmonics

Only measured on the 2m band.

![harmonics](harmonics.png "I could not see any harmonics at <mark>145.550 MHz</mark>.  
For people that cannot read the small fonts properly: the graph goes up to 3 GHz.")