Also known as: ID-52A, ID-52A PLUS, ID-52
Reader-supported. GopherTrunk is free, open-source software. Some
hardware links on this page go to Amazon with our Associates tag
(gophertrunk-20); if you buy through them we may earn a small
commission at no extra cost to you. Links to out-of-production gear may go to
eBay searches instead; we have no affiliate relationship with eBay and earn
nothing there. It never changes which gear we recommend, and
the software stays free either way. How GopherTrunk is funded →
The Icom ID-52A is the D-STAR handheld built for the outdoors: dual-band 144/430 MHz at 5 W, a genuinely waterproof IP67 body, the first large color display on a D-STAR HT, wideband 0.5–579 MHz receive with AM air band, and GPS plus Bluetooth built in.1 The family is currently transitioning: the original ID-52A (~$580 while stock lasts) is being superseded by the ID-52A PLUS (~$700–750), Icom’s 60th-anniversary refresh with enhanced terminal-mode and DV-gateway features.
Key takeaways The best D-STAR handheld for hard outdoor use. IP67 waterproofing (the TH-D75A is only splash-resistant), a superb color UI, easy reflector access, and a bigger stock battery (1,880 mAh) than Kenwood’s. No APRS TNC — position goes out as D-PRS over D-STAR — no 220 MHz, and D-STAR is its only digital mode. ~$580 for remaining original stock, $700–750 for the PLUS. Transmitting takes an FCC Technician license; listening doesn’t.
Overview
Where Kenwood’s TH-D75A is the data-mode Swiss Army knife, the ID-52A is the D-STAR radio you can drop in a creek. Icom gave it a 2.3-inch color transflective LCD (readable in sunlight), simultaneous V/V, U/U and V/U dual watch, 1,000 memories, a microSD slot, and one of the cleanest D-STAR implementations in the business — repeater lists, reflector linking and the share-picture function all work the way the manual says they do.
The PLUS transition matters mostly for terminal and access-point operation (working D-STAR gateways over the internet with no local repeater): the PLUS enhances those features, and it’s what Icom America’s lineup page now lists. Buying the original at a discount is a fine move if you mainly use local repeaters; buy the PLUS if gateway operation is the point. One era-specific annoyance on pre-PLUS units: charging is Micro-USB, which owners rightly dislike.
Modes & features
- D-STAR DV/DR with easy reflector access; PLUS adds enhanced Terminal/Access Point modes.
- Wideband RX 0.5–579 MHz — AM, FM and WFM including the air band.
- IP67 — 1 m / 30 min submersion rating, the best waterproofing in the current D-STAR field.
- GPS and Bluetooth built in; D-PRS position reporting (no conventional APRS TNC).
- 5 W on 144/430 MHz; BP-272 1,880 mAh battery (3,150 mAh BP-307 optional).
Programming
Icom’s free CS-52 software (CS-52PLUS for the PLUS) handles memories and settings over USB or by writing the microSD card directly; RT Systems covers it too. CHIRP does not support it — plan on Icom’s tools.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it can’t transmit, so it is no substitute for an ID-52A. What it is good for is finding out whether $600+ of D-STAR hardware will have anyone to talk to. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk lets you monitor your local repeaters and digital ham traffic — recording and logging every transmission, which no HT does — so you know whether D-STAR, DMR or C4FM is the live mode in your area before you commit to one. Start with best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy the ID-52A if you want D-STAR in a waterproof, sunlight-readable, field-first package — SOTA, backpacking, marine environments. ID-52A PLUS on Amazon →
- Buy the Kenwood TH-D75A instead if APRS, packet/Winlink, 220 MHz or SSB/CW receive matter more than waterproofing.
- Skip both if your area runs DMR or C4FM — see the AT-D878UVII Plus and FT-5DR, and the full rankings in best handheld ham radios.
Buying note. The button links the confirmed ID-52A PLUS (60th Anniversary Edition) listing. Remaining new stock of the original ID-52A sells through ham dealers around $580; on Amazon, search current ID-52A listings.
Sources
-
Icom ID-52A PLUS product page — Icom America, on D-STAR DV/DR and terminal modes, 0.5–579 MHz receive, IP67 rating, GPS/Bluetooth, and the PLUS refresh. ↩
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the ID-52A and the ID-52A PLUS?
Same radio family. The PLUS is Icom’s 2024 refresh with enhanced Terminal and Access Point (DV gateway) features and USB-C-era conveniences; Icom America’s lineup now lists the PLUS. Remaining new stock of the original still sells for around $580, the PLUS for $700–750.
Is the ID-52A waterproof?
Yes — IP67, rated for 1 m of water for 30 minutes. That’s a real advantage over the Kenwood TH-D75A (IP54/55, splash-resistant only) if your D-STAR radio lives outdoors.
Does the ID-52A do APRS?
Not conventional APRS — there’s no packet TNC. It reports position via D-PRS over D-STAR instead. If APRS is your priority, the Kenwood TH-D75A is the clear pick.
Does the ID-52A work with CHIRP?
No. Program it with Icom’s free CS-52 (CS-52PLUS for the PLUS) software, RT Systems, or by editing the microSD card contents directly.
Do I need a license to use the ID-52A?
Transmitting on the ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Technician class or higher). Listening — and this radio’s 0.5–579 MHz receiver with air band is good at it — requires none.