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write your own review of the ICOM IC-746.
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WP3VV
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 25, 2009 14:27
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Good so far
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I would like to start this review with a word of advice.
As I did my research before buying this rig, I humbly suggest to anyone interested on this radio, put time and effort into a research, before buying this rig (or any other rig). Not only on ham radio, but every single commercial product outhere WILL have issues and/or shortcomings. In this case, Icom is not exempt. Be aware of that.
Of course, some people come here giving a "0" because they got a junker with screwdriver marks from everyone in the "ownership line" including a dog well, you get what you paid for...
I believe by this time most of the ham fraternity is aware or should be, of the 746 issues. Also, the Ham community should be aware of the customer service (same for yaesu and Kenwood) But I am not going to go deeper on that, this is a strict product review as the guidelines indicates.
I bought this radio because the benefits, construction quality and performance outweighs the issues at hand, by far.....way far.
I am giving the radio a 5 because meets and exceed my expectations. The rig is well-constructed, feels solid, the menu is easy and the display is not only pretty but easy on the eyes. Sensitivity/selectivity is adequate for my use. I don't see the use for more filters. TX audio is superb( I have a sm-20 ) and RX audio is adequate - that could be a tad better, but won't bother me.
I am an "audio" ham. Not ESSB but TX-RX Audio to me is extremely important. I running the 746 side-by-side with a Kenwood ts-870. They both differs in this department greatly. The ts-870 is more broadcasting neat type of audio (with a MC-90) and the 746 is really loud but balanced, like if you were shouting at the top of a mountain. I tell you, I like both big time. The ts-870 is definitely superior on the RX side audio, no contest there.
In my opinion, the 746 runs a little hotter than the average rig. I have my shack in a well-controlled environment and it runs basically cool whenever I use it. No issues so far, knock on wood.
Probably running this rig at average temp. should be is something to consider in order to somehow offset the known thermal issues.
The rig is costing and average of 700-800 bucks used , not a bad price for a rig with 2 meters, 6 meters and HF. 100 watts in 2 meters is delightful when you go simplex.
Some people are repeating the same 'ol known issues, like if the radio were a piece of trash. It's a waste of time which only serves to keep the ham community on their toes,IMHO. If you're interested on this rig, get informed in order to make a sound choice. If you're not an "appliance operator" and at least know basic electronic stuff, you should fix it easily in no time. Of course in case the rig goes down.
There's plenty of information on the net about the 746 line. The yahoo group helped me a lot in understanding the rig in all aspects.
Hope it helps.
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N4NYY
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Rating: 0/5
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Sep 25, 2009 05:53
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Icom needs a lesson in customer support
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had originally give this radio a 5 back around late 2005. Loved the radio. Great receiver, AGC worked fantastic. Filtering was superb. But I got bit by 2 of the most infamous problems.
First, the backlight went out. I decided to fix it myself. Really wasn't that difficult. Upon replacing the transistor, the dimmer did not work. I had a second component failure. I emailed Icom for assistance, and they responded with an email that said, "Check your work". OK. Eventually I found an bad SMD transitor, and when I replaced it, I got the dimmer working again. Since Icom would not help me, I figured I would help other hams and created a powerpoint presentation under my old call KC2NXV, that gave a step by step procedure on repairing the backlight yourself.
Fast forward to Sept 2009. I turn the unit on, go to transmit, and nothing! The demon had struck! I got hit with the IC-151 or 2SK1972 driver failures. I figured I would replace both, so I called Icom and asked to purchase the parts. They said that they could no longer offer the 2SK1972’s for sale to the public, because of limited availability. I would have to send the radio in to them, or buy from another vendor. Upon complaining to their warranty administrator, I then get an email saying that they would indeed sell me the 2SK1972 drivers. But at $101 each! That would be $202 for the pair! Gee, thanks! I then got a hold of Scott at Malcom Technical Support, and he sold me a match pair for $45. He also sold me the IC-151 for $12, including the diode fix. I installed them and the rig back and working like a charm. Scott at MTS is superb. I would highly recommend his repair services.
