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Author Topic: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D  (Read 1103 times)

KO4GOD

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Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« on: April 15, 2022, 11:06:23 AM »

I know I'm opening a potential can of worms here asking for opinions. I get that. That said, I'm really targeting a specific owner set with my post.

I am researching a new HF radio (I have a separate UHF/VHF radio) and have narrowed it down to the IC-7610 and the FT DX-101D. I have seen that the 101D made it to the top of the Sherwood report, and that's all well and good, however, operators in the real world is to whom I am asking for an opinion.

There are more than a few of us who have owned both the Yaesu and the Icom at the same time, or, back-to-back. It is to you that I want to know what swayed you to keep one over the other? For those who were mulling over the same decision between the two, what pushed you over to one side or the other? Enquiring minds want to know! ;)

I've watched more than my fair share of videos on the comparisons and only a couple have shown the owner deciding to keep the one over the other and, in both cases, the Icom was the winner after real world operation (one was also based on footprint of the units) and that leaves me with no clear answer as to which one performs in the hands of a user rather than a reviewer of unit specs.

At the moment, I am leaning towards the Yaesu. I have owned two Icoms (756 Pro and my current radio, the 756 Pro III) and a Yaesu FT DX-1200.

I love the split option on the 756 and the 1200 didn't have that. While I'm not a contest operator (yet), the ability to actively tx/rx on 20M and then monitor 6M was quite attractive and useful while waiting on someone to join a net, etc. The waterfall was also better on the Icom despite being an early version and somewhat clunky in its appearance as compared to the newer radios. The Yaesu display was static unless you pressed a button or set the frequency with which it would automatically refresh and then rx audio was dropped. As a disabled vet with hearing issues, that drop seemed to happen most when someone was giving me their call sign!

The Yaesu did have a better rx and it was reported to have better tx audio as well which is one reason why, for the moment, the 101D. Another reason is the actual buttons over the menu driven settings. I'm somewhat old school in that. My truck doesn't have a lot of computer controlled items like my wife's car. I worked on F-4s and B-52's and preferred working on those over the F-118 and the B2. I like to see where things are set versus having to dive into a menu to see where it's set.

So, let me have it. Why did you choose one over the other?
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2022, 12:02:59 PM »

No dog in the fight but I will throw in the correct answer that no one will offer.   You'll get 45 replies with 75 different answers but here is the answer...oh it's a dandy    It's all about "FIT".  What radio fits you best.  No one can offer that answer but you.   You've done the right thing by looking at videos just remember most of them are Youtube Used Car Salemens trying to get you to buy buy buy but I digress.   If I were looking at dropping that much money I would try to find a brick and mortar or a hamfest where you could drive each one and see which fits you better.   Yes performance is important, I get it but at the end of the day a contact is a contact... it all comes down to fit or you'll be posting it on Eham  for a $500 loss because you want to try something different.   Never could understand how stupid people are to pay full price for something then a few weeks later take a  huge loss but I digress again.     Good luck with YOUR decision.
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K6AER

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2022, 12:24:50 PM »

I have played with both radio each for a couple of days.


First let’s analyze the real RF world of ham operation. The dBm dynamic range of a typical receiver is -120 dBm at S-0 and S9+30 is -40 dBm. That is a range of 60 dB.


You look at Rob Sherwood listings of the two radios and the FTDX101 comes in at 106 dB dynamic range with a 2 kHz offset and the IC-7610 comes in at 98 dB dynamic range same offset. The 7610 has 38 dB more dynamic range than you will ever be able to use in typical operation. The offset dynamic range is for comparison only and can be obtained only under lab conditions. I was going to buy a 7610 but bought a second 7300 for my second receiver and saved $2000.


Typical noise floors in an urban environment is S3 to S9. Most hams will never see a S9+40 signal unless the ham at is running a big beam with power nearby.


So how to choose?  User friendly ness, ease of operation, clarity of the display, ease of computer interfacing and overall satisfaction. Don’t forget to check the rating of each manufacture should you need service.


Find somebody with each radio and use them on the air. Then wait a week for it to all sink in.


