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Reviews For: Icom IC-9700

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-9700
Reviews: 66MSRP: $2099
Description:
A new release of an old favorite (Icom IC-910H) VHF/UHF All Mode Base Station. Wow - Well worth the long wait!
Product is in production
More Info: http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/9700/default.aspx
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25664.1
W6CJ Rating: 2022-09-14
Generally OK Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm still getting accustomed to my IC-9700, using it for FM rpt & simplex, SSB, D-Star rpt & simplex. It got just an OK rating for reasons discussed below.

Likes:
100 w on 2M, 75w on 70cm.
Similar to IC7300 in function and appearance.
Dual band monitoring with single or dual external speakers.
Allows different CTCSS tones on TX and RX.
Good TX and RX audio EQ, and filtering.
Programming memories and functions is easy to manage - with RT Systems software.

Dislikes:
Hambands only, no MARS capability.
430-450 MHz... no 420-430 coverage.
Need to be able to put channels in labelled memory banks, based on PURPOSE and not by BAND, for example: ARES bank, Simplex bank...not possible in the 9700, but my Kenwood and Yaesu HTs do this.
Only 10 watts on 23 cm.
May need to add a Leo Bodnar GPSDO and internal mod for highest stability, especially on 70 and 23 cm.
Would like to see 223 and 900 MHz added.

73



WF0M Rating: 2022-09-14
Like it so much, I'm buying a 2nd one Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this radio for my birthday this year and absolutely love it. I've been using it for about a month now and really like it. The integration with SatPC32 for working satellites is amazing! Eliminates the worry of manually changing frequencies for dopler shifts. I've had great success using FM, DV and SSB modes so far. Have a dual band antenna for 144/440, but have not tried out the 1.2G band yet. Just upgraded to a newly released version of firmware today and that process was easy as well.

Update September 2022: This radio is still working flawlessly and I get out better than most. I've tried all bands and all work great. I've also done DSTAR which is nice. I'm buying a 2nd one for my cabin in the mountains. Unfortunately, the price has gone up quite a bit, but that is the nature of our economy these days.
WA6CR Rating: 2022-09-08
Great Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
It's a great radio, works amazingly and in case anyone is wondering, at 0% power it still outputs 0.65 watts.

Planning on using this for DX work in the near future, have already made multiple hundred-mile FM contacts with it, absolutely no problem. The preamp really shines in low noise conditions, EX. at the tops of mountains. This radio outperforms all other radios I've owned before.
PA1CW Rating: 2022-06-17
I love this radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.

I mainly use this transceiver for DX.
High sensitivity and easy to operate, regular software updates give it more options.
I am a satisfied user.
I2BGQ Rating: 2022-04-20
Great transceiver for SSB and digital communication Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been owning this transceiver for about one year and mostly using it in SSB and FT8 mode on 144 MHz and in SSB or FM on 430 Mhz. It is a joy using it and I have no difficulty interfacing it with my Mac-mini running control software for the rig. I connected a 10 Mhz GPSDXO to it for more precision and frequency stability, all is running very solid. No problem at all.
KF4HR Rating: 2022-04-13
Nice rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I initially just used my IC-9700 on local FM repeaters, and it worked fine. Eventually I migrated to Satellite work. The IC-9700, S.A.T. Controller by iGateMini, Yaesu G-5500 rotor system, and M2 LEO-PACK satellite antenna system is a really nice combination.

I wonder if ICOM has an IC-9710 under development? An overall larger unit with a larger screen sure would be nice!

For those reporting poor sensitivity, I'm curious if you sent the unit back to have ICOM check it? Factory defects do occasionally occur.
G0JSV Rating: 2022-04-13
Very poor sensitivity Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The 9700 is so bad that I bought the domain ic9700.com to warn others about buying one without due diligence.


I have not been impressed with the receiver on the IC-9700. All radios in the shack out-perform the 9700 when the pre-amp is off. When the pre-amp is enabled on the 9700, it is still beaten by almost all the other radios including hand portables.

If you are considering this radio, I would advise that you ask the vendor if you can borrow one for a few days. Spend the time comparing it with the other radios you already own. Yes the 9700 may be eye candy but you need to use your ears and not your eyes.

I also use the radio with the RS-BA1v2 Software. The software is seriously lacking in support for the 9700. One band only is supported. Digital modes are difficult. You basically use the remote control software to set the radio to the required frequency and mode. Then turn off the remote software and start the digital client software. WSJT etc.

Within a week of receiving the 9700 I knew the radio was poor and called Icom UK to ask for a refund. It was not forthcoming.

Tom.


By the way. I also own a IC-R8600. Fantastic radio. The receiver on the IC-R8600 blows the IC-9700 out of the water. Being an ICOM fan I also have the IC-705. Ditto, it too blows the IC-9700 out of the water.
WA2ZQX Rating: 2022-04-06
NOT FOR PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio mainly for Satellite Communications (SSB, CW, FM) with 50% of my ops portable or at parks. Display screen is almost useless on bright-sunny days, which is most of the time here. Even in a shaded spot the reflective sun-light makes the display hard to see...With the screen intensity cranked up to full bright. Changing modes not easy for desired screen displays and channel menus (SSB-CW-FM). Instruction manuals need to provide more detail. The internal satellite VHF/UHF-UHF/VHF satellite auto-frequency tracking is useless...have to do it all, constantly changing TX and RX frequencies manually. No, I don't use a computer or auto-SAT program when portable. Miss my Kenwood TH-D72A for FM-SAT Ops!
NJ0F Rating: 2022-03-20
Great all round VHF/UHF Solution Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these gems. One for satellite work and one for SSB / FM work. As with all Icom gear, top notch.
K4GTE Rating: 2022-03-19
Outstanding ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Outstanding radio, excellent sensitivity, great power, user friendly intuitive menus. Like any other transceiver, pair it with a good antenna system and you'll have one of the best, if not the best, VHF/UHF base systems.