| NA5XX |
Rating:  |
2022-05-04 | |
| So good, I bought 2 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I wanted a new rig to replace my TS-870 as I mostly operate portable now. The 7100 is a great portable rig. The menu is easy to navigate via the touch screen and no need to deal with multi menu levels. After buying the rig and using it in the shack and portable, I bought a second and installed it in my vehicle for mobile use. It replaced the 706mkIIg that I was using mobile. This radio is easy to use mobile do do the easy to read touch screen. Do I recommend this radio? Absolutely. It's only drawback is no waterfall display. As I have never had a rig with a waterfall, I don't miss it. If you need/want one it is easy enough to add using an SDR dongle and external computer that you probably already have in you shack.
|
|
| KC0LRM |
Rating: |
2022-01-17 | |
| GOOD RIG! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned my for over 2 years. Mainly used on VHF/UHF. I was a little disappointed when it first arrived, but after using it for a while I really like it. It is kind of nice to be able to set the head where it is most usable without taking up hardly any space. The screen offers a lot of information. The touch screen is awesome. I recommend getting some of the pen looking stylus pens so your oils from your hands aren't messing up the screen. My main complaint is if you have bigger fingers some of the top buttons are a little hard to use on the touch screen (hence the stylus), especially the MODE & FILTER buttons at top fo screen. It is great for scanning memories, very fast. Once you start using it, it is very intuitive. It does have a bandscope, but it is only useful with stronger signals.
|
|
| KT4WO |
Rating: |
2021-12-06 | |
| Good for the price. |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
---------Update--6 months in--06-DEC-21-------------
First off I stand by my power reading. With the new(er)
digital O-Scopes it's an easy chore to check it.
And yes... On CW/RTTY/FM/Sound card modes it does
do ~100w. It's only on voice that it's low. Maybe the
Mic ??? Don't know or care as it's used on digital and
does what I need. BTW, haven't checked 2m or 440.
The MOST IMPRESSIVE thing is how COOL this rig runs!!!
vs IC-706M2G and IC-7000(VERY HOT!, even on RX)
Don't think I have ever heard the fan run!? For ~$800
new--I would buy again. Works great on HF digital.
Oh---Also-- Used on 6m FM a little and got good audio
reports.(and 100w out)
------------------------------------------------------------------
I bought this abt 3 months ago as a dedicated HF packet
rig. I have NEVER liked the "looks" of this rig and the reports
of low SSB output(and reports of early final failures) kept me away.
I finally got around to testing SSB voice output.
RF sampled dummy load test setup----
Best I could get was ~50-60 watts PEP.(average was 25-30w)
As it will do ~100w on digital modes/CW/RTTY/FM, this is not a big deal to me. I tested a few other rigs I have(Icom/Kenwood/Ten Tec) and the 7100 was by far the lowest!
My old Kenwood TS-180S was the best?!!
I do very little SSB voice and when I do I run an amp so for me the low output on voice is a non-issue. YMMV
This is ALOT of rig for the money!! Haven't tried DSTAR yet, no rptrs in my area. And the menu system is...well...don't leave home without the manual!!! haha
Having had/have the FT-857/IC-706M2G/IC-7000 this radio
is the "most"!! and the RX on 6M and 2M SSB seems pretty
hot for a "Shack in a box"
For $800 new(with rebates) I would buy again. |
|
| W8KMA |
Rating: |
2021-12-06 | |
| Solid Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have had a bunch of rigs and this one is a top 5. No problems and a full 100watts output on ssb pep. Only thing to make it better would be a built in auto tuner and a live band scope. That kept me from buying for a long time. Finally, on sale with a rebate I did it! The rig is easy to program as I never cracked the manual yet. But it’s still early in the game for me on this radio. Too bad the 7300 does not have 2 meter and 440 bands and perform like the 7100. I have had both and was very disappointed with both especially the 9700. That thing was deaf.. Yep, For $800 the 7100 does a lot and I would buy again. Don’t let the slanted body steer you away. It’s actually pretty cool, but could use some color.. Hi Hi |
|
| KG6QKJ |
Rating: |
2021-10-26 | |
| Ordered it at Pacificon. Sweet little radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I ordered it at the Convention, Oct 16, 2021 in San Ramon, CA. I am really impressed with this radio. It was shipped quickly. Contrary to what others have said, it is 100 watts on SSB and that is without compression. I am using the optional HM-151 microphone. Well worth the money. Dstar on all bands. SSB CW FM. If you have owned an IC706MKIIg, IC7000, IC7300 or IC9700, the radio controls are intuitive. Easy to figure out. I only have one issue and it is something I don't understand for Icom's reasoning. If you need CS-7300 or CS-9700 programing software you just download it for free from Icom's website. If you need the CS-7100 software you have to pay for it. ($44-$145 online) Well I was very impressed with another vender at Pacificon called RTsystems and they have their version, WCS-7100 for almost half what the lowest price Icom software cost. Works great and includes Tech Support. The programming cable comes with the 7100 along with an HM-198 microphone. No one liked the way I sounded but say the HM-151 option is much better. 11 foot shielded CAT 8 cable. Too long for my desk use. So I ordered a 3 foot. I heard Icom had to switch manufactures of some of their chips and it may have been a rumor (same chip) but they had to be recertified. Couldn't find one of these for a month or two. Maybe I got a newer one. The firmware in it is the latest one that came out in 2016. New, out of the box, works like a champ.