I have since decided that I am done with Icom. I sold the rig, and am saving for a Yaesu FT-950. Being in the service and repair field, I constantly have to deal with customers. I have never treated customers the way that Icom treated me. I am done with them.
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DL7ISA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 9, 2009 22:06
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! One of the Best !
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I thought the Receiver of the IC-746 will not hear anything more than other Receivers, since I have my 746 I know better. For Example on 80m there are Groups on Evenings I use often to listen to, some Members in those Group I couldnt hear loud enough to understand what they say, NOW with the 746 i can hear them clearly. That is a HUGE Difference: I can hear now with the 746 what I couldnt hear before, this is OUTSTANDING !!! I dont miss my old IC-765 even anymore, wich I thought to be the best.
The DSP Noise Reduction (NR) helps to reduce the Noise without Distorting the desired Signal but only to a Degree, further than between 9 o'clock and 11 o'clock Position (while ANF Notch on), the Audio becomes muffled till distorted. The DSP (NR) doesnt make an unreadable Signal readable but less Noise stresses the hearing of the Radio Operator lesser, nice to hear the Bands more relaxed, specialy Nights on 80m. The S-Meter reading doesnt change, no matter how far the NR Knob is turned.
I wonder who had the strange Idea to put the Compressor adjustment Knob on the Rear, that's odd. The Antennatuner (AT) is not very fast but much quieter than the AT of the IC-765.
Useful to have 2m on Board, no need for another Transceiver, it is all compact in one Box.
A practical fine thing is to have all the readings at same time: Power, ALC and SWR.
For Power Supply I bought a new Diamond GSV 3000, it can reduce the Voltage from 15 Volt continiously down to 1 Volt. I found out something funny: the Fan in the 746 runs much faster when turning the Voltage from 13.8 to 15 Volt, Display Brightness does not change with the Voltage in that Range (at about 11 Volt the Transceiver switches completly off).
Transmit Audio is ok with the Original Handheld Mic, wonder how it would be with an Icom SM-6 or SM-8 Mic. In the Menu its possible to adjust the Treble, I have it on +20 (max), pitty there is no extra adjustment for Bass.
The Pass Band Tuning (PBT) I use for IF Shift to get the more higher Tones, PBT works efficient against QRM from Stations nearby my Frequency.
Next time I want to try the FL-257 IF Filter (3.3KHz SSB Wide), maybee I update this Product Review here.
73 to all Friends
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EA7EE
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 4, 2009 01:35
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Great Second Hand Purchase
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Buy second hand at fairly good price, 700 euros, for use as a second home rig. Truly amazed by the performance on HF and the rig size. I've put it as my first rig in HF and backup for VHF/UHF. I keep TS-2000X for VHF/UHF contest and HF backup.
VHF is prone to intermodulation, but with a beam antenna for DX in VHF, no problem, it is very sensitive. I have installed a old 432 transverter for DX, and the performance is very good. Very happy with the purchase, the best buy I've had in a long time.
Pros: Quadruple conversion
PBT quite useful
High Sensitivity in 15-10-6m
Motorized Tuner
Full duty TRANSMITER
Cheap second hand
Great Internet Technical Info
Cons: VHF Intermod on vertical antenna
Open BandWidth in AM
To make Mods for prevent breakdown
Only dual conversion in TX
Grettings from the beachs of Light Coast in Huelva, Andalusia
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KB9NPH
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 1, 2009 19:14
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Very good
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had a 746 non pro and sold it, thinking I needed 746 Pro. I now have the Pro and like the unit very well but the straight 746 was just as good! DSP hasn't really impressed me that much. Fact I rather listen via my Kenwood TS530S. But I do wish I'd kept the non Pro, as I bought it new. Oh well. 73, KB9NPH
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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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