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| Reviews Summary for ICOM IC-7000 |
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Reviews: 301
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Average rating: 4.3/5
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MSRP: $TBA
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Description: HF/VHF/UHF All Mode Transceiver.
2 × DSP
Digital voice recorder (DVR)
Improved AGC loop performance
2 × MNF (Manual Notch Filter)
2-mode band scope
2.5-inch color TFT display with TV screen receive capability
Remote control Microphone
Digital IF filters
Available mid 2006
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/7000/
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write your own review of the ICOM IC-7000.
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KJ6TEA
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 1, 2012 13:02
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Great for mobile or home use!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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i have had my Icom IC-7000 for several months now.
i purchased it used on eBay before getting my ham ticket. i am very happy with the radio i have had absolutely no problems, even a few times forgot to plug in the antenna on vhf and even hf and keyed no harm done tho, i used to run it mobile but after much thinking of thieves may want to steal it it now is used in my home with a 10m Vertical, and home brew J pole also inline is a LDG AT-7000. the tuner doesn't like 17m on my vertical but that's okay. this radio will get hot after 1 hour of high power QSO on HF vhf never run it past 25w but it puts out the full 50w. i am very happy with this radio and i recommend it to anyone.
p.s the filtering is just amazing. i owned every 706 version and the filters were expensive for them and they suffered inter-mod bad not this Ic-7000! thumbs up to Icom. i think the next one should have 1.25CM "220MHz" included. 73s
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WR0F
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 9, 2012 19:52
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Nice mobile radio but. could have a few improvements
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am the proud owner of now 3 Icom 7000's 2 in the mobiles for 2+ years and 1 we just purchased to use in the house November 2011 .
The only troubles we have had is the HM 151 microphone PTT switch $1.00 parts going bad on my 2 older 7000's and the digital display is easily washed out in direct sunlight as we run split head on the dashboard using velcro. My 706mkiig displays never had that problem.
We did send our mics to get the modified mic elements in Arkansas.Big difference on transmit audio with the mic element upgrade
The radio is easy to use mobile and the filter selection works great .
I plan on trying a 4 or 7 inch monitor setup to install in the car to hopefully solve that washout issue with the sun on the remote head.
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ON5JPJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 8, 2012 14:41
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Fantastic rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Bought It for mobile use and hollidays, works good, just thé température of thé rig gives bad impression, need good cooling, and swr of 1.1 Max to prevent rig damages,
Fantastic little rig till now
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N3KCM
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Rating: 0/5
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Dec 31, 2011 21:00
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Junk!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Got mine from HRO in June 2011, lasted one month. Running it with a LDG-AT-200 Pro tuner, low temp on the scale. The TX went using SSB on 7 Mhz with a tuned DX-CC fan dipole. Wish I didn't sell my MK2G to get this piece of *%#@. Will stick with my IC-7200, half the radio is heat sink! Had a new 703 do the same thing. I'm done with Icom mobiles. Yaesu makes far better mobile equipment.
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K4HPP
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 27, 2011 10:37
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FB Little Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned the IC-7000 for 6 years this month. I have been using it regularly that entire time, both as a back-up rig at home and as the primary rig at my Florida location. Not once have I ever heard the “8KHz whine” that reported back in the early days. Neither have I heard the “low level audio hiss” that has been reported. I do use a high quality Telex aircraft style set of headphones with all my rigs. These have a somewhat limited audio frequency range of 250 – 5000 Hz (which is why I use them) and that may explain why these “problems” have never been noticed by me. At the time, I sold my IC-706MKIIG with narrow filters to fund the purchase of the IC-7000 and immediately found the 7K to be a vastly superior rig in every way. The 706 was a good rig, but was blown away by the 7K. The first couple of years, I used the 7K on 144 and 440 MHz (on FM repeaters only) and never once had a comment about low audio or insufficient deviation. At first, it took a day or so of playing with the various settings, but once that was done, it has performed flawlessly using only the hand mike! Since the repeaters in my area are all practically unused today, the 7K has not been on UHF/VHF in years. However, the same audio comments are true for SSB on the HF bands. I had the 756PRO3 as my “main” rig at the time, and side-by-side comparisons showed no difference in audio quality. I mostly operate CW and the 7K does an outstanding job on this mode. The built-in keyer has great timing (better than my 7600). The 50 Hz filter and 1Hz fine tuning rate provides true “single signal” reception. I’ve used the 7K in the SS contest and several DX contests and I have yet to miss a station because I couldn’t pull it out of close-by QRM! Is the receiver as good as my current IC-7600? No, but it’s pretty darn close. The case of the 7K runs hot (as many have noted), but I’ve never had a failure of any component because of it and the rig has never failed to operate.
