ICOM Business IC-F3001 16 Channel VHF Radio

The IC-F3001 is a straightforward 16-channel VHF business handheld for teams that need reliable push-to-talk without programming complexity. It covers 136 to 174 MHz at 5, 2 or 1 watt, so output can be dropped to extend battery life or raised to extend reach. ICOM rates it to MIL-STD-810G across low pressure, high and low temperature and temperature shock, and it operates from minus 22 to plus 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Priority scan lets a supervisor monitor one or two priority channels while scanning the rest. The radio ships complete: BP-265 battery, BC-193 desktop charger, BC-242 AC adapter, MB-124 belt clip and antenna.

Key specifications

• Color: Black.
• Use: Professional analog communication for business teams.
• Frequency: VHF 136-174 MHz.
• Channel capacity: 16 channels.
• Power: 5/2/1 W.
• Coverage: Site-dependent. Terrain, building construction, antenna selection, programming and repeater design affect usable range.

Who it is for

The IC-F3001 suits a small crew that wants a plain VHF business radio with a channel knob, a volume knob and nothing to configure on the fly: grounds and facilities staff, outdoor event teams, farms and yards, and campuses where most of the talking happens outside. VHF carries better across open ground; if your site is mostly indoors, the UHF sibling is the IC-F4001 on CMI's F3001 / F4001 series page.

Size, weight and battery

• Size: 2.3 x 4.4 x 1.4 in (58 x 111 x 35.5 mm) with the BP-265 battery, projections not included.
• Weight: about 9.5 oz (270 g) with the BP-265.
• Battery: BP-265 Li-ion, 1850 mAh minimum (2000 mAh typical), rated by Icom at up to 20 hours on a 5:5:90 duty cycle with power save on; the supplied BC-193 charger refills it in about 2.5 hours.
• Protection: dust and water resistance equivalent to IP54, tested to 11 categories of MIL-STD-810.
• Also built in: priority scan, talk around, lone worker, time-out timer, two-step power save, 3-colour LED, CTCSS and DTCS tone squelch, MDC PTT ID and emergency.

Licence

This radio operates on licensed business frequencies. An FCC business radio licence (Part 90) is required to transmit; CMI can point you at the process when you order.

Accessories that fit

CMI connector codes: S2 and S3A. Icom's brochure names these options for the IC-F3001, and these are on CMI's site: the BP-265 battery (the same pack the radio ships with), the BC-193 rapid charger, the BC-197-51 six-unit charger for a shared charging shelf, the FA-SC57VS stubby antenna for the 160 to 174 MHz part of the band, and the HS-94 earphone headset. Icom's brochure notes that the HS-94 headset needs either the VS-4LA PTT switch cable or the OPC-2004LA VOX adapter cable to plug in. Icom's price guide also lists the LC-F3000 leather carry case for this radio.

Part number

CMI part number: F3001. The same radio family, with the UHF IC-F4001, is also listed on CMI's F3001 / F4001 series page; the rest of CMI's Icom range is in the Icom collection. Not sure which band your site needs? Read UHF vs VHF two-way radios.

Also written without hyphens: ICF3001