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Reviews For: ICOM IC-7610

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-7610
Reviews: 125MSRP: 3250. USD
Description:
ICOM HF Radio IC-7610
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
54.81254.6
VE3WF Rating: 2020-10-26
No complaints Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This radio gets a bad rep for failing screens. Mine is 2 yrs old and no screen issues. The radio itself is just wonderful. Lots to learn but once you get there its just an amazing rig. I picked it over Kenwood 890s based on dual recieve and way better price. The reciever is very quiet with no harshness. It replaced my K3 and I never looked back. It has an rf gain that actually acts like a variable attenuator. RG gain reduces noise and lowers signal meter instead of raising it like every othe rig I have owned. Digital modes are a breeze. Filtering is excellent. Glad I bought this.
ND2C Rating: 2020-10-15
Great Radio That Expands Your Capabilities Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Update
I really thought when I sent the radio in for a new display due to the image retention issue, all things would get resolved. But alas, they didn't. The new display had pixel intensity variations that was so noticeable that I called the repair depot and they requested that I ship it back at their expense. I did so. After it arrived, the tech called me and said that he had compared my radio display to others at the depot and that the display was "normal".

I was shocked. Nothing else I could say, so I requested that it be sent back. Evidently ICOM's commitment to quality is not very apparent. I have revised my rating accordingly.

End of Update

This radio is my second radio - the first was the Yaesu FT-857D. This is a great rig with features that you can expand on. The best feature is the network connectivity. This will allow for remote operation. For me, remote means the rig is in the basement and I can be anywhere in the house. The other feature is external monitor port - I'm planning on plugging a 32 inch monitor to make it easier on the eyes.

The main reason I bought this radio was that I wanted a SDR that could see the entire band at one time and was not dependent on a computer. Although the spectrum display can hide weak signals (and that depends on your receive SNR, which depends on your antenna etc...) I can readily assess activity and by using a mouse, tune to any signal. The display is second to none. I configure the left display to show the entire band and on the right display I use a fixed configuration that shows the center frequency with about 10kHz either side.

I use an EFHW antenna with about 50 ft of vertical wire with can be pretty noisy. I made a small loop antenna that does pretty good on 80 and 40 meters at providing a cleaner signal. I use the 7610's receive input to display the receive antenna's signal but transmit on the EFHW - it's really convenient with the 7610's preamps. I will up upgrade the loop to a DX Engineering NCC-2 with active vertical whips.

I'm adding a LP-100A and ACOM 2000A. Both pieces of equipment will integrate with the 7610 via N6TV's "S-Box" and talk to a laptop. This is the expansion I referred to earlier. The 7610 is a great rig with features I have yet to use.

The only downside thus far is the display. Mine is turning a milky grey that covers at least 75% of the screen now. I turn off all the lights in the basement and use light from a floor lamp on a boom arm turned down to low intensity. I will eventually send the radio back when I started hearing from others about the quality of the replacement screen.

I am very satisfied with this purchase. I would recommend this radio to anyone who wants to build a transmit/receive system and take it to the next level.

KT0DD Rating: 2020-09-04
Best rig I've ever owned! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had a few mid to upper end radios, TT Omni 6+, Orion II, Kenwood TS 570,TS 480HX,Yaesu FT 950, FT 847 FT 100. On all of these radios I was always buying aftermarket microphones to get that "full Bodied" TX sound and not that communications grade only audio. I got somewhat close with the Orion II and FT 950 but boom, I got there with the stock hand mic on the Icom IC-7610.
I also love the display and the external monitor option. As far as performance, I can't tell any difference between the IC-7610 and the Ten Tec Orion II contest radio I used to own. The Orion II was more adjustable and had a rather lackluster onboard screen / no external display which are the main differences between the two.
I bought my 7610 from MTC, and it was a repack "A" radio. Yes, my display did eventually fail, but I sent it to Icom and had it back a week and a half later with a new display, complete alignment and firmware check, I had the latest. Giving it 4 stars due to the display issue but Icom service was fantastic and I got a $100 gift certificate to boot. Icom service gets 5 stars.
N4NUI Rating: 2020-09-01
Very nice transceiver and good performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a low SN "full house" Elecraft K3 That I need to send in for upgrades. I looked for a replacement transceiver for when the K3 is gone and I decided on the IC-7610 based upon other reviews about the value to cost. It arrived on the 15th of June.

