Special: New Icom Radios Steal the Show: Tokyo Ham Fair Reactions

Published: August 24, 2025

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yC799zqCPo

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438895/episodes/17726132

Summary

While Yaesu dominated last year's Tokyo Ham Fair, this year belonged to Icom, who unveiled two significant new radios. The IC-7300 Mark II brings a 12dB receiver improvement, lower power draw, and modern connectivity to the most popular HF radio of the decade, while the ID-5200 mobile concept finally brings a color touchscreen and possible native APRS to Icom's VHF/UHF lineup. Plus, Uniden returns to the Ham Fair after 40 years.

In This Episode

• Tokyo Ham Fair 2025: Icom's year to shine

• IC-7300 Mark II: 12dB better receiver noise performance, 23% less heat, HDMI and USB-C

• Why Icom evolved the IC-7300 instead of reinventing it

• ID-5200 mobile concept: color touchscreen, possible native APRS, Wi-Fi D-STAR gateway

• The aging ID-5100 and what the upgrade means for mobile operators

• Uniden's return after a 40-year absence and what it signals for the hobby

Mentioned in This Episode

• Tokyo Ham Fair: https://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-6_ham-fair/Ham%20Fair%202025,%20Tokyo.html

• Icom IC-7300 Mark II

• Icom ID-5200 (concept) and ID-5100

• D-STAR and APRS functionality

• Uniden's return to amateur radio