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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
WB6UQA Rating: 2018-10-17
Very Good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
You can transmit on the second vfo by pressing the split button.You can go on the second receiver and turn on the NB and NR.I have a IC 7300 but use the 7610 more.
KB2EOQ Rating: 2018-10-16
Very Good but a few things Icom could add Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am quite happy with this transceiver now that Icom kept their promise to add direct I/Q out . Prior to that, I could not consider it a TRUE SDR. I took one star off because of the way Icom chose to unveil I/Q via HDSDR and not give other authors a chance to develop use of I/Q . It would be REALLY nice if the Icom interfaced better with CW Skimmer and/or SDR-Radio Console. Icom could thrill the world if they could add FT8 via a firmware update, I'm not sure if that is possible.

Another missing feature is lack of ability to transmit from the second receiver side. Under most circumstances , if you want to transmit to someone you are hearing in receiver 2, you have to flip the VFOs so that B becomes A. For casual users not a big deal, but it is a bit of a hassle. Similarly, you have to do some gymnastics to stop software with CAT control from reverting to VFO A if you are using software (like WSJX, Fldigi, RMS Express) to monitor VFO B. For keeping an eye on several digital mode bands at same time, I find the Flex 6000 radios to be more "flexible" .
While several reviews have mentioned how well laid out the radio is, I do find a few things on the right-hand side difficult to find in a darkened room and the "change" VFOs button is hard to quickly reach.
The menu system and touch screen access is pretty good but awfully confusing at first , even when reading the manual . The on screen "scope" is very good, you can make many useful adjustments to the default setting. The scope to monitor your own transmissions is VERY useful . Sitting at a desk and operating the radio is a pleasure, it "feels" like a real radio but with all bells and whistles . Forget the temptation to use a big screen monitor and external 'scope" displays. They look pretty but you don't really need them unless your vision is EXTREMELY impaired . The remote capability via Win4IcomSuite by VA2FSQ is very useful and easy to set up.
I have owned 9 other HF transceivers over the years, NONE have caused the same reaction I experienced when I first turned on the 7610 with antennas connected , the quietest receiver I have experienced . CW is really a joy on this radio. The bult in CW Keyer is very functional. The RTTY and PSK31 decode/encode works well , not as deep-in-the mud decode as MMTTY or TT , but overall quite good. Commander and Winwarbler from DX Lab Suite make logging a 7610 via CAT control easy (throw out HRD ... please ! ) . The internal antenna tuner is "OK", but it will not even try to tune anything over a 3:1 SWR (maybe that is good because it has forced me to make my antennas more resonant) .

Finally, an SD card for saving configurations is the best thing since sliced bread with bacon. It has saved me many times . The SD card will become a close friend.

