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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: 59MSRP: $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
25594.1
K4TB Rating: 2019-07-02
I think it's Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reading mixed reviews on the Icom 9700 and learning that Icom had published the version 1.11 firmware to enable the external frequency reference sync, I decided to buy one. Of course I was tempted by the big price drop. I bought one which had only the version 1.05 firmware but it wasn't hard to update to version 1.11. I am truly impressed with the performance of this rig so far, although I doubt I will ever try all the features it boasts - there are so many!

I especially wanted frequency accuracy and already had a Leo Bodner GPSDO frequency reference in the shack hooked up to my test equipment, so it was easy to add a connection to the Ic-9700's external reference input. I checked receiving and transmitting frequency accuracy and stability against my 9-digit GPS-referenced frequency counter and found the Ic-9700 was dead-on for all three bands (although on 1295 MHz the Ic-9700 displays 10 digits, all the way down to 1 hz so I couldn't check the 1 hz digit with my counter). I transmitted key-down at full output on each band for 5 minutes and saw absolutely no drift. Amazingly the rig barely got warm. The fan did kick on but was very quiet. I note that when I disconnected the external reference from the 9700, the 9700 displayed a warning on the screen, which promptly went away once I reconnected the reference and the 9700 re-locked to it.

I don't think it's fair to expect the Ic-9700 to have the stand-alone frequency accuracy and stability of laboratory equipment without the external frequency reference; most top electronics test equipment does require an external reference. In my opinion, the GPSDO coupled with the Ic-9700 makes the 9700 effectively a piece of laboratory grade equipment.

I understand some aren't happy about the inability to do 9600 baud but I don't find that to be an issue for me.

I believe the Ic-9700 is the state of the art radio now for amateur radio VHF, UHF and SHF and can't be beat.

N3CAL Rating: 2019-06-30
Needs Improvement Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This rig was supposed to fulfill the many needs of a modern Satellite/EME station. My expectations were high and I considered this a hefty investment as I enter my senior years. Although this rig has many very nice features it falls short of the mark. In the one month period of ownership I've put it through many paces and it has performed well but I'm not fully satisfied.

Likes include:
- Nice color touch screen and screen saver mode.
- Easy menu access and function access.
- I've been able to work both the FM and Linear Satellites and have logged over 80 contacts this first month. It works well with SatPC32 and TX audio reports are very good. Rx without external preamp is very good.
- I've also run the rig on 2M digital using WSJT-x FT8 and had success receiving SSTV from a amateur balloon launch recently.
- Rig is quiet and there is no noticeable fan noise.

My main dislikes are:
- It does not have the ability to TX or RX 9600 baud data!
- Freq Stability was poor until I added an external GPSDO. I still have concerns about drift running EME and whether Icom's firmware update will fully solve the drift issue.
- The RS-BA1 Remote Software cannot be used while in Satellite Mode. I was hoping to have the spectrum display up on the computer monitor and run remote but you can't in Satellite Mode. the software only handles one audio channel as well. You cannot scan your memories with the RS-BA1 too.
- Max TX delay is only 30ms. Some external preamp/sequencing could use a bit longer delay.
- The retail value of the rig has dropped $400 in the first month due the issues found so far! I could sure use that $400.00 back Icom!
G8OFA Rating: 2019-06-19
Very good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waited until the firmware update allowing ref synchronisation. I have now owned the transceiver for 9 days and I am absolutely delighted with it. Frequency stability on all bands is within a few Hz with an external gpsdo ref attached. The operability of the transceiver is superb, just like the IC-7300 and IC-7610. A friend has measured the mds at -144 dBm (500 Hz bw) on all bands. Measured dynamic range is limited by the ADC capability but has not yet manifested as a problem. Yes it is a pity that I/Q output is not possible and XIT would have been useful for EME but given the price this is an excellent bit of equipment.
AH6LE Rating: 2019-06-16
No serious complaints Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My main use for the 9700 is for 2 meter JT65 EME work and it works great with no concerns for stability. My initial transmission creates a 20 Hz drift MAXIMUM but after that, it settles down nicely. This isn't a problem at all

When the 10 mHz reference issue is fully addressed, I'll use my GPSDO but until then, the radio is entirely fine for my use as is (sequencing and separate RX ant input is another issue)
K9MHZ Rating: 2019-06-15
This is a terrific radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I could not be happier with this radio that I purchased at the Dayton Hamvention 2019. The current pricing is the same as that charged by the vendors at Dayton, and has nothing to do with the frequency drift complaints. Firmware Version 1.10 was is not supposed to correct the issue by itself, and no claim was ever made that it would. Version 1.10, while synchronizing to REF IN, automatically adjusts the internal reference frequency to match the external 10 MHz reference frequency. Many weak signal, EME, and satellite operators use a GPS reference as a boilerplate matter anyway. As for the radio itself, it's a quantum leap in ease of use as well as the many advantages of a direct sampling receiver architecture. Icom made a wonderful product with the IC-9700.
W2PP Rating: 2019-06-14
Misleading Firmware update Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The new Firmware update does not by itself fix the serious drift issues. You must now also go out and buy a 10 MHz reference and if it’s GPS based hope you get a signal lock inside your shack.

ICOM did not fix the radios inability to transmit or receive 9600 baud thus satellite digital stuff is off the table.

AGC issue not addressed

If you want to do weak signal work keep this all in mind. For SSB CW FM your fine but their are far less expensive solutions

Remember this radio was, is specifically marketed to weak signal guys like me not rag chewing

Obviously the market has figured this radio out as the price is down $400 in a hurry
N0FG Rating: 2019-06-11
Great radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned every satelliete rig ever produced and this far surpasses all of them at a far better price
G4IJE Rating: 2019-06-10
Excellent! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this transceiver to work SSB, CW and FT8 on 2 metres, which all perform superbly. Although I have no plans to use the higher bands at the moment, it is reassuring to know that the latest firmware allows locking to an external 10MHz frequency standard. Receiver audio quality is superb - so much nicer than the FT-991A which I used before. As I own an IC-7300 I have found the IC-9700 very familiar, but in any case the controls are quite intuitive. The fan comes on after a short time when transmitting at full power but is very quiet. This is the most I have ever spent on a radio, and I am not disappointed.
G7EMK Rating: 2019-06-03
Great Tranceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had this transceiver since its release , and this was one of the very first in the UK. The receive and the scope are fantastic. Menu is a breeze. The only issue I found was that there were pages missing in the manual and I had to inform iCOM UK. There are reports that this radio drifts and I also though this at first, but it is due to the fact that the AFC (Auto Frequancy Calibration) is on ( default )and it moves to the frequancy of the received signal. I now have this swithched off. Also you need to review the advanced manual on the iCOM site for firmware updates which I would of thought the process would have been in the main manual. This to one site. It is a great all rounder for UHF and VHF.
WA7FWF Rating: 2019-05-31
regret Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After 20 something years of 9600 packet support Icom dropped it on the 9700, my 820, 821,910 and 9100 all had it, don't know if this was an oversight on Icom's part or a hardware limitation on the SDR 9700, had they mentioned dropping support anywhere I would have passed on the radio. The 10mhz reference in is nothing more than a calibrate tool which is a shame as the radio could sure use a lock on 23cm ssb, Receiving the fan is off so the radio heats up and when you start talking the fan kicks on and pulls cool air right across the master oscillator so the other station better have their hand on the RIT knob on their radio because your 9700 will be drifting. All of this is really a shame because the radio does shine in other areas and has lots of nice features.