Maybe I just got lucky with my particular 7K, but it is from the very first production run and has not given a moments trouble in over six years of hard use. From reading through the previous six years of E-Ham reviews of this rig, it does make me believe that Icom did (does still?) have some QC issues with this rig. I’ve had the 706, 756, 756PRO3, the 7000, and, for the last 2-1/2 years, the 7600. I have NEVER had a hint of a problem with any of my Icom rigs and would not hesitate to recommend the IC-7000 to anyone wanting a small, easy to travel rig, or for a main station rig that does not take up any room. This rig gets a SOLID 5 from me!
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N2HUC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 25, 2011 17:04
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One heck of a feature packed little box!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I could go on and on about all the things I love about this radio, but I will limit that for the reader's sake. I love the size and layout of everything on this radio...front and back. And I use EVERY feature this radio offers. It is obvious that Icom engineers really thought about functionality. The entire layout, display options and menu groups are easy to use and set up for the quickest full function operation possible. It is easy to program right on the radio without the need for software, but that is good to have as well. The Noise Blanker is adjustable and VERY functional (on SSB, CW, AM, RTTY). This saves the day on HF/6m SSB operation. Because of it, the receiver is very quiet and sensitive. It is also very selective. Best HF receiver I have had to date. Everyone on SSB sounds like a FM station. The multiple filter selections for RX and TX all work very well. PBT works as well to eliminate those stations just a little too close. Automatic notch filter is quick and effective. Scan is fast and never misses activity (on SSB), even low level signals. I do use the bandscope in slow scan mode, and it is very useful to spot activity or look for a clear frequency. The memory keyers for voice and CW are a nice plus. The RX record feature is cool too. Receive audio quality is super good, even with the internal speaker. The VSWR plot feature is GREAT for tuning antennas to a band. Meter functions are ALL very good, but the ability to pick one TX meter function (like VSWR or ALC) to display above the lower display options is just smart. Nice touch! And all the custom settings you can tweak for filter size and shape per mode, AGC speed per mode, TX BW, Comp settings (that save a different TX BW filter setting for Comp on/off operation), tons of memory in six banks of 99 memories, rock solid frequency reference oscillator, and so many more...I'm writing that book I said I wouldn't do. This radio has produced the most enjoyable mobile HF experience I have ever had. I never expected such good operation. My FT100, and even my one time IC-706 Mk II G never worked anywhere near this good. No issues here with smoke, but I do limit FM keydown time at full power. I wish Icom made a base radio, with a bigger display and bandscope, to match the 7000.
Is it perfect? No. Here are some improvements I hope Icom considers on the next design(s):
- Noise Blanker that also works on FM. 10m and 6m FM operation is fun when you can hear below the pulse noise generated by vehicle ignition and power lines. Range on FM is seriously reduced without a good blanker. A Motorola 10m/6m radio with the Extender noise blanker will hear FM as well as the 7000 does on SSB with it's blanker. But the way it is now, expect FM signals to be S9 or greater to even open the squelch on the 7000. That is a sad thing and needs to be addressed.
- Squelch setting on SSB and FM is way too far apart, with FM losing low level signals while SSB is set to the lowest threshold. They need to allow you to even those up by a menu option.
- AGC on FM is forced to fast, and you can't change the time constant. That needs fixing, because weak stations "chop up" more than they need to. But the 7000 on V/U FM is so much better than the 706, with that major flaw the 706 has by using an S meter squelch and fast AGC on all FM bands. The 706 was useless on FM (even 2m) unless the signal was 10 over S9. At least the 7000 uses a noise squelch and works better in that regard.
- The VSC feature doesn't work at all on current Icom radios. SSB Operation could really benefit from a functioning voice squelch. I would love to filter out all that useless noise and static. It becomes really annoying. Motorola HF radios do it well, but who wants an HF radio without a VFO knob? Icom needs to get this feature working. With DSP, it should be no problem. And allow the user to set the gate delay to prevent cutting off too early.
- I like a quiet fan, but maybe it needs to ramp up more on long transmissions. The radio does run too hot. Quiet is good, but smoke is bad.
- The stock microphone audio is poor, and on the soft side. Get with AB5N and have the same changes made to the mic design (not that I want to put Bob out of business). The difference is stunning! Many people say I sound like a good home station when I'm mobile. I use the AB5N mod at home too. No need for expensive "studio" mics and EQ/comp/expander gizmos.
