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| Reviews Summary for ICOM IC-7700 |
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Reviews: 74
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Average rating: 4.7/5
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MSRP: $6999.95
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Description: Description: The ICOM 7700 200W HF/6M has been introduced at the 2007 Dayton Hamvention. ICOM has followed all the success of the beautiful IC-7800 with the smaller, single receiver IC-7700. It utilizes two separate 32-bit floating point TI DSP chips, has a 7-inch wide TFT display, built in RTTY/PSK31 receive and transmit using a USB Keyboard interface, external video connection, high res spectrum scope, plus high voltage MOSFET 200 Watt PA.
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N9VR
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 9, 2009 04:28
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Fun!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is one Fun rig to run. Everything on the radio works and works well. Icom should have added Dual Watch for the price, but if you have a second radio or receiver it is not a problem. The filtering is outstanding, and the N/B works well.
If you want to transmit 3.0kc wide, this is not the rig for you. It will only go out to 2.9, but can achieve a very nice sound at that range.
But if you want just plain fun rig to run, this is it. The ability to use an external monitor is also very nice. And if your use to the Pro series, the control are very much alike.
Add dual watch and this rig is a 5+.
73 Bill N9VR
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WA4KLQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 2, 2009 18:59
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A Great Radio
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is my first big dollar radio. My previous radio was a small MFJ QRP transceiver so this was a pretty big step up. The radio itself is big. I got lucky when I ordered it. I had been looking at the radio when it was priced at $6999. Then it dropped to $6499. On Black Friday, when AES had it for $5499, I pulled the trigger on the purchase. I was able to afford something a step above the IC-756PROIII and the IC-7700 fit the bill.
The manual is pretty straight forward. One does have to move about the manual to learn how to use the radio, but it is not that hard to do.
The radio works very well. The receiver does a great job on weak signals and the scope is very easy to read. The ability to attach a Flat Screen to the radio makes the job of reading the scope even easier. I really cannot find anything wrong with the radio.
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YO3FXF
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 1, 2009 10:42
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PERFECT!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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1 year aniverssary!Fabulous radio!Work perfect from April 2008!No problem at all!Serial nbr. 030.... Idle curent 4 to 4.5A...Firmware version 1.03...Best radio in my shack!
I buy this radio again, and again, and again!73!Tony
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K6USN
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 27, 2009 08:18
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Only improvement I could find for outstanding radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my IC 7700 since early 2008. It is all the radio I ever need and I am still finding new
things out about it. I 'discovered' PSK 31 and enjoy this digital mode a lot after 50 years of CW and SSB.
This review is really about an improvement I made. I added a Dell E 157FP 15 inch Flat Panel Monitor and this really improves the ease of copying PSK 31. This flat screen monitor complements the IC7700 in looks and size, and sells for $99. I highly recommend it as an accessory for anyone contemplating PSK 31 use with the IC 7700. I can now easily read the screen text from 6-8 feet away.
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KA7GKN
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 24, 2009 13:10
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Excellent
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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A lovely radio! Every knob, button, and function work as well as advertised or better. The methodology to upgrade the radio is user friendly.
I do not do any digital modes. I only operate "essb", That is "ENHANCED SSB" NOT ESSB "EXTENDED SSB"
There is a difference and the fidelity SSB audio topic is always debated and will never be resolved.
The key is to provide an excellent signal to your audience.
The 7700 although is not really designed as other newer radios [FCC type accepted] to allow a 3.2khz bandwidth. You can still deliver a quality SSB audio signal by routing your audio via the ACC-1 jack. You will deliver an excellent and CLEAN SSB audio signal.
Of course I truly do miss the dual watch function, but this radio has the ability to address QRM so well you don't have to track the signal down. Instead you adjust the radio and almost all of the QRM can be eliminated or significantly reduced.
Martin KA7GKN
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QRPNEW
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 21, 2009 19:51
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Good package
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I owned the IC7800 and I thought that I would try the IC7700 thinking I would not miss the second receiver. I was wrong, in many ways its disappointing that the IC7700 does not have a dual receiver. However I can understand Icoms marketing pitch that the IC7800 is there , but when the PRO3 has dual watch how can a more expensive radio have less ability?
The things that I like about the IC7700 are these.
**Large size and superb ergonomics, its a beautiful and easy to use radio
**The bandscope is superb, it would have been nice if click and tune with say a plug in
mouse was available.
** The receiver is great even though its not chart topping or better than a radio like the K3 in key receiver metrics. The K3 is a better CW radio and on crowded bands like 40 meters during big contests the K3 eats the IC7700. For everyday use its great and its low noise/hiss receiver is great. You can hear the superior inband IMD and lack of peak distortion on the received signals when compared to other radios. Very weak signal detection is superior to the K3 on SSB. When the signals hardly move the S-meter they much easier to copy than my K3. However the K3 will hear anything that the IC7700 will. Its just easier copy on the IC7700. On SSB the IC7700 is better receiver in my opinion. The K3 with its quirky roofing filters and non centered IF shift always make the receiver sound hissy. The IC7700 seems to resolve signals much better.
**Built in power supply is great.
**200 Watts of output is superb and it produces this with no power spikes and very smooth power control. I was expecting much better transmitter IMD performance than the QST review returned. However the IC7700 has much less transmitted crud than my K3.
