| G4AON |
Rating:      |
2021-09-12 | |
| 2 years and it’s still great |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
2 year update.
Since the original review I added a Leo Bodnar board (it uses a Leo Bodnar GPSDO on 49.152 MHz) and now the 9700 is within +/- 1Hz on 23cm (that’s as good as my GPS locked frequency counter displays in a reasonable gate time). I am also using later firmware that features the ability to send voice (or CW) from memory 1 or 2 by tapping the up/down buttons on the microphone. I also built a 4 button memory playback box, the circuit is in the Icom manual.
The radio is in daily use on 2m SSB and is regularly used out portable on a nearby hill in contests. It is rarely used on D-Star or FM, it has been used a few times on FT8 and meteor scatter, which work well enough, but these modes do not appeal to me.
Omnirig and Hamlib now include the IC-9700, so no need to edit the settings. I use Log4OM at home for logging and also for casual portable operating. For contests I use Minos, a log program specifically written for RSGB VHF/UHF contests.
The voice playback is excellent and a really useful SSB contest throat saver.
On 70cm I use an SSB Electronics SP70 mast head preamp and on 23cm an Icom AG1200 mast head preamp, both powered by the IC-9700.
——— original review below————
The 9700 is a complex radio with a lot of features. It takes a few days to both work out how to access various settings and to program memories/settings. There are some hard to remember settings that require a few button/screen presses, those who complain about the "tap/hold" buttons on an Elecraft K3 should try an IC-9700, it's a lot less user friendly... However, pretty much everything you need is in there.
Initially, the radio came with ver 1.06 firmware and was easy to update to 1.20. The free programming software is easy to use although there are quite a few parameters to discover, such as entering ^AR into the Morse keyer memory to send the "AR" without a gap.
It's not obvious that FM narrow is set by using the receiver filter FL2 (tap the filter on the screen to change), some radios have FMN as a mode. The memory programming has provision to set these to suit various analogue repeaters.
Speech quality on receive on D-Star is often excellent, equal to FM, although a lot depends on the sending station. There are two vocoders, so you can listen on 2m and 70cms at the same time on D-Star, even listening to your own transmission on another repeater as it operates full duplex.
CW on reduced power levels gives a perfect wave shape, there are no "spikes" or overshoot, and the rise and fall edges of the waveform are smooth and around the rise/fall times set in the menu.
I have only found one "birdie" and that is on 1249 MHz. Receive sensitivity is good, MDS is at the limit of my signal generator (-140dBm) and at that level a signal is easily seen on the spectrum scope. It is slightly more sensitive on 23cms. S9 signals reach the top of the 'scope display. Incidentally, setting a green trace with the "fill" black, gives a pleasing trace on the 'scope which resembles a spectrum analyser display. Power output as measured on a Bird Thruline is as per specification and tracks the percentage output indication fairly well.
Using an external 10 MHz reference puts the 9700 within one or two Hz of the correct frequency, although unless you use digital modes, or have long 23cms SSB QSOs, it's probably not an issue.
Many log programs currently lack a setting for the IC-9700, those that use Omni-Rig can edit the IC-7300 ini file to change the CI-V address entries from 94 to A2 and rename the file to 9700.ini, there might be some subtle differences to the 7300, but it works OK for basic frequency/mode logging. Equally, you could change the radio to 94, although search and replace with the ini file is easy enough.
Overall a nice transceiver, but it would be nice to have dual receive in the same band, which should be straightforward with an SDR, maybe that will only appear in a MK2 version at an increased cost? |
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| GW1HNG |
Rating:  |
2021-09-12 | |
| Worst Radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I got my IC-9700 to go with my IC-7300, thinking it would be a comparable radio but covering VHF and UHF with the added bonus of Dstar.
Well do I ever regret that decision, I sold my FT-991 and TS-2000 to fund the 9700, I'm now looking for a TS-2000 and an FT-991 as the IC-9700 is the worst radio I have ever used.
The user interface is crap in comparison with the 7300, you can't swap modes as easily in fact nothing is as easy to do, the speaker volume has to be turned up almost fully before I can hear anything (external speaker is the same), the damned radio is no better on receive than my old TS-2000 was in fact it's not as good.
The 9700 is a real let-down, I love my 7300 and my 7000, but the 9700 is just not up to the mark and it could have been so much better. |
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| N1DZ |
Rating:      |
2021-09-03 | |
| Fantastic for weak signal DX |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I am using the IC-9700 for over 12 months. For over 40 years I mostly used HF rigs with transverters for VHF and UHF DX-ing. I had a TS-2000 for a short period but this is the first VHF/UHF transceiver I feel that is as good as my HF-transverter combo. I only do weak signal DX-ing. The receiver with preamp is super sensitive. I use a mast preamp for all bands but with ½ inch hardline runs to the antennas the mast preamps make little difference. The radio has great stability. The filters on SSB and CW are top notch and it plays well on the digital modes too. The waterfall display is similar as the IC-7300 which I use on 6m. The layout is simple and it has little learning curve. I use the DX Shop PTT multiplier to drive my amps. This is the only negative as there are no individual ports for each band to drive an amplifier.
I cannot comment on how crunch proof it is with strong nearby stations as I live in an area with few stations closeby.
I rate this transceiver a solid 5 stars.