- Fix the bandscope resolution so the signals from S0 to S9 show in the first TWO divisions and not just the first division, as it is now. That would help identify weak signals, where now you can't even see them. The +10 to +60 signals can reside in the top division of the scope.
- VSWR readings on VHF and UHF, as well. It is important to monitor all your antenna connections.
- DTMF control on the stock microphone!
- Memory keyer control on the stock microphone.
- Scan option to hold until the squelch closes, and then start scanning after a short 2-3 second delay. The 10 second thing is ok, but maybe I want to hear more than 10 seconds at a time.
Some new features I would like to see are:
- A mobile radio and big brother base radio combo, like the IC-7000 and IC-7600, that match all mobile feature sets, with the base having even more features like more roofing filter options, built in antenna tuner, RTTY/PSK31 TX and other extra options in the base...but NOT any less than the mobile. Make them cloneable. Right now the 7600 has much less memory, no DTCS encoder/decoder (still used on 10m and 6m by some), AND NO VHF OR UHF. Icom needs to make a matching base radio WITH A FULL BANDSCOPE that does HF, VHF & UHF as well. (The IC-9100 is not that radio. No color display and no bandscope.) Throw in 220 on both radios while you are at it! USB ports should be standard on both (RS232 has been dead for a long time now).
- Full function D-STAR options for all the bands, including HF. Like it or not, it is here to stay. Don't like it? Don't buy the option board.
- Dedicated DSP for noiseless bandscope operation on the mobile (and base, of course).
- How about some ALE? (not the kind you drink...well that might be good too, but...) Automatic Link Establishment is a great way to keep radios scanning and quiet, while being able to open up to individual or fleet group calls. This should have been available for amateur radio gear years ago.
- And finally, no relay operation. Can't we get low distortion and quiet pin diodes to do the band filter switching?
These would be dream radios. And I hope they do these ideas with the full attention to detail they used on the current IC-7000. It was a major step forward in mobile HF radio operation. I think it just needs those few extras to make it even better. Maybe perfect!
Phil
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UY7CW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 23, 2011 08:49
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Good portable radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Having read last negative reviews I want to say a couple of words in ICOM-7000s' defence. I have been using my radio since 2006 on daily basis. It traveled with me to Africa few times and it had been used there during 10-14 days without being switched off. No problem at all! Never. Actually it is not a base station radio but I use it as such. Of course if I had a good antenna here the rx would have been overloaded if a strong signal would come in but I use a small portable dipole and the radios' sensitivity comes in handy. You can always switch off the preamp anyway. Or even use attenuation... What else? Ah, frequent activity in contests. I plan to buy something more serious but I am not going to get rid of my ICOM-7000. I simply love it. I am really surprised by the problems people describe here. 73! de EA4CWW (also UY7CW)
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WB4TJH
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Rating: 1/5
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Dec 23, 2011 05:43
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Failed twice.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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My radio was never operated anywhere except on my desk, but after it quit once while just listening, and then exploded like a fire cracker on another occasion, I got rid of it. I sent it off twice to Icom warranty repair, and they did a prompt repair both times, but I decided the radio was NOT dependable and when it returned from factory service the second time, I traded it off.The driver board exploded like a fire cracker when I keyed the mike and smoke came out of the radio, So after spending over $60 in shipping it TWICE for warranty work, I decided it wasn't dependable.I really loved the receiver and other features, but my radio was a dud. I bought a Yaesu to replace it and so far, NO problems what so ever. My IC7000 was a very expensive mistake.
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PA3GWO
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 23, 2011 05:27
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Super radio!!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I sold mine about 1/2 year ago and got a IC765 and IC781 because I was impressed about their looks .
But shortly after I started missing all the extra features these two could not give and for what I use it as a ragchewer( non contest )there is absolutely no difference in there receivers.
So I was lucky to get the same 7000 back and have decided to sell his Big brothers.
It has been on my desk again now for 4 weeks and I feel as iff an old familymember has returned home again.
It is driving a IC2KL and AT500 and works flawlessly and also before I never came across any off the earlier mentioned problems.
And for those who noticed the radio getting got during long tx in Fm you might consider reducing your output.
There maybe no perfect radio but for me this one gets very close!!
Best regards to all!!
Tony PA3GWO
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PY1MV
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Rating: 0/5
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Dec 22, 2011 20:39
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ICOM SMOKE MACHINE!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The radio burn it self just a few seconds of Tx.No Tx any more!
It´s not normal!
It was not an over temperature or SWR problem...
I´m really disapointed with my new toy.
No SWR readings on VHF and UHF band.
On Rx become very hot within 30 min.
Receiver overloads easily.
I´LL KEEP MY YAESU FT-857D!
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