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write your own review of the ICOM IC-725.
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N0RRS
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Rating: 3/5
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Feb 24, 2012 11:08
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Good HF rig, No AM or FM
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased a "MINT" IC-725. It did not have any narrow filters or other options. It worked pretty well on CW and SSB with the usual background noise for a radio without PBT or notch, but it required a special UI-7 AM/FM board (which has been discontinued by ICOM) to transmit on AM and to transmit or receive on FM. Also it was rather tricky to convert to 60m as it requires surgery on many of the major components just to get to the diode needing to be clipped.Therefore I am rating it only at a 3 because of no AM/FM capability. I sold this rig and bought a Yaesu FT-757 GXII, great old rig with AM and FM and 60m conversion is a snap.
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KF0X
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 21, 2010 21:18
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My Second IC-725
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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My very first HF rig was an ICOM 725 which I bought new in 1991. Over the years, I upgraded and went through several radios. A few weeks before Field Day of 2010, I was looking for an extra or backup rig for Field Day. I found a 725 on eBay for $225 and they claimed it was in good condition. It arrived and was indeed in good cosmetic condition. We used it for Field Day. It worked very well except for two problems.
1. It was about 10HZ high off frequency.
2. It was noisy on the receive.
Sometimes I make decisions based on sentimental reasons and so it was with this radio. It was my first rig and brought back memories. So, I found the high stability crystal unit (CR-64) on eBay from a seller in Grease. It showed up in a week or so. It was new old stock. Then, off it went to the BEST HAM REPAIR SHOP I HAVE EVER USED... hamrepair.com in suburban Dallas.
For about $150 (ya, I know... old radio, $150 is throwing good after bad), Cal went through the radio, replaced bulbs, aligned, lubricated and made it like new. I mean that, it is absolutely perfect! Better than new!
I am thrilled and have my old radio back and working like it did 20 years ago (well, a radio just like my first one).
If you have a chance to pick one of these up... DO IT! It is well worth it. If you can get it for a cheap price... send it in and get it fixed up. You won't be sorry!
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KC9KSN
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 15, 2009 11:53
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Great Rig!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this rig now for over a year and it was well worth the money spent. I use it mostly for digital and some SSB phone. Easy to use, setup, and interface with PC for rig control (HRD+DM780), and so on. Receiver is pretty darn sensitive, CW notch filter seems to be a little strong, but that's ok. Excellent starter rig.
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DH4SC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 25, 2009 14:51
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Great basic radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Iīve used this radio for the last few years and Iīll use it many years more. I got the IC-725 in 2006 used from an old OM. There were never made any modifications. It is still in like new condition and outperforms most of todays transceivers. I tried an Yaesu FT-450 and an FT-950. Even an Icom IC-718. None of these rigs were able to beat the good old IC-725. So I gave all this modern rigs away and the IC-725 is my one and only rig.
OK, itīs just a basic rig without any toys on it but it performs extremely well with a sensitive receiver and it has a solid output of about 125 Watts. Itīs audio quality is superb with the SM-20 microphone. All you need is this IC-725 and if you find one in good condition...buy it!!!!
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KB2SEO
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 16, 2008 12:35
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AWESOME "DOITALL" Rig on a Budget
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ok- I'll say it- it is NOT my beloved 737 which I sold a while back- but for CW, Digital, just messing around to serious ECOM work- the 725 My Wife purchased as a gift to me- USED from a really nice Canadian Ham (no pun here), has done everything I put to it, and comes back for more. To show my point- I DEFY YOU to try this with ANY solid state Yaesu rig: One night over the winter, I woke up at 2:45 AM, could NOT for the life of me get back to sleep. I went to the shack, fired up the rig, and tuned in a PSK signal. the guy was down in the Windwards I recall, I fired back a reply and proceeded to QSO for almost an hour- He kept asking me to QRO- I was pushing her to the MAX, What the heck? Propagation wasn't shifting, He was solid at 35 watts. I looked at the SWR tuner on the 949EE- HOLY #*&%^()! I was on the wrong antenna and not even TUNED! 6:1 SWR! Oh no! "I killed the 725" I am thinking, he's asking me to QRO cuz I murdered the finals! I switched to the 20 meter vertical- the guy was now 10 over- and at about 20 watts back- SO WAS I! the rig got ,rather warm, shall we say? But to this day- I get about 105 watts out of her, 10 m-160m That Rig has been excellent! Next to the IC-737 I had , again purchased used from a Dx'er, this is without a doubt a treasured rig! If you get one- try it with a UNAMPLIFIED d-104, the results are great!