73  Mike – k6AER
« Last Edit: April 15, 2022, 12:27:40 PM by K6AER »
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NO9E

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2022, 02:12:13 PM »

When I hear a brilliant loud SSB signal on the air, it is nearly always FTDX 101. If you goal is making SSB contacts while ignoring some shortcomings, this is it. 

Ignacy NO9E
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K0UA

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2022, 03:00:06 PM »

I have a 7610 and also 2 7300's.  I have never even touched a 101D. So I cannot really compare. I really like the 7610, and I REALLY liked the fact I paid $2200 for it.  (slightly used). The 7610 has been an excellent performer and my prime focus is DX chasing. Two separate receivers and the CW audio peaking feature and the continuously variable context sensitive filtering is really great. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the 7610 or comparisons to the 7300, but I am not much help on the Yaesu.
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73  James K0UA

KO4GOD

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2022, 04:30:13 PM »

Of the two videos I've seen where there's a head to head comparison, both gentlemen sold off the Yaesu and kept the Icom. One was due to the size of the 101D with the speaker and the other because he simply liked the way the Icom worked for him, so, not much help either way.

I think I'll make the two hour drive to the HRO in Winter Springs to play with them both. Yeah, I think I'll do that. 
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KX2T

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2022, 07:27:39 PM »

After owned a few radio's in the past 50 years in this hobby I will just go after the past 6 years, owned two 7300's and two of them DON'T EQUAL a 7610, they are a dam good radio for a Kilobuck but the 7610 is better. I owned the 7610 for almost 3 years, I am not a Icom, Yaesu or Kenwood Fan boy cause going back to 2010 I built a K3 so I also have learned don't always buy a radio cause its high on Rob's list but the better radio's do show there stuff at times when the bands get extra packed on weekends or during contest times.
The 7610 is a nice easy radio to use except when you wanna control both RX sections at the same time cause you gotta toggle back n forth with certain controls which is a real PITA at times. The FTDX101D you have two sets of controls so its a none issue plus it alows you to use them more independently. The Display is a little nicer on the 7610 but maybe cause I owned two Icom's I was just used to it more but the 101D's display grows on you cause its real time. As far as talk power Yaesu has always had that meat grinding DX audio were if you wanna cut the mustard on 20m its more what I call a real SSB rig were the Icom is more mellow sounding, mind you not bad but you cannot make the Icom have the articulation of the Yaesu.
In 2020 I sold the backup radio which was a 7300 and bought the FTDX10, for 9 months I would go back and forth and it became a little more than a backup rig cause I really liked the way the RX could cur slices away on 20 or 40 meters when the band was packed with signals, I would go back and forth between the 10 and the 7610 ending up on the 10 more times then not. Then in 2012 I played a little in the CQWW SSB DX contest and there was a difference between the two, the Ten had taken first place as far as cutting threw the qrm. I did play around on CW and found I liked the Ten just a tad better cause the DNR and the notch on the Yaesu is IMO just a tad better.
I sold the 7610 in November, ordered the 101D and sold that FTDX10 cause I really didn't think I needed a backup rig but someday I might pick up another Ten cause it was that good of a rig.
The 101D has one of the best RX section's I have even used, the Ten spanked the K3 by allot but this radio is in another class, I don't do FT8 so all my contacts are SSB or CW. All the controls work and work really well, shift, width, notch, contour, APF DNR all work outstandingly well, the only thing that I could see some improvement is the NB but for certain noises it works great others so so. The sensitivity of this radio is well balanced and believe me you will have those Icom fan boys tell ya that the Icoms have higher sensitivity but you don't need it on HF and especially on 160,80&40 meters were I never run the pre amp. When I owned the Icom I would run 10 to 20db of attenuation the Icoms were always way to sensitive even without the pre amps engaged.
That's my 2 cents but your mileage may vary but I really enjoy the 101D, control layout, ease of use even when you wanna use both RX sections, everything works, has the DVI out for a display and if you want a Flex type display you can easily add a RSP Play SDR for either a third RX or just for a real nice pan display with HDSDR and Omni rig, check out my QRZ page and you can see the Yaesu display on a dell 24" monitor or the display on the 41" TV on the wall using a very easy hook up separate SDR.
One more thing the 101D has a VC tune on only one RX were the Icom uses Digi Select, these are both RF front end preselect circuits, the one on the Yaesu is far better cause it will knock down in band signals were the Icom is only good for anything about 300 to 400Khz away. If you wanna operate FD and want one rig on CW and the other on SSB on the same band the Yaesu will do it with ease or even at a multi op contest station.
Yaesu came out with there radio almost a year and a half after Icom did, it shows the planning on certain area's way ahead of the Icom and the 101D/MP was more designed to compete against the Icom 7851.What ever you decide good luck and enjoy.
Last thing the DNR on the Icom is like an adjustable hi filter on your old stereo receivers, the DNR on the Yaesu is allot more effective and they both have some digital artifacts but IMO the Yaesu does a better job under marginal copy conditions.
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G4AON

