Well, it's not a mark two, at least from the stuff being published on their homeland CQ Radio site. If I had to guess, I'd say it will be a pro version. I don't suspect you'll see it much before mid 2008, if then.
I purchased the first 7000 AES sold, after being on order for nearly two years. I didn't have any of the reported first problems with the 7000. Rob Sherwood, NCØB, was probably the most outspoken about the reported squeal, but others also mentioned it. The only problem I ever had was with the speaker jack. It came unsoldered, and taking the radio apart to fix it is a real bag of worms!
I purchased a second 7000 at Dayton, as the deal was too good to pass up ($1,099 delivered). I fixed the jack on the old one a second time, and sold the radio to a good friend.
If I have any complaints with the radio, it's the low quality of the video out. Lots of guys have the video fed to their Navi, and say it looks good. Personally, it stinks! The display only have the NTSC standard, and any screen over about 5 inches looks blocky. I didn't make the TV mod on the second one for this, and the fact the receive sensitivity isn't adequate for TV, no matter what antenna you use.
One minor gripe if the lower power AF. I think Icom should pay attention to Yaesu and up the audio out to at least 5 watts, if not 10!
My new serial number is about 7,000 higher than the original, and every single feature works as it should.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
