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Reviews For: ICOM IC-756

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-756
Reviews: 71MSRP: 2799.00
Description:
160 thru 6 meters TX, Gen coverage RX, 100 W, SSB,CW, AM & FM
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00714.4
SP2AND Rating: 2020-01-10
NO MORE LCD troubles. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my rig for a very low price on ebay with a broken LCD (now REPAIRED - please read below). When I compared it's receiver with my IC756PROIII - I decided to sell the IC756PROIII and keep the older IC756. The reason? - I prefer to listen to the radio based on crystal IF filters - the sound of IC756 is more natural (IC756PROIII had whistling "DSP generated sound"). I did design my own REPAIR LCD KIT which uses inverted-colors LCD. It makes the radio's display look and work like new again. The new type of LCDs have better quality than the original one, (much better contrast and LED backlight i.e. low voltage drive=>no noise from HV inverter!) and looks more natural (white-on-blue or white-on-black). The kit can be found on ebay.pl. By the way: all menu LCD settings (backlight and contrast) work via IC756 menu as before. This rig's band scope is extremely useful on the 50MHz magic band (I know newer rigs do it even better, but they cost more...). The only thing I don't like in this radio is the Automatic Notch (I prefer a manual notch, as a it's more "flexible"). vy73! Andy SP2AND
WA7IIR Rating: 2017-05-18
oldy but goody Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Recently picked up a Icom 756. Having owned a number of Icoms. I am happy with this rig It has had one line in the display that comes and goes. The radio was bought at a good price and is my main radio with a IC 7100 for digital/ VHF and UHF and a Yaesu 450 D for 6 meter and back up. If and when it is replaced it will be with a 756 pro III.
MM3IDR Rating: 2017-01-11
Fine radio. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had my 756 for about 6 months now.

It is an excellent performer. Compared to my first rig an IC-718 it is a lot better on receive and the bandscope, whilst an early implementation, is extremely handy and does what it's meant to.

Typically if I can hear it, I can work it. It has had more than a few compliments for fine audio on TX even with the standard mic.

The UI is a real pleasure, it is just logical. There aren't fathoms of menus and there's a button for the stuff that matters. The internal speaker is poor, but most rigs do have poor internal speakers.

The feel is very nice indeed. Nicely made and a pleasure to use. It's just a nice thing to use.

I bought it on impulse and it would have been worth hanging off to get a Pro II / III model, but if a decent one comes up, and it doesn't have the dreaded 'blue lines' then it is going to make you more than happy.
K4CSD Rating: 2015-06-01
Display Trouble Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I picked this rig up for $500 and the performance is great. It had the display problem about 8 lines on it. The replacement for the display is no longer available. http://www.pa7fa.nl/PA7FA/Introduction.html

I did find a solution on a polish group follow this link and translate it, http://sp-hm.pl/thread-902.html I found the display for $100 it requires some detailed modifications but it works great. If you need assistance you can contact me at k4csd@hotmail.com.

I am now very happy with this rig!
KC3BER Rating: 2013-11-20
AWESOME!!!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a pretty new ham, I was licensed in August 2013, so I'm writing this review for all the other new hams out there. I am not an expert by any means, and I don't know much about all the technical stuff, so you can take this review for what it's worth. I found this site very helpful when I was looking to buy my first HF radio. I read all the reviews on all the radios in my price range, and the Icom IC-756 seemed to be the best bang for my buck. And it is! I have owned it for a few months now and it works great! I don't really have much to compare it to being as it is my first HF radio, but I have been enjoying it to the fullest! I bought mine from ebay from a very nice guy in Minnesota his name is Gary and I bought it for about $750. I use it almost everyday and I have no problems with it what so ever. I also bought an Icom SM-20 desk mic and an Icom SP-20 external speaker for it. I use it with a MFJ-993 tuner and I use an IMAX 2000 and a W8AMZ 80 meter G5RV antennas with it and I have made almost 700 contacts with it so far (mostly dx). Everyone tells me it sounds great and I love the fact that it's so easy to use. I was a little hesitant to buy this radio after reading all the reviews about the display problems, but mine has an updated display and I have no blue line problems. The only thing that is somewhat of an inconvenience is I have to adjust the contrast as the radio warms up. When I first turn it on it's very bright, so I have to turn the contrast down and as it warms up I have to adjust it accordingly. Other than that I can't complain about it at all. If you just got your general license and you're looking for your first HF radio, I would recommend looking to buy one of these. You won't regret it. Sometimes I kind of wish I bought a pro or a pro2 model, but I'm happy with this rig and it seems like it really holds it's own. There's a trick I found to improve the audio on it, you can find it online. You just remove the cover and there's a switch inside for narrow or wide audio. If you put the switch on wide it seems to sound much better. I absolutely love the SM-20 desk mic. It's just so beautiful and heavy duty. I wouldn't really recommend buying the SP-20 speaker though. It is way bigger than the radio and I never use the filters on it. It was also very expensive I paid $180 for it. I wish I bought the matching speaker, the SP-23. Anyway, if you're a new ham and you're looking through reviews trying to decide which HF rig to buy for your first radio (like I did) then I would say check out one of these. They usually go for around $700-$800 on ebay depending on the condition. Buy one and have fun! 73 and good DX! From KC3BER
N3AAO Rating: 2013-04-08
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Used for several years now; no display issues; a solid rig.
CT2IQE Rating: 2012-10-05
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine used from a local Icom dealer. Never had display issues, and find it a great receiver.
Operanting bear foot, still have reports of "broadcasting quality, local station" from Ham`s all over the world. It`s a keeper.
K7PP Rating: 2011-12-31
Main dial tuning "skips" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
No display problems yet. Disappointed with the amplifier keying relay. This one froze even though it was keying a Harbech soft key.
Dial started skipping digits or freezing in certain areas of the dial rotation after about 10 years of operation.
I purchased a Copal VFO module from Icom for around 150 bucks and replaced it myself. Basically an afternoon job. Remove front faceplace, etc....
Hate the AM feature. Downward modulates even when power set for less than 25 watts. Had to resort to an external ALC bias supply and audio adjustment to lessen the problem. Can't come anywhere near 100 percent modulation without downward power deflection which is heard as distortion.
Should have just left the AM feature out.
N8XE Rating: 2011-11-27
Great CW Rig!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine used from a club member for a great price. It was not being used and he confirmed that it did not have the blue line problem. Sure enough, it did not. It came with the 350Hz and 1.8k filters.

I owned an IC756 Pro3 previously but sold it. I missed the spectrum display. So when this one was available I jumped at the chance.

I have found it to be a great CW rig during contests. I especially like the APF filter for zeroing in on signals. The filtering is wonderful. I have not noticed any AGC pumping in crowded band conditions.

When the NB is on, I do notice some issues so I turn it off.

I am pleased with this rig. If you can find one without the display issue, it is a keeper!! I will be keeping mine.
KG4USN Rating: 2011-10-29
2nd summary Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the radio for seven years. Its a great radio except for the display lines. I sent the radio in for service(tuner) a few years ago and it came back with lines on the display, and Icom said it was not their problem. Started out with intermittent lines, and now I have four of them. They really do not get in the way of operating the radio, but I have always thought it was lousy that Icom did not own up to the fact that the radio went in with no lines and came out with them. So far I am sure it only affects the resale price. I use the radio from 6-160 in ssb and cw modes .

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KG4USN on 2004-04-07

I bought the radio at a local hamfest a little over a year ago. With a homemade dipole I got DXCC and WAS in under a year. I have no problems with lines or anything else.I give this rig a great thumbs up. I do not think I would upgrade to a another rig unless I could upgrade my antenna also.