I spent a couple of days reading both manuals before the unit arrived so the installation and setting up the menu driven preferences was not difficult. After two weeks of use, including the ARRL FD, I am quite pleased with the performance. Being able to interface the radio with HRD/DM780 with a single USB cable is much better than using the CI-V. And using that single connection is much cleaner than using an outboard sound card for the digital modes including WSJT-X program. The internet connection with the time standard update is clever.
The onboard touch screen display is nice to use and is big enough that an additional is not necessary other than looking "cool" in the shack. The noise reduction feature does NOT make the RX voice on SSB sound like the other operator is in a tin can. When selecting ANT2 on an antenna that is not connected to my remote tuner, the internal tuner does a very good job finding a fast match. I did use the USB 3.0 port to interface with SDR software on my computer and that could be a handy thing for contests. It does work well with CW Skimmer but the CW decode in HRD works well. The PSK and RTTY TX and decode function work well. The settable filter ranges are good with set ranges change accomplished with a momentary "Filter" button push. There are a couple of gripes but they are minor and must be viewed in relation to my years of using the K3. 1) There is no front panel "tune" function selection in SSB so you can tune an amp or external manual tuner at a specific power per band. 2) Having just Treble and Bass for adjusting the TX audio is barely adequate in comparison to the K3 mic equalizer. I use a Heil ICM mic. 3) If you are using any form of the waterfall, the 2nd clock display disappears from under the main clock digits on the display. (?) 4) A mouse connected to the front USB port has limited function. 5) The RC-28 remote encoder is priced too high. I can do more with HRD. 6) The span (Edge) setting ranges of the waterfall must be set in the menu rather than being continuously variable from the front panel. However, all that said, the value to cost ratio is very good if you want the additional features over the IC-7300.

Update: Not having the "tune" function independent of the internal tuner because you have an external tuner and non-automatic tune amp continues to be an irritation. "It is only software" and I hope enough users make this comment and it gets back to ICOM for the next software revision. An additional menu "settings" function that would allow bypassing the tuner and use the "Tuner" button to emit a set tune power carrier would solve this inconvenience.
2E0WVG Rating: 2020-08-14
Very good receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the receiver about 4 weeks ago it replaced my FTDX5000 MP, I get excited just sitting in front of it and I now have it plugged into my monitor in the shack. At my QTH i do suffer from a little noise from time to time and the 5000 could handle it but the IC-7610 at my QTH deals with it allot better. It's simpler to use as well. I used it straight out of the box on my 50W and was making contacts. Using a UK SDR I then went about setting up the audio on each band MIC gain / ALC then Compression. Features are all at your fingertips. I did find it handy to have the manual as a PDF so I could search what I needed answers to. I have also set it up using the remote software so I can shortwave listen when away. There is so much more I like to much to list here, and I cannot recommend this transceiver enough.
CX3AT Rating: 2020-08-11
Excellent transceiver Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I like its performance but I miss some functions of my ANAN, it would be interesting a software redesign to update some functions, the NB could be improved, a defect that I find is that compared to my 7300 the ALC is very limited and the excitement for it Linear amplifier behaves irregularly, whereas the 7300 is much more balanced in its output.
The receiver is very good and the filters work very well, its handling is very intuitive, although some configuration functions for digital modes have to be used in the manual, the control through the network is very easy and with the RC-28 it becomes very fun doing it remotely.
The IC-7610 is a radio to enjoy very good communications, I am 101% DXs and I really receive very good audio reports. In conclusion, I think the software deserves an update and improve some details but without a doubt it is an excellent radio for him. daily use or for a contest where its full potential is used.
Lalo CX3AT
73 DX
MM0XXW Rating: 2020-05-07
A pleasure to use ... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was surprised at how easy this was to set-up!
Out of the box to operating within about 30-mins with my only gripe being why have the operating manual in 2 parts, basic and advanced just get them together for goodness sake!
I'm still trying to sort out all the settings to my liking but so far no issues.
F4HOM Rating: 2020-05-03
Screen default/burning Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have my icom 7610 since November 2019, and unfortunately my screen is already defective (burning), yet I set the brightness on 40% and the sleep on 15 minutes. I thought that now the problems of youth were solved, apparently this is not the case.
I also owns an icom 7300 for several years, (no problems) I'm so happy, that I decided to buy the 7610.

The second flaw I would like to mention is the low power in ssb that has already been described by many people.

It's a shame because apart from these 2 problems, I love to use this device that enjoys a very good reception, which is very easy to use, a splendid screen (when it is not defective..), we can adjust the panadaptor really to his liking.

I expect a guarantee support for the change of the screen hoping that it will not happen again.


K7KB Rating: 2020-04-10
Display Finally Replaced by Icom! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 7610 for over a year now. And don’t get me wrong, I think it’s one of the best transceivers I have ever owned. The CW peak filter and other features make running CW with this rig a real joy. I really like the panadaptor features of the radio and it makes DX’ing a breeze.

One thing I really like about Icom is that they have been ahead of the curve when it comes to integrating their transceivers to computers. With having multiple USB ports and using audio codecs you can directly feed your computer audio into the Icom without the need for a Rigblaster or other external interface.

NOTE: My 7610 was one of those who suffered the display retention issue but after 1-1/2 years, it was finally replaced this week. I increased my rating based on this, but it will never be a 5 because of the extremely long time it took Icom to resolve this problem. If anything, it taught me one lesson. Always wait at least a year before buying a new radio.
F6DFY Rating: 2020-03-04
Amazing Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The best transceiver in its price range.
The only one has two wonderful identical receiver, even three with the I / Q output on the latest software version.

Used in shack with two speakers Roland, excellent audio, almost stereo in position tracking (two VFO same frequency)
In addition,it is really very beautiful.

https://www.qrz.com/db/f6dfy