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| K8WQK |
Rating:   |
2021-08-25 | |
| Great Radio but remote control mode is very lacking |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| The IC-9700 is a great operating radio with one giant exception: The remote control mode using the RS-BA software is a real disappointment. I purchased this radio primarily to operate remotely to take advantage of a hilltop location that is not my home. The RS-BA software was relatively easy to set up, and yes it works, basically. However, this radio will not scan in the remote mode. Does not exist. Really disappointed that a $1,500 Vhf base radio will not scan. |
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| G8YTZ |
Rating:      |
2021-07-07 | |
| Perfect in every way |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this radio to replace my IC-910h that I had owned for just over 10 years. I could not be more delighted with it, the IC-9700 is just about faultless except for the frequency stability on 23cm and for up-converter work. It's not terrible and is certainly better than the IC-910h (even though I had the TCXO option fitted), but there is a very simple solution for this: Buy the Leo Bodnar GPS reference unit and add-on PC board. With this product the IC-9700 is GPS locked and gone is any drift.
I would like to say it is the best VHF/UHF/SHF radio on the market, but there again it is the ONLY one! Yaesu, you missed a trick here and iCOM have walked away with the market.
Potential improvements:
- More power, particularly on 70cm & 23cm
- An 'n' connector for VHF
- DMR/Fusion capability
- SD card accessible over the network to access audio files |
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| AA2UK |
Rating:      |
2021-05-23 | |
| Just super! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I purchased my 9700 a few weeks after the initial release. In addition I sold an ICOM 7410 and replaced it with the ICOM IC7300, the 9700's sister rig. The 7300 is used exclusively on 6 meters and 28MHz as my 222 transverter IF. It's mainly used with digital modes but I also use it on USB, CW even some AM. Back to the IC9700 this replaced a circa 1994 Yaesu FT736R with 222 & 1296MHz modules. The 9700 Rx is superb in sensitivity and the ability to dig out the weak ones running CW, FT8, Q65 & MSK144. I also use the 9700 on 902 (144 IF) & 2304 (432 IF) with SG Labs transverters. I never liked the lack of individual amplifier keying lines till I found the DX Shop's amplifier PTT interface they really saved the day with this add on! I use a simple Trimble 10MHz GPS reference and the ICOM software updates to add stability to my 9700. It's not perfect but it allows me to make 1296 JT65C & FT8 Q's. I may eventually add the Leo Bodnar unit. It's nice having a modern rig for 2, 432, 1296 & 902 & 2304 w/the addition of modern transverters. I may eventually get a 2nd 9700 to use with my existing microwave transverters.
Bill AA2UK
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| I0SJX |
Rating:    |
2021-05-07 | |
| Not enough focus on receiver's performance |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I decided to buy this radio as I was curious to test its performance and intrigued by its small form factor yet nice power and three V-U bands.
I use it mostly for SSB and CW, tropo DX and contesting.
My station is located in a large urban area with 360 degs open horizon and I use high-gain beam antennas arrays.
At times, I go /P to peaks and places with no external PAs and LNAs.
Well, after using the 9700 for several months, and having compared it to my old 2m IC-275 I can say that all nice add-ons with modern digital features and controls don't really make it up for the lack of a decent receiver. The RF direct-sampling receiver has a limited dynamic range and it comes unusable in contests or any time my neighbouring DXers or contesters put out their muscles. The receiver goes banana no matter I switch the preamp off or turn on IMD, it simply is unable to handle real-life signal dynamics in 2m and 70cm. I will need to go back to my original plans and keep using the old IC-275 in 2m until I manage to complete transverters to add to my FTDX101D and enable a decent V-U operation. Then the 9700 will only be used when going /P. One more comment about the TX delay - which purely is a SW function that may easily be adjusted on the next FW update; I needed more than 30 milliseconds to make sure the external LNA is not going cooked when transmitting...no way, I asked European tech support and the answer was like reading once again the handbook and no flexibility at all.
All in all, it's sad to see that RX performance is no longer considered for the value it has in our community. |
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| W0LD |
Rating:      |
2021-04-25 | |
| The IC-9700 Delivers! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| First week with the IC-9700–a dream rig! The receiver hears signals I used to use an external preamp to hear. The touch screen is intuitive. The audio is excellent both receive and transmit. I am sure there will be little things that pop up but initially this radio is a winner. Of all the VHF rigs I have used, and I have used just about every one of them, this radio delivers. |
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| N4NUI |
Rating:    |
2021-04-19 | |
| Nice Radio as replacement for IC-910H |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I bought this to add a D-star base rig. I still have my original IC-910H with the 23cm module. It has nice UI features in line with the HF IC-7300 and my IC-7610. It works well with my sat track software. However, the old IC-910H appears to have a better receiver, even with the pre-amp on, and I was seeing some freq drift and that was still apparent on my spectrum analyzer even when I connected a GPSDO so the drift may be related to the circuit design or an unstable component. This presents a problem with JT65 EME. D-Star was easier to set up with my old IC-A91 than with this IC-9700. It is not a terribly expensive radio compared to the IC-7610 but I expected more from ICOM. |
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| VK3ZAZ |
Rating:   |
2021-03-31 | |
| It drifts. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Great radio for weak signal 2 and 70 cm.
Needs help on 23.
Contact somebody on 144 ssb.
dial up second radio on a 1296 beacon and start yacking on 2m ssb.
23 cm starts to waffle up and down on a gps locked beacon.
Never noticed before.
So you do need the gps do to lock it at 49 mhz, pay for its cost and freight.
If you dont forget about 432/23 wspr and maybe even ft8.
The ten meg osc only holds the freq it doesnt stop the drift.
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