VHFVery high frequency
- Strong at
- Open field, long sightlines, section-to-section
- Weaker at
- Bins, steel buildings, tight yards
Most grain and field operations start here.
Radios & antennas
Radios that show up programmed
We sell Icom because it survives the cab. Every radio leaves our shop already set to the channels you run, and we fit the mobiles and antennas ourselves, so you are not reading a manual at 6 a.m. in a field.
Quick note on the words. A two-way radio is voice between two people, radio to radio, and every radio on this page is one. That is different from a 2-way remote start, where the vehicle sends a confirmation back to your key fob. Same phrase, two completely different products.
First decision
VHF or UHF
This is the question that trips people up, and the wrong answer means radios that do not reach. The short version: VHF carries further across open ground, UHF gets through buildings and steel better.
UHFUltra high frequency
- Strong at
- Yards, shops, bins, anywhere with steel and structures
- Weaker at
- Raw distance across open ground
Better when the work happens around buildings.
Most operations end up mixing both. Tell us where you actually work and what your neighbours run, and we will spec it so everything talks to everything.
The lineup
Four radios cover almost everyone
Three handhelds at three price points, and one mobile for the cab. Prices are per radio.
Icom IC-F3003 / IC-F4003
The workhorse handheld.
- Seasonal crew
- Simple point-and-talk use
From$325 Details & fitment →
Icom IC-F1000 / IC-F1000T / IC-F2000S
A step up from the F3003 with more channel capacity and, on the T and S models, a display and keypad.
- Multiple channels or zones
- Mixed crews
From$399 Details & fitment →
Icom IC-F5023 / IC-F6023
The heavy-duty handheld.
- Lone workers
- Grain and livestock operations
From$525 Details & fitment →
Icom IC-F5013 / IC-F6013 / IC-F6013H
The in-cab mobile.
- Tractor and combine cabs
- Base station in the shop
From$439 Details & fitment →
Installation
The antenna is the part that decides your range
A handheld works out of the box. An in-cab mobile does not. It has to be mounted, wired to vehicle power, and given a proper external antenna, and that antenna will do more for your range than the radio itself will. It is also the part people most often get wrong doing it themselves.
What we fit
- In-cab mobiles in trucks, tractors, combines, and sprayers.
- External antennas mounted and grounded properly for the vehicle.
- Power and wiring run to vehicle power, not spliced into whatever was handy.
- Base stations for the shop or the house.
What comes with every radio
- Channel plan. Matched to what you already run, or built from scratch.
- Programmed before pickup. It works the moment you turn it on.
- Licensing straight talk. We tell you whether your setup needs an ISED licence before you buy, not after.
- Somewhere to bring it back to. We are the shop, not a warehouse.
Questions
Radios, answered
What is the difference between a two-way radio and a 2-way remote start?
They are unrelated, and the wording is genuinely confusing. A two-way radio is voice between two people, radio to radio, and every radio we sell is one. A 2-way remote start is a key fob that gets a confirmation back from your vehicle after it starts, which is the difference between the PRO 1WG15 and the PRO 2WG15. One is communication, the other is a confirmation.
Do you install radios and antennas in trucks and tractors?
Yes, and that is most of what we do on the radio side. A handheld works out of the box, but an in-cab mobile needs to be mounted, wired to vehicle power, and given a proper external antenna to be worth the money. We do the mount, the wiring, and the antenna, in trucks, tractors, combines, and the shop.
Why does the antenna matter so much?
On a mobile radio the antenna does more for your range than the radio does. A good antenna, mounted in the right spot with a clean ground, is the difference between reaching the next quarter and reaching the far end of the section. It is also the part people most often get wrong when they install it themselves.
Can you help me choose between VHF and UHF?
Yes. We recommend VHF or UHF based on where you use the radios, how much ground you need to cover, and what your neighbours or crew already run. As a rough rule, VHF carries further across open field, UHF handles buildings, bins, and yards better. We also handle setup and programming so the radios arrive ready to use.
Do the radios come programmed?
Yes. We program every radio before it leaves the shop so it matches the channels you already run. If you are starting fresh, we will set up a sensible channel plan with you.
Will these work with the radios I already have?
Usually. Icom gear programs to standard analog frequencies, so it will normally talk to whatever is already in your trucks. Tell us what you are running now and we will confirm before you buy.
Do I need a licence to run two-way radios on the farm?
It depends on the frequencies you use. Some are licence-free, others need a radio licence from ISED Canada. We will tell you straight which category your setup falls into so there are no surprises.
Tell us where you work
How much ground you cover, how many handsets you need, and what radios are already in the trucks. We will spec it and quote it.