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write your own review of the ICOM IC-756PRO.
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K4MSG
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2009 19:51
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Everything I need!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought this radio early in 2009 to upgrade my HF capability beyond my venerable & reliable IC-706MkIIG. I have been extremely pleased with the performance and features and would buy a Pro II or Pro III in a heartbeat if a great deal came my way. I operate mostly CW traffic nets, with some casual CW DXing and only occasionally a contest of some sort like the VA QSO Party (VAQP). The 756PRO has handled my needs in exemplary fashion.
Controls are well-placed, the functions are reasonably intuitive, and the manual is well-written if you forget or get confused. I've gotten kind of spoiled by the 756PRO "human interface" after several years of the 706's nested menus, HI! The built-in antenna tuner works fine with my antennas (simple wires) and is very fast and quiet.
For CW traffic work I especially like the band scope since it helps me (as net control station) to see where the "holes" are when I need to send someone off frequency to pass traffic. While the full break-in CW works fine, I really prefer the "sound" of the semi break-in with the delay set to minimum; I find it nearly as fast as full break-in but without the annoying (to me) noise bursts. BTW, I use a bug so haven't tried the keyer capability.
For 40m DXing using a 5-band trap dipole at 25' I've picked up around 50 new countries and have almost completed my 40m DXCC. I'm able to work the pileups about as effectively as can be done with 100w and a simple wire antenna.
In the VAQP for 2009 I was 3rd-highest in the low-power CW category and it was my first VAQP since 2001.
A word about pricing: I paid around $1200 for mine from Larry, W8CCY, in MI (a really fine gentleman!). It was in absolutely mint condition, a tribute to Larry's respect for fine equipment. If you can find one for that price in like condition you won't be disappointed!
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VE3TMT
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 21, 2009 07:02
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Simply amazing
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Although I've only owned the radio for a few weeks, I continue to be amazed. Traded a TS2000 as I was not really doing much on the V/UHF bands. I spend more time contesting on the digital modes and that was one area I felt the Kenwood was lacking. Really wasn't comfortable running the TS2000 at full output on RTTY either. No worries with the PRO. I've had many QSO's on PSK and find the radio to be super quiet, with great QRM fighting circuits. Love the scope, and I have a feeling I have yet to uncover all of the radios neat tricks. They are selling on the used market at very nice prices, just a bit higher than the 2000, and although I've always been a Kenwood guy, I don't regret getting rid of the 2000 one bit. The PRO is one fine radio.
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W4WSW
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 10, 2009 14:31
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Outstanding Radio...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well this is my second ICOM, I had the first IC-756 wich I trade for an IC706-MKIIG after I get my 756-Pro, It's my main rig and I will keep it for ever, is a nice good looking radio plus excellent for my needs, 100W out without problems, I got a good price for it, If I want to buy another radio without a blink I will get another 756-Pro... Outstanding rig....
73 de W4WSW
Luis / Woodbridge, VA.
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W8NIC
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 11, 2009 18:24
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All I'll need
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've been considering getting a PRO II or even a IIIbut after talking to a few PRO owners, i'll be keeping the pro.
it's such a versatile rig and looks good to.
It's a keeper.
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K9WAS
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 11, 2009 13:28
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I love it!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'll be honest, this rig is a big step up for me.
For the last several years I've been using an Icom IC-706 (not an MK - the first 706) and I loved it! It took a beating, serving as both a base and a mobile rig, and it went through a lot of "Tech" mistakes (ya didn't connect the antenna, NOW who is the real dummy load here?).
Consequently, it is in Michigan for a repair estimate for accumulated years of wear and tear and I had to rely on my back-up rig, my Yaesu FT-100D. It wasn't the same. It never performed as well as the 'ol 706, and Yaesu won't service it (I don't think I'm getting sufficient power out, so I'm still testing it).
Thus I decided to buy a "base station radio."
After withdrawing from sticker shock (You've got to be kidding, $2+K - $10K for a radio, how do I tell my wife I'm going to sell my car, mortgage the house or sell our grandkids to buy a radio, ha, ha?).
So I decided on a used radio. After doing a lot of research on various radios, the best bang for the buck FOR ME, was an Icom IC-756 PRO.
The next problem was finding one in decent condition at a price I could afford.
