The Icom IC-V90 was introduced in the early 2000s as a high-end, professional-grade, single-band 2m (144 MHz) FM handheld. Unlike the popular entry-level V80, the V90 was designed for extreme environments and advanced users. It is best known for its , submersible design , and wide-band receive capabilities .
If you see an Icom IC-V90 at a hamfest with a working display and no battery corrosion, buy it immediately. Replace the battery with a modern Li-ion pack, and you will own a handheld that will likely outlive every other radio in your shack.
, which provides 5.5W of output power, these handhelds are designed to balance battery life with the strength needed to "get the message through." Maintenance and Practical Use
It lacks a numeric keypad. Yes, you read that right. To change frequency, you rotate the top knob. To enter a specific frequency (e.g., 146.520), you must use the "dial" method, spinning through megahertz and kilohertz separately. It is slow and tedious.