Andy K3UK (ex KB2EOQ)
KW4CQ Rating: 2018-09-29
Outstanding radio but horrible user manuals. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A truly amazing receiver compared to my Yaesu FTDX-5000. Pulls the weak DX signals right up out of the noise. I give it (5+) for performance, quality, and price.
The User Manuals were poorly written and appear not to have been carefully edited before publication. Full of confusing descriptions and numerous errors. I give the User Manuals a (1) for accuracy, usefulness, and lack of proper editing.
N1JM Rating: 2018-09-26
Great Radio Except for Spectrum Scope Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The spectrum scope needs more vertical gain. It takes a big signal to get it half way up the scale. The fixed tracking is horrible. An Elecraft P3 blows it away. RumloNG and DXLabs cures it but that is external software. Hopefully there might be firmware fixes for these things I've mentioned in the future.
W8BBM Rating: 2018-09-12
Awesome! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After much deliberation I pulled the trigger on the IC-7610 as a retirement gift to myself and have been in awe of it from the moment it arrived and started using it. The receiver is simply incredible and quiet with audio reproduction unlike anything I have tried out of the box. The waterfall display is real-time, crisp and leaving zero guess work with adjustable resolution that is much needed in CW pileups. I love the flexibility of having all the different screen looks and info on the nice big 7" screen which is crisp, HD and very easy to read. Audio scopes are beautiful and crisp in response to both transmit and receiver audio and show up nicely on the display. Reports of the TX audio have been excellent even when using the stock hand mic. The CW is crisp and the full QSK is as smooth as it gets. Using the radio is very intuitive and there is absolutely no way this radio looks or feels like you are using a SDR. Some have complained about the knobs feeling a little loose but they are dual function and present ZERO problem. Hooking up the external display monitor is something that I questioned whether I would like but after only a few short minutes it proved to be a keeper. You will always find those who don't like this or that or haven't had every possible box on their long list of wants checked but make no mistake, this radio is nothing short of awesome and the price at just over $3K is very reasonable for the cutting edge rig you get.
NW8Z Rating: 2018-08-26
Awesome Transceiver!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Now that Icom Has Allowed I/Q out of USB 2 it's truly an Awesome Transceiver! Love the looks, reception, and the fact that you have dual receive using only one Antenna. Nice big 7 inch Screen. Keep up the good work ICOM and thank you for coming though with your promise to give us I/Q out. Now if you can allow use with other Programs other than just HDSDR that would be great!
IK0TIX Rating: 2018-08-08
IT's simply the state of the art Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Before 7610 I had a 7600. I was very undecided about the change. For me SDR wanted to say Flex Radio. I thought that between 7600 and 7610 I would not have found much difference (even aesthetically they are very similar). I asked for advice and opinions on the eHam forum trying to grasp the truth by reading everyone's opinions. In the end I decided: sold 7600, bought 7610.
What's different between the two? Believe me: many things!
- First of all NR on 7610 is exceptional. The 7600 with NR set to 4 began to have an audio artifact, the 7610 with NR set to 6 still sounds natural but the noise becomes practically absent.
- The second receiver is completely independent, it is actually a second radio on the same antenna with separate controls.
- The twin-PBT suppresses the adjacent signal by stranding very little (as an SDR).
These are the differences that immediately come to my mind and which I found after 3 weeks of use.
Connected an Heil Sound PR781 without mixer or equalizers: it sounds great.
Defects? In my opinion, these are only:
- external monitor is useless. If you connect the mouse you can only click the waterfall area as for the 7600. Icom should extend the use of the mouse to all the functions of the screen. Thus Ham Radio Deluxe would be obsolete and useless. Adding a third monitor to my station at the moment is the display useless; with this function it would probably have been more useful on the 7300
- too many operations to activate the Notch (on the 7600 there was the dedicated button).
As you can see they are very subjective defects.
The 7610 is the state of the art today for Ham Rig
VK5LRC Rating: 2018-07-02
A Great SDR Base Station Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After enjoying the Icom 7300, my older 756ProIII was looking a bit tired, the 7610 replaced it well. I really appreciate that Icom are keeping a lot of the controls in known positions - moving from the 756 to the 7610 was relatively easy in using the basic functions.
it is a very complex radio with very deep menu systems - I certainly won't use all of them. I also appreciated that even the Accessory ports on the back had the same socket type, pin out and values as the 756P3 - my computer interface plugged right in.
I have yet to decide about a separate speaker but will probably keep using the SP-23 I have already.
The Digi-sel filters and the excellent Noise blanker helped along some early contacts on 40m, SSB and FT8.
Updating the software went easily - I had had no problems before. RF output is clean on a Spec An and no hum.
The screen is good so probably won't bother with connecting an extra screen but it is a nice feature to have in reserve.
Congrats to Icom for a great implementation of dual SDR.
KB5RU Rating: 2018-06-29
Excellent Reciever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent radio. I also have a 7300 but it is now my backup. The radio is a little expensive but worth the money.
K7FD Rating: 2018-06-25
Combines best of IC-7300 and TS-990S Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For starters, I have been an IC-7300 user since the first day they were available. I was amazed at how the '7300 threw shade on my once bright TS-990S. True, the '7300 didn't have the flexibility of my TS-990S but it sure delivered the goods for everyday operating...and in style. And it did it at a fraction of the cost of the Kenwood.

Enter the IC-7610. At a price over three times the cost of the '7300. Hmmm. I could buy three IC-7300's for the price of the IC-7610. I'm glad I didn't follow that logic. As others have said, the IC-7610 is much more than the IC-7300. And everyone knows about the 7300's popularity.

Compared to the TS-990S, the IC-7610 is a definite step up over the IC-7300. Not only does it offer more flexibility and options similar to the TS-990S, it does so a half the price. Performance-wise, a tip of hat goes to the Kenwood's 200 watts. Otherwise, these two radios...IMHO...are nip and tuck with the prize for best display going to the Icom.

CW is my main operating mode. I find no fault with the IC-7610; truly a dream machine for Morse. QSK is silent and excellent. The auto peak filter with adjustable gain and passband must be heard to be believed. During occasions when I have used SSB, audio reports are stellar...as they are with the IC-7300. Even with the complimentary fist mic included with the radio.

I'll leave comments on the digital modes, remote operation, etc. to those who know far more than me. My wheelhouse is a few CW ragchews and SSB skeds with friends...and the odd DX/contest QSO here and there. If you like a good receiver in a transceiver, I find the IC-7610 delivers with a nice mellow low noise floor. Signals just pop out of nowhere not to mention the ability to showcase a signal with adjustable 'everything.' Filters, passband, AGC, etc.

So is the IC-7610 worth three times the price of an IC-7300 and half the price of a TS-990S? You be the judge but from my perspective, easily. YMMV.

73 John K7FD