** Fantastic receiver stability. The K3 even after close to 2 years since its release still does not have the TCXO compensation ready yet. This stability thing becomes an unhealthy obsession when you have an Rubidium standard!
The things I dont like:
** digital S meter, its not calibrated. For the price and technology in this radio you would have though that a calibrated meter would have been a piece of cake. It does not really mimic a true analogue meter all that well.
** The tracking preselector seems to be a xmas tree decoration and does not do much. I still have to use my W3NQN band
pass filters when operating in contests.
**expensive radio for not having dual watch or a second receiver
** expected better receiver performance for the price, it does not come close to the K3's on IMD dynamic range.
** Icoms stupid microphone system with the preamp in the microphone, this is a real Joke.
** Icoms still persists with the STUPID CIV level converter which should be in the radio. I mean this CIV is a dinosaur that does not belong in the year 2009 let alone on such an expensive radio.
**My IC7700 blew the finals twice and I also zapped the encoder. I dont know why Icoms radios seem to have so many problems with the PA's blowing up? Its getting expensive and its an nervous operation shipping these big expensive radios. Icom or its dealers should have special armored shipping cases made like HP does for their test equipment where you just drop the radio in and ship it anywhere in the world. I would not mind paying a security deposit for such a box.
Overall I am happy with radio, its represents poor value for money when you look at things like the transmitter and receiver performance. When the IC7600 comes out I think the IC7700 will represent poor value and would not offer enough receiver performance advantage to justify its huge price. The Elecraft K3 offers better value for money and delivers receiver performance and many features that the Icom IC7700 cant match. I would say that if you have very large antennas and you are a big time contester the K3 with its dual receivers and better IMD dynamic range is a deal thats hard to beat. If you are casual operator with average antennas the IC7700s tightly integrated package and superior ergonomics and bandscope will win over most operators. I will keep mine because it has a great layout and ergonomics and ease of use compared to a radio like the K3. However on CW and during contests I will always use the K3.
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PE2MC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 11, 2009 14:27
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Super RIG
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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HI all,
After 4 months decided to Buy the 7700. A big step to buy a Icom. I'm really a Yaesu fan for several years.
I can only say what a great radio.
I did some test with the rig.
The recieving is better then my FT1000D.
The filter are super with Pre Amp 2 on 40mtr no intermodulation from near by HF radio signals.
Before i used a FT2000 on 40mtr and i never good use the Pre amp.. Not that i need it but just to see how things preform.
Also the Audio from the speaker is improved. I don't like the 756 line is small flat and it sound not very good. Als the radio is not quite in this area. I live close to a radio broadcast tower with outputs from 100kw. So you can think i do need a good rig or it will leave the shack.
There are many features in the rig that are handy. Like the audio setting on the RX and also on the TX.
Also i've the rig working with the cat on the rs232 port. So no need to buy the ct1 very expencive thing.
It's a real winner. and i do like the rig very much.
Marco Pe2mc
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M0MGF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2009 08:00
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Awesome
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I would like to give this radio 10/5, it is a truly great radio.
I think that this radio is head and tails above the rest of the cheaper competition. Ok, so it doesnt have a second receiver, but I am not bothered about that - I never used that function on my old FT1000MP MARK-V.
Reception of weak signals is i believe better then the Mark V, and so far I have not had a bad report on my audio, in fact it tends to be praise.
The filtering is in a different league to that offered on the yaesu's and is really easy to utilise to its best.
The screen is nice. A clear layout of information. Yes, I agree that it would look better with the second receiver up there in the top right hand corner :) I generally do not use the onboard screen, and instead use a spare computer monitor. This provides a large, Very fast band scope - a lot better then what is offered on the Pro3.
Unlike the FT9000, I do not need to buy any additional parts to populate this radio, as it comes complete, ready to be fully used straight out of the box.
The drawback of this radio, besides the second Rx, I would say is the cost. The current rrp in the UK is now £5000 (ouch) but that is still a lot less then the IC-7800 and the FT9000MP.
I would recommend this radio in a heart beat.
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F4FGY
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 31, 2008 08:13
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BEST
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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hello, ad Unlike other materials, which suggest a slight breath even when the knob is a zero BF, ICOM 7700 it is entirely silent on the plan.
By pushing the volume, we quickly noted that the receiver is quiet, very quiet ..........................
The listening on headphones, for long hours, will not be tiring for the operator. The BF is a roundness that can only please, and if one listens broadband 3.6 Khz will take advantage of the wealth of some spectral modulations, it would be almost the impression of listening to FM.
73 and good DX
Fred F4FGY
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GM1FLQ
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Rating: 2/5
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Dec 30, 2008 07:54
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Quality skin deep
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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All looks lovely on the outside, but don't let looks and lots of gimmicks fool you and I guess that's what it is supposed to do because inside you can see the cost cutting and opportunistic profiteering with the Chinese PA for example. Having owned several Icoms I believe there was a time when they were at the top of their game, however, since the hideous TV screen era I believe that it has been down hill all the way with dodgy drivers, PA's and TV screens, D-star rubbish and overheating 706's that are only going to end in premature component failure. But don't take my word, just look at the reviews (7400,756 etc) on this site closely and then check e-bay to see plenty of D-star equipment for sale that is in some cases only days old. This radio doesn't come close to the quality of the FT1000D or TS830 for that matter.
I have deducted a point for the cost cutting internals, another for the poor value for money and another for the cheek of Icom - we are not all daft.
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