Enter Scott, N2DDD who had a used one in excellent condition, that I got for what I thought was a very reasonable price (thanks Scott, it works fine!).
I've now had it for two days, and used in conjunction with my Comet CHA-250Bx, I can only say that I'm amazed!
The built-in tuner works well (once I learned to trust it), the meters are comparable to my MFJ meters (actually I believe they are slightly more accurate), the 756 has both digital and analog meters, functions are easy to use, ONCE YOU READ THE MANUAL, (actually, most you can figure out), the display is great allowing limited light, color and font choices, the notch filters work really well, but for me, the real plus is the great band scope which has become my favorite feature -- it is sooo easy to find the traffic on this radio.
My one criticism is the not having the ability to adjust RX bass and treble (or maybe I just don't know how yet). Otherwise, I find this radio a real joy to use (I was up until 2:00 a.m. last night with this rig, and had a ball using it). Now, to performance...
As I said at the outset, I have only two radios to compare it to, so understand my perspective will be different from yours.
After struggling with an attempt to make QSOs and break pile-ups with my Yaesu FT-100D connected to a Comet CHA-250Bx and a Tak-tenna, I was as frustrated as one can be. Very few could hear me, and of course, even fewer replied. Then comes the chicken or the egg question -- is it the antennas or the rig (or, horror of horrors, both)?
I have been using the radio for two days now, and that may not sound like much, but when you understand what I've been dealing with, what I'm telling you is amazing.
Within two hours of setting up my rig, I had made my first QSO on 40m. This morning I had two QSOs, back to back, in Colorado and Florida, the first was on the first try, through a pile-up, at 100W. The net controller reported my signal as "strong and clear." The second gentleman gave me the same signal report that I gave him, and he was pumping four or five hunded watts through a 4 element beam -- I'm using 100W through a Comet vertical. I will now test it through my roof mounted Tak-tenna.
If all this doesn't sound amazing to you, consider that I spent well over a week attempting to make my first contact through the Tak-tenna and the Comet with my FT-100D @ 100W!!!
There may be A Yaesu for sale soon!
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W3LZK
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 21, 2009 18:36
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Solid Preformer, Wont give it up!!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Well here we are after 4 months with my 756Pro, I'm still gonna give it 4.75, as I said in my 2 week review (previously KI4CRA). I do like my Pro, it and my ProIII get almost daily use. My thoughts haven't changed much since my Feb.09 review. The DSP is much, much better on my ProIII than on the Pro, of course while being basically the same radio in design are vastly different in components. Now that I have been able to get some on air time with both radios, and have been able to adjust the Xmit audio for one, I often get hey you're 20 over, or my favorite, you are 15 over S-9, what rig and antenna are you using? This was from OE3DIA Ivan in Austria, when I told him I was using a 756Pro, a Mosley TA-33 classic, and a Heil ICM mic, needless to say he was suprised. He thought I was running more than just 100 watts.
This isn't all that bad a rig, I've seen and had much worse, but still made em work reasonably well. All in all, I don't think that my 756Pro will be leaving my shack, other than maybe field day or a club event, this maybe an old timer as far as the newer rigs go, but it still looks and works like new. Just some observations after 4 months, stay tuned, maybe in another 4-6 months will give another review.
73 de Mark
W3LZK
previously AI4HO
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KI4CRA
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 24, 2009 21:06
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Sweet rig.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Let me start off by saying I've only had this radio for 2 weeks. In all honesty this radio deserves about a 4.5-4.75, its a great radio, but not quite the rig my ProIII is. I had a Yaesu FT-920 which was filtered out had every filter I could put in it, and sold through my own stupidity. But having sold it, I needed a rig for my secondary station that I call my Lazee Boy HF station,(see my bio on qrz.com).
So needing a secondary rig, I found this gem at the Orlando ham fest 2 weeks ago. Got it for a fair and decent price, paid the man, and put the rig in my truck till it was time to shut down for the day. When I got it home cleaned it up a bit, wasn't much to clean up but some dust. Put it in its place of honor in the living room where my 920 had been only days earlier.
Found that the 756Pro is really my ProIII only without quite as many features. Yea it has the color TFT screen, has the spectrum scope, has the multi function meter like my ProIII. But whereas my ProIII has several different backgrounds to choose from the Pro has 4, the ProIII has dual time the Pro only one set time, either current local or UTC. With the ProIII I can have the scope and multifunction meter displayed, the Pro you can have both, but only one at a time will be displayed.
