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write your own review of the ICOM IC-756 Pro III.
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9V1JP
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 1, 2009 08:06
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Great Radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased my 756Pro3 new two 3 days ago. Never operated an Icom DSP radio before but this one is very intuitive, very easy to operate. The DSP NR is very effective, I've got excellent audio report from other hams. One hell of a radio, definitely a giant leap from my Kenwood TS450SAT.
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W2NSF
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 29, 2009 09:38
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It's the receiver
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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For my one and only tabletop rig, it came down to this one or the Elecraft K3. For the money, I'm glad I went for the Icom. This rig's receiver is wonderful. It is quiet and sensitive and has an abundance of useful controls to help you pull those difficult signals out of the ether. Never mind QRM, never mind QRN, this rig has excellent ears. The NB is incredible. The noise reduction is almost as good as my AmComm ClearSpeech (and that's a compliment). The other features (band scope, RTTY decode, display screen, multi-meter, voice keyer, etc.) are too many to mention and some I'll probably never use. This rig represents the culmination of many years of design evolution and refinement. The build quality is excellent. (...and never mind that row of tiny controls - they're seldom used, but nice to have there when you need them.) Only significant gripe is the heat, but I'm working on a couple of small muffin fans that will manage that. Highly recommended. Get a new one while they're still on the shelves; they're going fast. Icom's "replacement" rig costs at least a grand more. I don't believe there's another comparable rig out there at the price.
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K6AER
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 21:43
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Comfortable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my IC-756 Pro-III for four years. I use it every day when I am in town. The radio is connected to a 4 element SteppIR at 105 feet with 7/8 heliax connecting the two.
I use the radio on 160 and 40-6 meters SSB 90% and CW10%. Having a radio connected to a high performance antenna will put the receiver through a tough set of challenges. Signal levels you never would hear on a dipole or vertical. Butt a legal limit amplifier up to the transmitter side and if it is not clean everyone will let you know.
The radio passes with flying colors.
Several years ago I posted an extensive review of the radio and nothing has changed.
Many have complained about the 6 meter sensitivity and I think some folks don’t realize your sensitivity is only as good as the antenna. I have found the measured 6 meter performance very good and exceeding specification easily.
The receiver is very selective, easy to use and the noise blanker, DSP and auto notch is spot on.
CW operation is a piece of cake and the full break-in is quiet and smooth.
My particular interest is SSB and the radio has a wonderful rich and articulate SSB audio. Typically I see over 45 dB signal to noise ratio giving studio quality audio.
You can use this radio with out breaking out the manual. I have used the K3, FT-2000, Omni VII and Flex-3000 (I own one) and Flex-5000. All are top notch radios but none have the comfort aspect that I keep coming home to. The Pro-III is just an easy radio to use. It has a very low fatigue factor and you can use it during contest with out that feeling of being beat up after 12 hours of use.
Using this radio is like sitting in front of a cabin fireplace, sipping some brandy and having you boarder collie curled up next to you. It is that comfortable.
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N1FDX
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 18:50
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Love it
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had the 2nd IC-756 in the New England area ordered from HRO. Upgraded to the ProII when it was introduced which was damaged in a lightning strike last year when I replaced it with the PROIII. Every time I operate this rig I like it a little more. It seems to do everything as advertised and very well, simple to use. I plan to keep it in the shack for a good long time.
Crazy, but I don't think I could live without the scope.
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KU5Q
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 17:48
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The end of an era.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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For all the accolades, criticisms, and every gradient of expression of true and faithful owners, and impostors, detractors, but resolving in the end to those that had a feeling and belief about the PRO Series, ending with the PROIII, you have to admit....loved or hated, the PRO, PROII, and PROIII received A LOT OF ATTENTION!!!! Who knows for sure how many are really out there.
It would be totally worthless for me to say much more than the aforementioned.
I have the (in ICOM DESK TOP HF/6M XCVRS) PROIII, 7600, 7700, 7800. I expect someone to generate a 0/5 review just BECAUSE, after this post.
I'll probably never get rid of my PROIII.
At 51, I'll probably hang onto it for my grandson.
But that's okay. All those that have enjoyed the PROIII know the truth about a very good product. And in the end, that's all that matters.
KU5Q
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K9OZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 16:04
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Better than I remembered
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Last year I sold my 756ProIII to finance purchase of K3. Love the K3, but missed the Pro III. Saw a Pro on e-bay for under $1,000, so picked it up. Liked the Pro, but K3 was rig of choice. Saw ProIII on close-out, so sold Pro and bought another ProIII for about what I sold my old one for last year. Last week did side-by-side with K3 during Illinois QSO party. Guess what? I like the Pro III better than the K3. I can't quantify the difference between the Pro III and Pro, but it's just a nicer CW rig. And after a year of running LP-Pan with K3 to have a panadapter, you still can't beat the band scope on the ProIII. This one will stay in shack for a long, long time. Great radio at current close-out prices.