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2022, 12:18:30 AM »

You could always support your American manufacturers. If you want a loud SSB signal that really stands out on the band, look for a radio which has controlled envelope SSB… clue, Flex and Elecraft (K4) have CESSB.

73 Dave
« Last Edit: April 16, 2022, 12:22:54 AM by G4AON »
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K8AC

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2022, 07:10:36 AM »

Current IC-7610 owner here.  When I was evaluating the new transceivers about 3 years ago, I was able to get my hands on each of them at the Dayton Hamvention.  I believe that most of the modern mid-priced rigs are essentially equal in performance and it's the human interface that drives my decision.  My number one requirement was a state-of-the-art panadapter - one that has all the features of the best software panadapter, NaP3.  I won't go into the details here, but major requirements were high resolution, ability to reduce spectrum width to 5 kHz or so, automatic scrolling of the panadapter as the VFO is tuned, good size to allow easy interpretation of info presented and AVERAGING.  Adequate averaging allows you to easily pick out weak signals from the noise.  Until the most recent firmware update, the 7610 lacked the scrolling capability but that's been corrected.  The 7610 display is very versatile and you can tailor what is shown fairly easily to allow you to see the info you need for your current mode or operation preferences.  While I don't remember what I considered to be deficiencies in the panadapter/display on the Kenwood and Yaesu, I do recall that the Icom was clearly superior. 

73, K8AC
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K4FMH

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2022, 07:17:39 AM »

I know I'm opening a potential can of worms here asking for opinions. I get that. That said, I'm really targeting a specific owner set with my post.

I am researching a new HF radio (I have a separate UHF/VHF radio) and have narrowed it down to the IC-7610 and the FT DX-101D. I have seen that the 101D made it to the top of the Sherwood report, and that's all well and good, however, operators in the real world is to whom I am asking for an opinion.

There are more than a few of us who have owned both the Yaesu and the Icom at the same time, or, back-to-back. It is to you that I want to know what swayed you to keep one over the other? For those who were mulling over the same decision between the two, what pushed you over to one side or the other? Enquiring minds want to know! ;)

I've watched more than my fair share of videos on the comparisons and only a couple have shown the owner deciding to keep the one over the other and, in both cases, the Icom was the winner after real world operation (one was also based on footprint of the units) and that leaves me with no clear answer as to which one performs in the hands of a user rather than a reviewer of unit specs.

At the moment, I am leaning towards the Yaesu. I have owned two Icoms (756 Pro and my current radio, the 756 Pro III) and a Yaesu FT DX-1200.

I love the split option on the 756 and the 1200 didn't have that. While I'm not a contest operator (yet), the ability to actively tx/rx on 20M and then monitor 6M was quite attractive and useful while waiting on someone to join a net, etc. The waterfall was also better on the Icom despite being an early version and somewhat clunky in its appearance as compared to the newer radios. The Yaesu display was static unless you pressed a button or set the frequency with which it would automatically refresh and then rx audio was dropped. As a disabled vet with hearing issues, that drop seemed to happen most when someone was giving me their call sign!

The Yaesu did have a better rx and it was reported to have better tx audio as well which is one reason why, for the moment, the 101D. Another reason is the actual buttons over the menu driven settings. I'm somewhat old school in that. My truck doesn't have a lot of computer controlled items like my wife's car. I worked on F-4s and B-52's and preferred working on those over the F-118 and the B2. I like to see where things are set versus having to dive into a menu to see where it's set.

