Hi Don, For what it's worth I got started on DStar with a 2200H loaner. Then I bought the 880. The difference in operating is significant (at least to me). The display is much better. On the 2200 you do not see the sending station info text like callsign. Seems like a small thing, but I really would miss it. I am net control for a local dstar net and we have used 'silent checkin' a few times. Stations just key for a few seconds and net control can copy their call from the display. Can't do that with the 2200. Don't know your qth, but in southern Califoria it appears that all the DStar repeaters are on the 440 band - no frequency slots available on 2 meters. This will likely appear in other regions as well. So, I would say go with the 880. I will add that a friend that runs our local dstar repeater tried the 880 and did not like it. He bought another 2820 instead, although for much more money. 73 Ted W1GRI
_____ From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Don Bowen Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 10:24 To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] 2200H vs 880 I am trying to decide between the Icom 2200H or the Icom 880. The 2200 is a single band and needs the digital board for D-Star. The 880 is a dual band and comes D-Star ready. The 2200 goes for around $150 and the digital board is about $200 for a total under $400 while the 880 goes for around $500. My current thoughts are to get the 2200 now and the digital board later when funds are available. Thoughts, comments? -- Don Bowen KI6DIU http://www.braingar <http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html> age.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
