Ha! That's awesome.
Did you ever get the icom mic - hm36 I believe? From what I've read, the Japanese models were fantastic but the China model has really fallen in quality.
I received my new Optima yesterday. Man, that mic really needs help, so I helped it. The radio certainly needs help out of the box so, I helped it also. Now it's rock in'. Using both the CR577 and the 2018 xtreme. I like the 2018 extreme even better.
Same stuff turns me on about the Optima as before. Continuous vfo. I can zip up to freeband with a fast changing channel changer; the 5khz steps helps me not miss anything scanning the band. The SSB is so forgiving. The receive is the best of every other radio.
I would pay extra for better back lighting for night view, a microphone that doesn't need to be modded.
After 1 1/2 years of being away and using a Pres Linc 2 ( which I really liked), I'm glad to be back to Optima Prime.
Did you ever get the icom mic - hm36 I believe? From what I've read, the Japanese models were fantastic but the China model has really fallen in quality.
I received my new Optima yesterday. Man, that mic really needs help, so I helped it. The radio certainly needs help out of the box so, I helped it also. Now it's rock in'. Using both the CR577 and the 2018 xtreme. I like the 2018 extreme even better.
Same stuff turns me on about the Optima as before. Continuous vfo. I can zip up to freeband with a fast changing channel changer; the 5khz steps helps me not miss anything scanning the band. The SSB is so forgiving. The receive is the best of every other radio.
I would pay extra for better back lighting for night view, a microphone that doesn't need to be modded.
After 1 1/2 years of being away and using a Pres Linc 2 ( which I really liked), I'm glad to be back to Optima Prime.