I do think the DSP is a bit better on my ProIII than it is on the Pro, not by a whole lot, but enough to tell the difference. Other than the mentioned differences, and some minor cosmetic changes they are almost identical radios, which is stating the obvious. I'm happy with my choice of rigs, using a Heil ICM mic I have received several unsolicited compliments on my audio, of course I've only made a couple dozen contacts with it too. Hopefully this will be in my shack for a long time to come, its nice to have 2 practically identical radios to choose from, this way there's no confusion on which button, or knob I have to push or turn. I can go from one to another, with no hassles at all, I pretty much have my settings identical on both rigs. Will report more in about 6 months to see where I stand on both rigs.
73 de Mark
AI4HO
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KA5ROW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 13, 2009 07:22
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Good Rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have owned my Icom 756 Pro for 5 months now and still learning the layout of the radio. And I like it. I do not use most of the menu buttons, but I never did on my other radios either. I was worried about the LCD screen going bad, so I contacted Icom about this known problem. They said that that was with the Icom 756 non pro models.
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K0PD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2009 07:20
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Very Good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought this used and recieved 2 days before Christmas and what a surprising wonderful gift to my self.Let start out from the get go and tell you that i've had a lot of radios over the recent yrs from a FT101,TTOmni D and C and a Paragon a Corsair 1 and2 along with a Orion 1 with the V2 upgrade.I also had a FT 950 and 450 and a 897.I've owned previously a Icom 737A and a 736 and a 729 and out of all these radios and i'm certain i've left a couple such as my FT 900 and KW180s and a 850sat and in all honestly they were all excellent radios.But when i bought the Orion 1 i thought it was easily the best of all the previous radios i had owned but to me operating it for such cases as Gen'l coverage was a pain in the butt as you had to make certain settings changes no just push a Gen'l coverage switch. The Ft 950 for what ever reason's i just could not find a acceptance to it and do wish i'd have hung on to my FT 450 as it was and still is the best bang for the buck and is a phenominal little radio.But the Icom Pro so far to me equals the Orion 1 and the 950 with just the right amount but not to many settings.The Orion's DSP is better but lacked a internal tuner unless purchased seperately.The Pro's internal Tuner works surpriseingly fast and seems to tune my antenna quite good.My recieve on it is very sensitive and my mod reports have been excellent with only using the hand mic.I love the 4 screen color choices it has and the spectrum scope that really works.In general i am very pleased with the radio and have found a keeper well with my track record i'll only say for now as the only radio i've ever kept sold and rebought has been my FT 900 so go figure.
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DL1AIW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 21, 2008 07:00
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absolutely great rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I own the IC756 for about half a year now after buying a used one and have to say that it is the best transceiver I ever owned. First of all it is - compared to other rigs in this class - very intuitive allowing to use a lot of functions without being an engineer or studiyng the handbook for hours. But nevertheless if you want to use 100% of its features a look in the manual is not the last thing you should do.
A lot has been written about the scope and I was a little unsecure weather it is useful or not. -To summarize my impressions I can only say that one can work without it, but for me personally the visualization of what's happening on the band was really useful, especially in contests. Don't forget that the scope is included in the price you pay what makes this rig a bit different to others in the same class.
The receiver is excellent, the concepts of filtering the signals are outstanding, though they differ a little bit form other comparable rigs. Being an occasional lover of CW I enjoy the filters for this mode, but the greatest feature is the special RTTY-filter (together with FSK-mode). In the last CQ-WWDX contest I worked stations in the crowded European 7 MHz band that were not to identify or simply to receive with other rigs at the same antenna. If one likes RTTY than this is one of the greatest steps forward for every operator. This was a real pro for me, because working on 7 MHz during night with good antennas is a pain in central Europe unless your receiver isn't very good - and this one is!
The built in antenna-tuner is sufficient for a lot of antennas but definitely not for all, but nothing else was expected. It is able to tune antennas up to an impedance of about 150 Ohm, so it is comparable to other rigs.
The audio quality is very good, listening for hous will not torture your ears. DSP is working as it should and some exercise in using the different DSP-features will improve the quality of a lot of signals significally.
Putting things together I'm sure that this transceiver will work as my main-rig for a lot of years to come, especially during contests.
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