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K7LRB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 29, 2008 21:55
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Good, solid, basic rig.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I traded for my IC-725 several years ago and have used it from time to time since then. Having "elmered" my neighbor into ham radio I loaned him my 725 to get him started. We used it this past Field Day mostly on SSB with a hand mic.
It was used right next to another 100w rig and we did take care to NOT be on the same band at the same time. Never would have noticed the other radio at all, except that I could see them making contacts.
I used the 725 on CW and even though it does have a 375HZ filter installed I did not use it much. It just kept chugging along making contact after contact.... from a battery.
Look at what a radio is, what it is designed for. Don't compare a $300 radio (typical used price for a "like new" one) to a new Icom 7800 or an Orion II. For what it is the 725 is very reliable, very easy to operate and will provide many hours of ham radio FUN!
Just my experience folks, don't shoot the messenger!
73,
de Larry
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KJ4DAE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2008 19:16
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First HF rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This is my first HF rig. I bought it on eBay with power supply for 285.00. The person who shipped it didn't use any packing material, and the radio front panel circuit board and pots were broken. I was able
to get parts from icom and repair it my self, I don't think i could have done that with a newer radio. I get good signal reports,it also seems to receive well.
All and all,I'm happy with this radio and would recommend it as a good basic rig. If you can afford a new 1000+ $ radio by all means buy one,but for the money this old one works well.
Josh
KJ4DAE
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KB9BIT
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 2, 2007 11:42
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Great starter rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine new in August of 1989 and it is still in use as my main rig. Obviously when compared to more expensive rigs with lots of bells and whistles, the 725 will certainly not match up, but it will hold it's own in a pileup. I have worked every major DXpedition in the last three years (since I became active again) using a low windom and 100 watts CW.
The 725 is starting to show its age, though. I am having problems with the RX going deaf when I power the rig on, but a quick flip thru the "bands" and the relay will click in and all is well.
The only real shortcoming I have noticed is the poor noise blanker. It works very well as long as there are no nearby strong signals. But with strong signals present the RX is overloaded and it becomes difficult to pull out the weak signals.
Unfortunately, I live in a high RF noise area and I need to use the noise blanker most of the time. Nevertheless, I enjoy this rig and will use it until it finally quits.
I would definitely buy another 725 if I were starting out all over again.
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K8KAS
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2006 08:41
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Good Basic Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned 2 of them over the years both mobil and fixed standby rigs. They are a solid basic radio, a lot like the TS-140/130/120 and IC-718. No they are not a FT1000D or IC7800 but they work fine for casual operating and are not a DOG as one ham commented. They are stable/sensitive/ reliable and solid feeling rig with nice audio. What more can you ask for in a basic radio.
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VE3WMI
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2006 01:20
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Great Radio Love Her
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this Radio since March of 1994, with her I have worked 225 countries with a 40 Meter Inverted "V" dipole and with a Homebrew Center Insulator to connect the Coax to. Ran the Radio Barefoot 100 Watts, and Got to work 3Y0X three times On Feb 14/2006 08:48 UTC and the other two times to prove that It wasn't a fluke. 5x9 signal was the result each time and the Apex is only 20 ft of the Ground. I was flabber gasted.
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