So, let me have it. Why did you choose one over the other?

Hi Mac,

I've put together some analytic tools to help you with the bench tests that Rob NC0B makes plus price and other's ratings of these rigs:

https://foxmikehotel.com/hamography/studies/rigs-price-and-satisfaction-studies/

73,

Frank
K4FMH
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K6UJ

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2022, 08:07:52 PM »

I can't offer any more than what has already been said.  I have an IC-7610 and have tried the Yaesu and it was hands down for the 7610 for me.  I operate a lot of CW and the peaking filter and the total lack of ringing when going to the narrow filter with the 7610 is the deciding factor for me.  The 7610 is the best rig for CW for me. 
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KX2T

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2022, 08:32:20 AM »

The things that may make a difference between these two rigs is if you want remote operation, the Icom in this respect has more capabilities over the Yaesu cause it will operate multi modes were the Yaesu is more just SSB at this time. In this area the Icom is more like a Flex but not as plug and play for remote operation as Flex.
Since I have owned both the Icom's stand alone display does give averaging so somewhere in Yaesu's design they haven't figured this out yet. I personally don't buy a radio cause of the GUI but many do so if that is important to you then the Icom mas a sexy display but you cannot operate screen functions from a mouse control as with the Yaesu, only change frequency by clicking away. If you buy Icom's remote software you can now have more control functions via mouse control. All these things are the little features that come from owning both but few posts describe these functions.
You can easily connect an SDR play to the Yaesu then run HDSDR with OmniRig and pop a real nice Flex like display threw your computer then display it on whatever monitor you like. This also can be done on the Icom but on both radio's you can only do one RX at a time.
On CW the two rigs both have APF but the Yaesu has the contour which allows you to shape the passbands audio even further but unless you really try all the controls on both radio's in concert you may never know. It surprises me how many hams that have owned either rig and never really get to know what there capabilities really are. 

The real if any differences between these two rigs cannot really be seen somewhere on the west or mid west parts of the USA but more on the east coast of our country or EU during a contest were you are trying to run stations lets say around the band edges of 20 meters during the DX phone contest or even CW and you try and carve a hole, this is were the little differences between lab numbers make or brake those contact you can or cannot make even from a more average station.   
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N8FVJ

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2022, 08:55:18 PM »

Frankly, you cannot go wrong with either radio. The radio that fits your needs best is the best radio for you.
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KX2T

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2022, 08:46:37 AM »

Both Radio's have been in production for some time now, Icom Finally got a new display to fix there display problem that they had lost of problems within the first 3 years but today not much has been heard. Between the two rigs Yaesu has a 3 year warranty and Icom in the USA has only one year but in EO and Australia its 2 years but New Zealand its 3 year so not sure what going on there.
If the GUI is really a big thing to you the Icom has a slightly more configurable display over the Yaesu but this can be changed by a simple add on of an SDR play out of the IF port and using Oni rig plus HDSDR with your station computer you can have a Flex like pan adapter display, This also can be had with the Icom but no external sdr RX is needed but there is one thing I have seen when you use and externa decent separate SDR RX like the SDR Play which is its front end does not get swamped out that easily by false signals. In both the Icom and the Yaesu there is a separate RX section which is responsible for generating the spectrum/waterfall display but you might encounter false images on those display that do not come up threw the receiver that you are using cause the pathway is different. 
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Icom IC-7610 vs Yaesu FT DX-101D
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2022, 12:59:46 PM »

Both Radio's have been in production for some time now, Icom Finally got a new display to fix there display problem that they had lost of problems within the first 3 years but today not much has been heard. Between the two rigs Yaesu has a 3 year warranty and Icom in the USA has only one year but in EO and Australia its 2 years but New Zealand its 3 year so not sure what going on there.


If you buy your Icom gear from the authorised dealer in NZ and then register your gear with them, we then get a fabulous 5 yes five year warranty,  just taking my 2 1/2 yr old 7610 back today, the clock battery is not holding its charge.

Absolutely love my 7610, the RX is beyond belief for me, very very quiet rural location,  on 160 its as good as anything else, and contesting just incredible, for some reason always get highly complemented on the audio on SSB.

JMTCW
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.
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