Pascal Villeneuve, VA2PV, va2pv@arrl.net
Product Review
Icom ID-52A Dual-Band FM/Digital
Handheld Transceiver
Reviewed by Steve Ford, WB8IMY
wb8imy@arrl.net
If the Icom ID-52A is striving to become the top-end “luxury”
analog FM and D-STAR handheld transceiver, I believe it may
have achieved its goal. This radio has a wealth of features that
place it near the top of the list, not only for digital D-STAR users,
but for FM operators as well.
If you’re tempted to compare the ID-52A to its predecessor, the
Icom ID-51A, you will quickly discover that the ID-52A is more
than a straightforward replacement. As you’re about to see, the
ID-52A has several attributes that set it apart.
One of the rst things you’ll notice is the larger color LCD (the
display is more than 2 inches diagonally). When you listen for
the rst time, you’re also likely to notice a major audio output
boost compared to the ID-51.
But those are just rst-blush impressions. As you handle the
radio with the lithium-ion battery attached, the solid con struc tion
is obvious. The ID-52A weighs slightly more than 10 ounces
and the package includes a battery charger, exi ble helical
antenna (better known as the proverbial “rubber duck”), and a
belt clip. The accompanying instruction manual is professionally
written and provides most of what you need to know, although
you will need to download additional documentation from the
Icom website if you want to explore advanced features.
Bottom Line
The ID-52A has
several attributes
that set it apart from
its predecessor.
This radio isn’t a
budget handheld,
but its abundance
of features and
functionalities
commands a price
to match.
When it comes to reception, the ID-52A spans 88 to 174 MHz
and 225 to 479 MHz. This range includes FM broadcast
(monaural only) and AM aeronautical coverage. It excelled at
both, although I had to occasionally use the attenuator function
to mitigate overload from nearby FM stations.
On the transmit side, the ID-52A offers more RF output levels
than I can recall seeing in a handheld transceiver: 5 W (High),
2.5 W (Mid), 1.0 W (Low2), 0.5 W (Low1), and a mere 0.1 W
(S-low). Even at 100 mW output, I had little difficulty reaching
local repeaters. It probably goes without saying that
I enjoyed considerable battery life at that output level.
Other standard-equipment goodies include Bluetooth wireless
connectivity, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a
microSD memory card slot, a USB port, and 1,000 receive/
transmit memories (along with memories set aside for your
favorite FM broadcast stations).
Reprinted with permission; copyright ARRL.
www.arrl.org QST June 2022 41
Key Measurements Summary
Receiver Sensitivity (12 dB SINAD, PV)
SINAD
Receiver Third-Order Dynamic Range (dB)
I
3
RX
Receiver Third-Order Dynamic Range (dB)
I
3
RX
ChRej
IF
Img
KEY:
Values shown are for Receiver A.
See Table 1 for additional measurements.
Icom ID–52A
2 m 0.11
70 cm 0.12
0.25 0.1
(10 MHz offset)
2 m 85
70 cm 78
60 90
(20 kHz offset)
2 m 73
70 cm 73
40 70
Adjacent Channel Rejection (dB)
2 m 79
70 cm 73
50 90
IF Rejection (dB)
2 m 136
70 cm 148
60 135
Image Rejection (dB)
2 m 138
70 cm 79
60 120
QS2205-PR159
The radio carries an IPX7 rating,
which means that if you drop your
ID-52A in a body of water less than
a meter deep, you have at least 30
minutes to retrieve it before damage
occurs. Rather than test the rating,
I chose to take Icom’s word for it.
Powering Up
Despite its overall ruggedness, the
ID-52A has a comfortable ergonomic
feel. I never found myself fumbling to
access the controls, and the central
navigation and selection button was
simple to use.
A long press of the power button on
the side of the radio brings the
ID-52A to life after a slight delay of a
second or so. The LCD screen is
Table 1
Icom ID-52A, serial number 150001808
Manufacturer’s Specifi cations Measured in ARRL Lab
General
Operating modes:
FM/FM-N, AM/AM-N,1 DV (GMSK), As speci ed.
FM broadcast band (WFM)
Power requirements: As speci ed.
10 V dc – 16 V dc external supply
7.4 V dc with speci ed Icom battery pack
5.5 V dc with speci ed Icom battery case
Current drain (at 7.4 V dc): Measured at 12.6 V dc,
Transmit (at 5 W): <2.5 A High, 1.16 A; Med, 0.85 A; Low1, 0.49 A;
Low2, 0.6 A, S-Low, 0.34 A.
Measured at 12 V dc, 440 MHz
High 1.38 A; Med, 1 A; Low1, 0.53 A;
Low2, 0.69 A, S-Low, 0.35 A.
Current drain from internal battery not
measured.
Receive (max audio output, 8 load) Measured at 12.6 V dc, 146 MHz and
FM/FM-N, <400 mA 445 MHz.
S9 modulated signal, lights on, one
receiver on, 0.26 A.
Digital Voice (DV), <450 mA No signal, lights on, both receivers on,
0.29 A.
Receiver
Receive frequency coverage:
3
A Band: As speci ed.
108 – 174 MHz, 225 – 479 MHz
B Band: As speci ed.
137 – 174 MHz, 375 – 479 MHz
FM Broadcast Band: As speci ed.
76 – 108 MHz
Receiver Sensitivity:
A Band FM/FM-N, 12 dB SINAD:
137 – 174 MHz: <0.32 µV 146 MHz, A and B band:
225 – 259.995 MHz: <0.56 µV FM, –125 dBm (0.12 µV)
260 – 479 MHz: <0.32 µV 146 MHz, A and B band:
FM-N, –126 dBm (0.11 µV)
162.4 MHz, A and B band:
FM, –125 dBm, (0.12 µV)
164.2 MHz, A and B band:
FM-N, –126 dBm (0.11 µV)
445 MHz, A and B band:
FM, –124 dBm (0.14 µV)
445 MHz, A and B band:
FM-N, –125 dBm (0.12 µV)
A Band AM/AM-N, 10 dB S/N: 120 MHz, A band:
108 – 142 MHz: <1 µV
225 – 259.995 MHz:
<1.8 µV
–127 dBm (0.1 µV)
260 – 374.995 MHz: <1 µV
B Band, FM/FM-N, 12 dB SINAD: As measured for A band on 146 MHz and
137 – 174 MHz: <0.32 µV 445 MHz.
375 – 399.995 MHz: <0.32 µV
400 – 479 MHz: <0.32 µV
FM Broadcast Band (WFM), 12 dB SINAD:
88 – 108 MHz: <1.8 µV 100 MHz, 1.0 µV
FM two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic A Band, 20 kHz offset:
range: Not speci ed. 146 MHz: FM, 71 dB; FM-N, 73 dB
445 MHz: FM, 74 dB; FM-N, 73 dB
A Band, 10 MHz offset:
146 MHz: FM, 85 dB; FM-N, 85 dB
445 MHz: FM, 77 dB; FM-N, 78 dB
B Band, 20 kHz offset:
146 MHz: FM, 72 dB; FM-N, 71 dB
440 MHz: FM, 70 dB; FN-N, 71 dB
B Band, FM, 10 MHz offset:
146 MHz: FM, 83 dB; FM-N, 84 dB
440 MHz: FM, 75 dB; FM-N, 75 dB
2
146 MHz
42 June 2022 QST www.arrl.org
Reprinted with permission; copyright ARRL.
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