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Reviews For: ICOM IC-7300

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-7300
Reviews: 409MSRP: 1,499
Description:
This new HF plus 6 meter 100 watt transceiver hosts new capabilities and technologies for its class. Instead of the conventional superheterodyne system, a direct RF sampling approach is used. The brilliant TFT touch screen
provides complete operational status including a stunning
real-time spectrum display with waterfall plus a useful
audio scope display. There is a built-in tuner. Other
features include: Voice memory, 15 Band Pass Filters,
CW/RTTY memory keyer functions, RTTY decode, SD card
slot, USB for CI-V and audio I/O, digital noise reduction and 101 memories. Only 9.45 x 3.75 x 9.37 inches (240x95x238mm). Supplied with HM-219 hand mic, DC power cord and fuses.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/amateur/hf/ic-7300usa/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
124.24094.6
WB3V Rating: 2019-12-07
Great radio, feature packed and easy to use Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Realizing that I've been a Ham for sixty years, I have had many rigs. The 7300 that I bought from Ham Radio Outlet back in June 2019, has surpassed my expectations. The 7300 replaced my 756Pro III and an IC-718, which were both excellent radios that performed well. My interests are primarily the digital modes, and the 7300's performance has been superb 80-6meters. I don't have an antenna for 160 yet, but the interest is there.
G4IJE Rating: 2019-10-28
Just superb! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this mainly for use on 6m when on holiday and 4m when at home. It does a superb job on both bands. I have worked nearly 200 grid squares on 4m so far, mainly on FT8 mode but some SSB and CW during contests. The spectrum display is an excellent aid when contesting and also for keeping an eye on adjacent frequencies when working FT8 during an opening. There are still one or two DX stations on SSB (on 4m) but not many! Pity they didn't make a 100 watt version; 4m power is limited to 50 watts even though the PA devices could go higher. I did the well-publicised fan mod which works well. All-in-all, this is a stunning rig.
AJ6KZ Rating: 2019-10-19
Maybe not the best CW rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I did not read ALL the other reviews here but just in case I will chime in with a few thoughts. First, I will say right up front that I am new to the hobby and this was my first transceiver.

To begin with, this is an amazing radio for the money. It is easy to use and that waterfall display is beautiful. The ability to save system settings to the built-in SD card is terrific; I did not, however, attempt to update the firmware via the SD card. If you are looking for a lot of radio for the money AND you are not interested too much in CW this is your rig.

If, however, you are mainly interested in CW you may want to reconsider. There are a couple of mechanical relays that activate with each and every click of your key if you are in full break-in mode. The chatter from this is dismaying. You can mitigate that by keeping it in regular break-in mode, but you will still get a lot of chatter, especially if you a novice at morse code, such as I am. This can be further mitigated by opening up the radio, locating the offending relays and covering them with a wad of Scotch Blue-tak. This helps tremendously but does not eliminate the noise. Headphones will help even more.

The fan that comes with the 7300 is also very noisy. In CW mode that fan will start trying to turn at full speed with each key click. It was as irritating as the relay noise. I replaced the fan with a quieter one, but you have to be watchful as the reason the fan is quieter is because it doesn't move as much air. Fortunately the 7300 will give you a nice temperature display.

In the end I bought a used K3 and will be selling my 7300 since my main goal is CW. I wish someone would have warned me about these issues before I bought the radio to begin with.
K4IIE Rating: 2019-10-16
3 year update Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first review was in May 2016 after a few months of use.Rig is still working perfectly and I was so impressed that I bought another.Last year bought a 7610 and other than the larger display and second receiver,there is very little difference in performance in tx or rx.My old analog FT1000 MK 5 Field(tweeked by Byron Campbell) still outperforms them but just slightly.Some of the poor reviews are probably from people who have not fully read the manual or lovers of other brands who can't face the fact that Icom pulled a good one with the design.Been a ham for 60 years and have owned them all.I repeat:this is the finest transceiver I've ever used and will probably outlive me.Thanks ICOM!
NZ0T Rating: 2019-10-16
Excellent Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have not given out many 5 reviews over the years but this rig deserves one. I bought mine as a backup for my 11 year old K3. It is NOT the equal of the K3. Not even close but for less than $1000 it is a great rig and the Gee Whiz factor of true SDR and a really nice touch display makes it a great value for the money. Not a great rig on CW at all but adequate and it works well on SSB and really shines on FT8/FT4. My K3 will still be the rig I use for serious DX and contest work but I'm having a ball with the 7300. Now if i can just talk the XYL into a K4.......
I1QII Rating: 2019-10-14
Nice gear all around Time Owned: more than 12 months.

After almost 40 years of radio and lot of equipment owned, I can say that the IC-7300 is a great radio and its price makes it a very great radio.


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Earlier 5-star review posted by I1QII on 2016-07-11

I personally believe that the DualWatch on this radio is almost useless and obsolete.

