Name: Icom IC-2730A
Brand: Icom

2m · 70cm

Bands

50 W

Output

2015

Introduced

Frequency	TX: 144-148 MHz (VHF), 430-450 MHz (UHF), RX: 118-174 MHz (AM airband + VHF) + 375-550 MHz (UHF wide) — aviation, marine, weather
TX power	5 / 15 / 50 W (50W on BOTH VHF AND UHF. Multiple power levels.)
Modes	FM
Weight	1.1 kg (2.4 lb) - ~1100g (manufacturer figure — not independently verified from web sources).
Connector	SO-239 (PL-259 compatible — built-in duplexer for single antenna operation)
Year	2015

Connectors

antenna	SO-239 (built-in duplexer)
mic	HM-207 remote control mic (included) — dual mic jacks on controller AND main unit
dc in	DC 13.8V, 13A (OPC-1132 power cable included)
power req	DC 13.8V, 13A. Controller cable OPC-837 included.

Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR radio - FCC Technician-class license required to transmit (2m/70cm); NOT GMRS, NOT license-free. MOBILE dual-band analog FM ONLY (no digital). Power: 50W on BOTH VHF and UHF (also 15W, 5W). Detachable controller; true dual receive (incl. V+V / U+U); built-in duplexer; large white backlit display; NOAA weather alert; wide RX 118-550 MHz; 1052 channels; optional Bluetooth (UT-133); MIL-STD-810. Mounting brackets sold separately. ~2014-15. Current.

Icom's dual-band mobile workhorse — 50W both bands with simultaneous receive 50W on BOTH VHF AND UHF — durable PA module V/V, U/U, V/U simultaneous receive (V/V and U/U are NOT common on all dual-bands) built-in duplexer (single dual-band antenna — no external duplexer needed) 1,052 memory channels separate tuning dial, volume, and squelch knobs for each band (symmetrical layout — eyes on road) display 1.5× larger than predecessor IC-2720H — large frequency/channel name display white backlight, high contrast (IC-2730B variant has black inverted LCD for night driving) 50 CTCSS + 104 DTCS tones with split tone function (separate uplink/downlink per channel) wideband receive: 118-174 MHz (AM airband, marine) + 375-550 MHz (aviation, weather, utility) MIL-STD-810 tested (rugged for vehicle/field use) optional Bluetooth: VS-3 headset with PTT + VOX (requires UT-133 BT module installation) optional HM-209 active noise-canceling microphone (auto noise reduction for noisy environments) HM-207 remote control microphone included cross-band repeat CHIRP compatible WARNING: mounting bracket NOT included — optional MBA-4 + MBF-1/MBA-5 sold separately (a pricey add-on!) IC-2730B 'Black Edition' variant: inverted display, better night visibility

Strengths

Icom build quality, with 50 W on both bands (many competitors are 40 W on UHF). It has V/V and U/U simultaneous receive, a built-in duplexer (one antenna, simple install), and symmetrical controls for safe driving. 1052 channels, wideband airband/marine/weather RX, MIL-STD 810, CHIRP compatibility, and split tone. The HM-207 mic is included, with optional Bluetooth and a noise-canceling mic. One reviewer called it the sweet spot between budget and premium.

Weaknesses

The mounting bracket is not included (a pricey extra for the MBA-4/MBF-1; competitors include this). No digital modes. No GPS or APRS. Bluetooth needs the optional UT-133 module. No USB-C. The display can be bright at night (the IC-2730B fixes this). The true installed cost includes that bracket.

Verdict

A capable Icom dual-band mobile. The IC-2730A delivers 50 W on both bands, V/V + U/U simultaneous receive, a built-in duplexer, and MIL-STD ruggedness. It does dual-band FM mobile with Icom reliability. Budget extra for the mounting bracket, which is not included.

The Icom IC-2730A is a popular dual-band analog FM mobile radio covering 2 meters and 70 centimeters. It requires an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit; it is not a GMRS or license-free radio, and it is analog FM only, it has no digital modes. It is a straightforward, well-built mobile aimed at operators who want reliable dual-band FM without digital complexity.

It puts out a full 50 watts on both bands, with a detachable controller that can be mounted away from the main unit, true dual receive (including same-band V+V or U+U), a built-in duplexer for single-antenna use, a large white backlit display, NOAA weather alerting, and a wide receiver. A common gripe is that the mounting brackets are sold separately, adding to the real cost.

It remains current and is one of Icom's staple analog mobiles. For Icom's D-STAR digital mobile, see the ID-4100A; for a high-power single-band 2-meter Icom, the IC-V8000.