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NN9Q
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 14:04
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Excellent Radio
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I will not repeat the many accurate comments that praise this radio, but relate only my side by side testing of the radio with other rigs, including the Omni 7, a modified Icom 765, a highly modified Icom 740. Overall this radio demonstrates better sensitivity than the O7 with about the same selectivity. Its AGC is excellent. The P3 matches the sensitivity and noise to signal performance of my supercharged 740 and 765. (This was not expected.) However, both the 765 and the 740 have a marginal advantage on selectivity owing to layers of crystal filters. (Both my 740 and 765 operate with added DSPs.) Like so many others I find the band scope very useful. I have added an external audio DSP to my PRO3 (The Gap BHI unit) to the signal chain and the results have been spectacular. I engage but turn down the PRO3 Noise Limiter to about 9:00 oclock, and set the Gap unit to about stage 4. The only filter combo I have seen that removes lighting strikes!
This unit is a very good buy at close out prices. I believe this radio will hold its value for a long time because of all that it offers.
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W0DKM
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 17, 2009 06:20
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Great
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have bounced around from rig to rig lately. I had a PRO2 for several years, it was so good I was getting bored. It handled most the cities noises I deal with. Then the FT950 came out and I traded straight for it new. The ft950 is a great rig, but I was adjusting, tweeking, and upgrading quite often to get it as smooth as the Pro2. Then I buy a IC746pro. The receiver was incredable, handled anything. Alot better then the ft950 at noise handling, ect... The 950 roofing filters are nice for tightening up your working freq..
So I boxed the ft950 and the IC746pro up. Sold them. Got enough cash to buy a IC756pro3.
Just a perfect rig for me. The noise blanker and noise reduction are near perfect. EVERYTHING on it works as it should. The scope is great. I had it on 10 meters last weekend with the scope on. Had the scope as wide as possable. And after a few hours of nothing, the signals started popping up. And I made some contacts. YEP, just like a fish finder. I like fish finders.
I have had the 756pro, pro2, now the pro3. And all are Great rigs.
This Pro3, For the price they are right now 2009. is unbeatable.
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NK6R
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 12, 2009 12:17
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You Can't Fix Stupid!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well, I have owned a few PRO3s, never disappointed and run them through the ringer. I love the effective pass band tuning and the notch is fantastic. I get on 6M and use preamp 2 level and never get any RX overload. The scope is so sensitive you can see weak signals on it, minimum decernable signals, even when the analog meter is not moving. The scope is an excellent tool on the upper bands to spot signals fast, and using the dual-watch you can hop from station to station quickly. I have owned every 756 level - from the mono-chrome to the PRO3 and each line a better leap. They all have excellent TX audio tayloring control built in, TX record for those frequent CQ calls, and the RX audio through a larger (bookshelf), speaker brings in excellent fidelity. The RX filter bandwidth can be set out to 3.6KHz and pulls out the best fidelity for those "arm-chair" copy QSOs. The RX preamps are of the same designed used in the IC-7800 and are very quiet, commonly seeing a greater jump in signal to noise ratio, providing better control of interference or pulling out the weak ones. For what this rig does, bang for the buck, and compared to all the latest upper end rigs, the K3 would be the only true contender in a purchase debate. Having the scope all in one rig, it is still a great purchase. Sure there are many choices out there, I am just saying you won't ever be sorry you purchased the ICOM IC-756PROIII.
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KD0BCF
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 9, 2009 23:45
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This radio will be remembered as one of the best Icom ever made
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this radio for 2 years, it was the first radio I bought when I got back into ham radio. It took me about 6 months to decide what radio I wanted to buy and after much research I decided on the P3. I paid $2,800 when I bought it and also had to buy the PS. That along with some extra goodies (Heil PR781, SP20 etc.) drove the price tag up over 3K. Last time I looked HRO had the P3 for around $2,200 with the PS. They may all be gone now I don't know but what I do know is that at this price, the P3 is by far the best value in ham radio today. I have no doubt that this radio will be remembered as one of the all time greats. The P3 is such a user friendly radio, a true pleasure to use. I have had no problems at all with this radio and would give it a 10 rating if I could. No need to repeat all the great things that have been said about the P3 so I will just say I couldn't agree more. As for the negative things I've seen posted, I can't relate. I will never sell this radio and if I were you I would try to find one of these jewels as new as possible and never part with it. The only thing I regret is not waiting for the price to drop but I didn't know that Icom was going to disco it. Anyway the funny thing is that the only other radio I was tempted to get and probably would have if I didn't have to wait almost a year (at that time) after I ordered it was the Elecraft K3. The K3's are being built to order now and so I ordered one and 2 weeks ago serial #3494 got to my place. The K3 is setting on top of the P3 and I already love it. I think I have two of the best radios out there. If your thinking about buying a P3, do it, you won't regret it.
Tom, kd0bcf
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