n1oty wrote:Personally, I am quite impressed with this Icom equipment. This equipment has the latest generation vocoder which is also going into Phase II P25 equipment. Icom has come up with a winning combination here, solid equipment, cutting edge equipment and reasonable pricing.
I have to say I'm VERY impressed too. I think you will also be equally impressed with Kenwood's NEXEDGE product line since it's compatible with Icom's iDAS.
Kenwood NEXEDGE: (NEXEDGE = "Next Edge" or something like that to represent cutting edge technology, aka NXDN digital.)
- Conventional wide analog FM ("25k")
- Conventional narrow analog FM ("12.5k")
- 12.5k NXDN digital
- 12.5k NXDN digital / 12.5k analog mixed mode
- 6.25k NXDN digital - Note: 6.25k digital only, no mixed mode. I wish it did 6.25k NXDN and analog narrow mixed. Kenwood offered mixed mode operation with 12.5k NXDN as an interim step towards 6.25k in the future and to lock those users into using Kenwood equipment.
Icom iDAS: (iDAS = iCOM Digital Advanced System, aka NXDN digital)
- Conventional wide analog FM ("25k")
- Conventional narrow analog FM ("12.5")
- 6.25k NXDN digital
- 6.25k NXDN digital / narrow (12.5k) analog mixed
Icom and Kenwood compatible in analog wide and narrow modes and 6.25k digital only on conventional systems. It's when you get into trunking is where you lock yourself into a single manufacturer.