I recommend this radio for desktop or mobile. |
|
| W2MAZ |
Rating: |
2021-07-09 | |
| very happy |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| thought the detached head would be light and flimsy but it is not .the rubber feet keep it from moving on the desk ! also its very solid . I like the touch screen and for a radio at this price point gives you a lot of bang for the buck.. I did pick up a stylus to use and a plastic screen saver to keep it from getting scratched .it also comes with the usb cable for cat control and programming so nothing extra to buy . btw great reports on the audio all bands and all modes . it does have treble and bass controls for both rx & tx and the swr meter works on vhf and uhf my kenwood ts 2000 does not .the receive on all bands blows the ts 2000 out of the water.if you were on the fence like I was do it, I don't think you will be sorry |
|
| 5Z4J |
Rating: |
2021-06-27 | |
| Good radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have always liked the ICOM all in one rigs which I have used in my mobiles, and I have always kept several as portable/backup rigs. I have owned many IC-706MK2G rigs (I still have one), and I have had about 5 x IC-7000 rigs (I still have one). My IC-7000 DC DC convertor failed a year ago, and with nobody to repair it in my country, I decided to buy an IC-7100 as a replacement.
Now to backtrack to 2015. I was at the Orlando Hamvention where I first saw the IC-7100 on display. I really didn't like the look of it with the slanted display. I also didn't like the fact that the remote head could not be fixed to the body (I don't like messy cables all over the desk)
Regardless, I imported an IC-7100 from DXE in the USA just over a year ago. I quickly got over the form factor that I disliked. I have installed it in my mobile, and I am now liking the slanted display. Where I have it installed in the console between the front seats, it faces up at the correct angle. Its slanted display is perfect for my mobile installation. Regarding functionally and performance, it performs very well. I have no issues with power output and receive is excellent. I swopped the stock hand mic out for the much better HM-151 which is far better and provides lots of remote features.
To sum up, I might consider buying a second one. I have only one gripe, and that is the fact that the remote head cannot be fixed to the body of the rig - the way my IC-7000, IC-706MK2G and IC-703 plus does (I have messy cable phobia). I have used mine a number of times to work the satellites, working DX on HF, VHF/UHF, FT8 but probably use it mostly as a general coverage receiver, listening to the FM broadcast bands, air bands etc. Love the built-in sound card with one USB cable setup to the laptop for digital modes, communications with my logging programs etc. It performs very well compared to my IC-7300 and IC-705. However, the real time and high resolution band scope display on my 7300 and 705 make them my choice in the shack. The 7100 serves me very well in the mobile and operating portable. |
|
| F5NZY |
Rating: |
2021-06-24 | |
| Very good impressions... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I think the IC-7100 is an amazing transceiver.
I am a CW operator, practically exclusive.
I use it every day, especially for remote control with remoterig boxes.
I also have an IC-7300 and I find the RX of the 7100 better, especially on the low bands and on 80m in particular (I am not QRV on 160m).
I even do some contesting with it. I'm not a great contester but I exceed 1000/1200 QSO.
Obviously it's not the best TRX for that but I always listen very narrow, so even if it doesn't have the selectivity of an Elecraft, it's enough for me to have fun.
Unlike the IC-7300, I never hear the fan (which goes off and makes noise even in QRP)...
Too bad there is no XIT, but I don't need it...
The price/performance ratio completes a very good impression of this transceiver, which I love!
73 de Steph, F5NZY |
|
| W5CTD |
Rating: |
2021-05-27 | |
| Excellent radio. Would not be without one... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This radio has proven itself in my opinion to be totally awesome. If i could only have one radio this one is it. It does Data, Dstar, all analog modes as well. It is light and compact and yet it can pack a punch of 100 watts on HF as well as 50 watts on VHF and 35 watts on UHF.
From the time I got the radio home for the first time to the time I had everything set up and ready to go took less than 30 minutes. The touch screen and user friendliness of the operating system is a great time saver. It has plenty of memory banks and can handle a great many kinds of different operating issues. It has a digital recorder and a port for a memory chip to save anything you want or need to record.
This little radio can do fixed, mobile, portable, emergency, you name it. Light weight, compact, easy to hook up and take down.
This was an excellent step forward from the Legacy Icom IC 706 and the Icom IC 7000 series radios.
|
|
| IZ2BVC |
Rating: |
2021-05-06 | |
| little big rtx |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I own this great little radio, for 4 years, before this vehicular radio, I had:
icom 706MKIIG, later icom 7000, and finally icom 7100.
I have to tell the truth, that the tilted front panel was the reason why I always held back when buying this little radio. I never liked it, and I still don't like it aesthetically speaking. If we have to discuss instead of the practical and intuitive use, I must say that it is 100% ok !!!
The radio, compared to the previous ones, is clearly superior, it has an extremely silent and sensitive receiver, I always use the radio from home, never in a laptop, because its dimensions do not lend themselves much to this type of use.
I must say that despite its small size, it gives me great satisfaction in its use.
I use it on SSB and CW, and I must say it competes with much bigger and more expensive radios.
Too bad for the tilted display .....
I have heard that some OMs complain about the lack of transmission power ... I have not encountered any of this. On the Bird peak Wattmeter, I quietly get 100 / 1005w in SSB, and 100 / 108w in CW.
I am delighted with the quality of the product. I didn't want to give a 4-star rating for the aesthetic part of the inclined front, because it didn't seem right, given the excellent quality of the product.
|
|
