Icom ID-5100A
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| Frequency | 144-148 MHz, 430-450 MHz |
| TX power | 5 / 50 W |
| Modes | FM, DV (D-STAR) |
| Weight | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 2014 |
| antenna | SO-239 |
| dc in | 13.8VDC fused power cable |
| mic | Icom 8-pin RJ-45 modular |
| power req | 13.8VDC (vehicle power) |
Icom's D-STAR mobile with a touchscreen interface. DR (D-STAR Repeater) mode simplifies D-STAR access by displaying nearby repeaters from a built-in database. GPS built in. Touchscreen with band scope. 50W. The ID-5100A made D-STAR mobile operation significantly easier than previous Icom radios.
D-STAR has a smaller installed base than DMR. The touchscreen is distracting while driving. Expensive compared to analog-only mobiles. The D-STAR reflector system requires understanding to use effectively.
D-STAR made accessible. The DR mode was Icom's best idea for D-STAR adoption: show the operator nearby D-STAR repeaters and let them connect with one touch, on a 5.5-inch touchscreen. For operators with D-STAR repeater coverage, the ID-5100A (Deluxe) is the most user-friendly way in, and it is still current.
The ID-5100A is Icom's flagship-feeling dual-band D-STAR mobile, and the thing everyone notices first is the big touchscreen controller. It covers 2 meters and 70 centimeters at 50 watts, runs both analog FM and D-STAR digital voice, and (to head off the usual confusion) its digital mode is D-STAR only, not DMR and not Yaesu's C4FM. The two will not interoperate.
Beyond the screen, the feature set is deep: a built-in GPS for position reporting and nearest-repeater search, dual-watch that can monitor two signals at once including two D-STAR streams, an SD card slot for logging and backups, and an optional Bluetooth module. The control head detaches for remote mounting, and the repeater list holds well over a thousand entries. It has been a popular choice since its 2014 release and remains a current product.
Within Icom's own family it is the modern endpoint of the line that ran through the IC-2820H and ID-880H, combining built-in D-STAR with dual receive and a far friendlier interface. For a ham who wants one capable digital mobile and does not mind learning D-STAR, it is an easy radio to live with.