It's wonderful and immediate keep an eye on one or more frequencies with Waterfall on the crystal clear display.
and eventually go listen to the VFO A/B function that is easily accessible with a single button located above the VFO knob.

Now that I am used I also find annoying simultaneous listening in my ears.
It 'a radio to be discovered!
VE4MM Rating: 2019-10-13
BEST VALUE - GAME CHANGER Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of the IC7300's and love them.

Bought the 1st one when the radio first came out.

Have one at home and the other at the lake house.

I also bought an IC9700 and love it.

Makes satellite contacts easy as pie.

73

Mike, ve4mm

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE4MM on 2017-05-02

I love this radio. Nothing wrong in my mind.

I own Icom's

IC 7800
IC 706Mk2G
IC 7000
IC 735
IC 765
IC 718

And the IC 7300 ranks at the top of the list!
N4KZ Rating: 2019-09-21
Wow. What a rig for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm going on 2 years with my IC-7300. No issues whatsoever. Tremendous rig. But I agree with the previous poster about the lack of an APF. That's an Audio Peak Filter which boosts weak CW signals out of the noise. My IC-7600 has an APF and it's a great DXing tool. But I found a way to set up the IC-7300 on CW to emulate an APF. While in CW mode, adjust the audio bandpass filter. This will adjust the lower and upper cutoff frequencies. Try setting the CW audio bandpass filter 200 Hz above and below your sidetone frequency. These settings remain until you change them, but when you want an APF-like sound, reduce your CW bandwidth to 100 HZ, carefully tune the desired signal and turn your NR up rather high. I find when I take these steps, weak CW signals really pop up out of the noise. Sounds like the APF on my 7600. YMMV.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N4KZ on 2017-05-25

For the last 4 years I'd been quite pleased with my IC-7600 -- particularly after the Icom firmware upgrade that added a waterfall to the bandscope and also improved the APF for weak CW signals. Initially, I had no interest in buying an IC-7300 but eventually I fell victim to the passion and euphoria 7300 owners had for the little rig. So I bought one. I haven't regretted the decision for a second. I still have the 7600 but it doesn't get much use these days. I get rave and unsolicited comments on the good SSB audio quality. At first I feared I'd miss the Dual Watch feature when working split frequency DX. But it hasn't been an issue. When Armed Forces Day was observed recently I thought I'd miss the frequency input keys for those big QSYs to listen on military frequencies. But I soon learned that the touch screen allowed me to easily and quickly adjust the tuning rate and I could get to those military frequencies on those big QSYs as quickly as or faster than using the input buttons on my 7600. But most of all I feared the loss of the APF -- audio peak filter which boosts weak CW signals up out of the noise. This winter I turned my attention toward DXing on 160m CW and thought I'd miss the APF. But after using the 7300's excellent filters, in addition to adjusting the NR function and filter passbands, I do believe the 7300's performance on weak CW signals is about equal to the 7600's APF -- and that's saying a lot. All in all, it is hard to believe just how good the 7300 is for a fraction of what I paid for the 7600.
CX5FK Rating: 2019-09-20
No APF Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am a 99.99% CW operator. It is an excellent Radio. The spectrum is unbeatable, great sensitivity the whole is impeccable. I just don't understand why Icom doesn't include an APF maybe you will listen to me and include it in the next update. I think that with an APF it would be a perfect rig for the price.
N4NYK Rating: 2019-09-18
It's a Good Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There are some pros and then there are some cons.
First the pros:

1. Solid transmitter. Never had any problems. Always solid power out.
2. Sensitive receiver.
3. Great display (for its size) and very useful bandscope.
4. Easy digital operation. Simple to set up and operate.
5. Good audio.

CONS (Not so good)

1. Vents on top of radio. Catches dust, water, and anything else that might fall into it. All ICOMSs are the same.
2. Receiver is easy to overload. (Yep, it's true)
3. No free computer control software (like Kenwood for example). I find computer control VERY useful from an ergonomic point of view.
4. No programmable push buttons (like TS-590S and others). Great when using CW, RTTY or other functions. Making an external switch panel overcomes this deficiency.
5. No "TUNE" input for external tuner or amplifier. The power must be manually reduced unless using external control techniques.
6. Power control flimsy/too many turns from max to min power. (10W tune to 100W operation). If a 5 watt step was available via radio software, it would be greatly beneficial.
7. Touch screen control for most operational changes. Would rather have front panel switch control or computer control as an option for major control functions.
8. No separate key / paddle jacks. (CW related). A pain every time I want to tune an antenna tuner, operate a straight key oy use a paddle.
9. Loud OE fan. (Yes, it can be changed to a less efficient albeit quieter fan).
10. NO DATA VOX. ( That's a big deficit).
11. Clock battery dies if radio is not powered on regularly. (Don't go on vacation for more than 3 weeks.

All in all, the IC-7300 is still a great radio if you can do without a few "annoying characteristics".