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write your own review of the ICOM IC-746.
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K2MMM
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 5, 2009 17:57
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Great Again !!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had to sell my first due to $$$ problems. That was almost 2 years ago to the day. I hated to let it go as it was one of my all time favorites.
Had a TS-850SAT that I had a side by side test with and the receiver was better by a bit with a more aaudible signal. Easy to use and great audio ,the display is nice for my bad eyes.This one is a keeper.Happy to be a 746 owner again....
73 Mike K2MMM
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KK8ZZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2009 15:28
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Timeless Classic !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had a 746 on the desk for nearly 3 years now, and with the advice to run the display at 100% to keep it from blowing the silicon, it's been absolutely trouble-free. I've had the Kenwood IS-2000, Icom ProII and 706Mk2G, Yaesu 897D and 920, and yet the Icom IC-746 is the radio that's still here. The display is large and easy to read, the menus straightforward, and the received audio is excellent. I've had to use an external speaker (the Yaesu SP8 is the best of the bunch, BTW) on all the other radios but this 746 has a full, rich, robust audio stock without any external speaker help. Many other reviews following this will give you the technical details that others detail, this review is just about how it has been so exceptional as to survive the ever-changing parade of radios through my ham shack. This is a very, very good radio that's easy to use, easy to listen to, and especially for new hams, very affordable as a used rig. It will provide years of fun ham radio operation.
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W4MCQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 3, 2009 19:34
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Still Excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is an update of a review I wrote about 2 years ago. I've had a few problems with the radio since then. The auto-tuner motor locked up on it. And the radio just wouldn't turn on for some reason. Anyway, I had my local tech do the repairs & the radio has been fine since. By the way, I also had a 756 Pro which I found I wasn't using that much because I always thought the 746 had a better receiver. OK, so it doesn't have the DSP filtering of the Pro, but I think the 746 is a better radio in my opinion. So, I ended up selling the Pro to a friend at a VERY low price & was looking for something to replace it with. I like having 2 radios with 6 meters. So I bought a Kenwood TS-2000. Big mistake. I didn't like anything about it. The receiver sounded dead compared to my 746; so I sold it & got all my money back. I figured, I like the 746 so much, why don't I just buy a 2nd one; so that's what I did. I now have 2 746's side by side. Best choice I could have made. Both radios working fine. One stays on 6 meters most of the time & the other on some HF band. I can't recommend a radio more than the 746 NON Pro.
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N0SSC
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 21, 2009 23:45
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Great Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this rig off of eBay for about $900 used with a few extras--a digital interface, a shure mic and a 1.8kHz SSB Narrow filter.
So far it works great all around. The ATU tunes my G5RV antenna from 3-50 mHz continuously. One day I attempted to tune up 160 meters and it killed my DSL internet for about an hour.
Really like the 2 meter addition. I use it to run or check-in to local repeater nets. I often get reports of too much audio, where I have to turn the mic gain to its lower limit to not distort my FM audio using the stock mic.
When I'm contesting, distant signals over 10 kc away can splatter up stations I'm trying to work--both in CW and SSB modes. I don't know if its other guys overdriving their amps or the radio's inadequate selectivity.
The TBPT is annoying but effective. I wanted to trim the rx down to 250kHz for CW, but when you fully close the passband, the audio frequency is quite too high to send. I've also noticed that the electronic filter doesn't improve selectivity too well. As if you're using the audio filter, adjacent signals yank the AGC to where you can't hear anything your trying to hear.
One more thing...QSK seems a tad slow as the mechanical relay clicks to keep up with keying. It sounds like it cuts a few ms off the front of dits and dahs.
This may seem like a negative review, but all these "nitpicks" don't keep me from giving it a 5. Problems are minor, and I've had many great signal reports both with and without the speech compressor. I love the speed of the ATU and its ease of use. Its a great radio and will last for a good while.
73,
NØSSC
Sterling--age 17
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KE6TDT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 5, 2009 18:59
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Almost 9 years now.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Purchased mine new in September of 2000 from HRO in Anaheim, CA.
I can honestly say, I have not had one single problem.
I would estimate I use this radio approximately 3 to 5 times per week, for a total of about 5 hours or so per week. I mostly just listen, but I have made contacts all over the world with the 100 watts, and it still provides full power.
I have never felt the need for an amp with this radio, and I enjoy the challenge of reaching out with it's 100 watts.
The entire time I have had this rig I have only used one antenna. A 20 year old butternut HF6V-x vertical, with only 14 radials, ground mounted.
Everything works very well. HF, 2-meter and 6 meter in addition to the general coverage receiver.
This was my second radio ever. My first was an older Kenwood 520s. It was a very nice rig, but in 2000 it was time to upgrade.
I would highly recommend this radio for anyone that wants an all in one, dependable radio, that is really fun to use.
Dan
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N7VC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 15, 2008 09:07
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great radio
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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ive owened this radio 9-months with no proplem at all. real hot rx on 6m & hf, full 100w all bands, perfect audio reports, use it with my drake l-7 amp 1500 out, my first ic-746 non pro lost screen icom charged me $139 + shipping, they said because i didnt keep brightnes up full, but my new pro no problem, i bought this pro after my ft-1000d blew up no factary suport the reports on the pro and ft-1000d are same, buy one you will love it..
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W8NIC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 27, 2008 15:46
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EXCELLENT !!!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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i got this radio 11 months ago and i must say, WHAT A WONDERFUL RADIO ! ! ! 6 and 2 meters are a plus. i have 2 other hf rigs but the ic-746 is and will be my primary hf rig. very user friendly, produces quality audio and receive is wonderful. working distant stations on cw using just a g5rv is such a pleasure. if only i had extra money i would get another one for my 15 yr old son who just upgraded to general.
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K9FON
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 14, 2008 18:24
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Ok..........
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine gently used and had it for a month and the internal tuner quit. I sent to Burghardts and they fixed it. Now 3 years later the tuner quit on 160 80 and 40 meters again. Oh well, I got a MFJ manual tuner so the rig can agree with my Swan amp that does not have tuned input. The radio itself is great and sounds superb on the air. The main reason i bought it was to have a rig that worked on 2 and 6 meters SSB and CW.
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ON4WIY
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 4, 2008 13:27
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LOOKING GOOD,WORKING WELL!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Owned my ic-746 about 1,5 year,get it from a friend that used it abt 7 years without troubles!
It's a good performer,superb at-tuner exc....
Big difference after installing all filters ssb-cw.
The only thing I dislike is the compression control on the back ! but it's a keeper !!! and much better than my HONKY-TONK IC-7400 that I'have already sold !!!
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KA2UUP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 3, 2008 07:23
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8 years later
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Got my 746 new from HRO almost 8 years ago to the date of this review. Since then, I installed a couple 9 MHz filters and the high stability crystal, and updated to a SM-20 microphone. No problems with the tuner or lights going out reported from my side, and still performs like the day I took it out of the box. What I see from some reviews are nitpicks on features that the radio was not supposed to have in the first place.
Would I change this radio for something else? NO WAY!!! The $1200 I paid have been a good investment. No service calls, no problems.
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