Spy Review

The Icom R3 is a radio scanner with an amazing feature, the ability to receive video broadcasts, as well as audio broadcasts. However, on reading the specifications, it only receives video broadcasts on the 900–1300 MHz, 2250–2450 MHz bands. But this didn’t stop me from buying it, since I know that wireless cameras tend to operate around 1.2GHz and 2.4GHz, so this would pick them up with no problems.

When I got the scanner, I was understandably excited by it. The rechargeable battery it came with needed charging, so I did that. The rechargeable battery was a Lithium Ion one, designed for the scanner. Fired up the scanner, and the received audio and video signals were great. However, big issue, the battery didn’t last very long! The battery certainly wasn’t dead, and only lasted about an hour. Even when using alkaline batteries, they started to drain after just 20 minutes! I checked a review of the device, and found that the current consumption was around 850mA with the video screen switched on!!

I also discovered another little problem with this device, namely that you can’t use rechargeable batteries! The device is heavily dependent on the batteries being of a certain voltage to work. AA rechargeable batteries are rated at 1.2V, not 1.5V like their alkaline counterparts. Therefore the operating voltage of the 3 AA rechargeable batteries I used was 0.9V lower than the 4.5V expected by the scanner, i.e. 3.6V! Suffice to say, it didn’t work at all on the rechargeable batteries. This is not the first time I have encountered this with an electronics item.

Further more, you cannot get a mains adapter to run the scanner directly from the mains. The only adapter you can get is for a car in the 12V socket, or the mains charger that just charges the provided battery. Rubbish!

So all in all, this device was a waste of time. At £350, its an expensive bit of junk! It was promptly returned to the shop I got it from for a refund!