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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
KG4LFZ Rating: 2002-08-07
great rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this rig for over a year and i love it. i will keep this rig until it stops working. great RX. I have work 150 or so countries with this rig. I also have work a few countries on 6 meters. I bet the PRO and the PROII are very nice rigs, cause the 756 is a vry nice rig. Icom has done a good job. If i find another one at a good price i will get it for a back-up rig. I use an D-104 amplified mic, both do a good job together. all the filters and features make it easy to operate cw in the middle of a contest and block all other stations but the one you are listening to. very nice feature. Over all this is a great rig. one idea for icom is when the come out with a Icom 756PROIII that they have 2 meter all mode at 100 watts in it. 73's
Eddie KG4LFZ
KC2IGY Rating: 2002-07-19
Great buy on the used market. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For around $800 used, the 756 is an excellent rig. Everything it does, it does well. I use it mostly on 6 meters. The one thing I wish it had was more filter options, especially on AM.
Even so, the default filters and performance are very good.
N5KNG Rating: 2002-05-12
Wow! Double wow! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is an amazing receiver. I just bought one used and have to agree with the other reviewers - it really rates a "10". I have compared it to the IC-756 Pro, and really, I like this analog version better. Not only does it "sound" better, it's also a good deal less expensive. The real filters (non-DSP) and dual-passband tuning (which also operates to move the IF if you turn the two knobs together) work very well to cut out interfering signals. The off-frequency blocking ability is also terrific. The receiver is very sensitive (almost too sensitive - I normally run with the preamps - yes, there's two of them - OFF), and it's very easy to operate. If you need it, there is DSP variable noise reduction and automatic notch filtering. After listening to this radio, I wasn't surprised to find that the measured specs in QST show that it pretty much beats anything else out there that you can buy (at least, if you don't want to spend $3,000 and more on a radio!). I can't even begin to use all the memories, split operation capability, and other doo-dads they have on this radio. You can even monitor (and adjust the volume between) two stations on the same band. What more could anyone want??? Just make sure when you buy one that it has ALL the factory modifications done to it - if they haven't been done, ICOM will charge you about $200 to get them.
WA6IPD Rating: 2001-12-21
Not a 5 it's a 10. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an outstanding radio. I purchased mine shortly after they came out and use it everyday. I have been building receivers and transmitters since 1939. When SSB came along I bought my first factory made rig, a Swan 350, which I still have. Since then I have purchased new rigs as they came along with more bell & whistles but after buying this rig I just do not see anything better to buy. I first used panoramic scopes in the 50s and they were good but this one is just fabulous. Can’t say enough about this fine radio.
KA1RI Rating: 2001-11-20
Fabulous!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
What a fantastic rig! BIG tuning knob, easy to read display, sensitive receiver, many user-friendly features. Great audio, tuner works fine, a BARGAIN used. I got mine for $925 on eham.com. I've owned the TS-570DG, IC-706MK2, IC-746 and others.. .this is THE ONE!
K0CS Rating: 2001-05-16
Best Value in HF Today Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you are in the "Under $1500" price category you cannot go wrong with the IC-756. Talk to the previous owner about FACTORY UPGRADES because Icom made about ten that improved the original radio during its product run. Two features that will astound you on the IC-756 are the SPECTRUM DISPLAY and the MEMORY KEYER. You will find these features to be profound additions to your general operating. For enhancements consider a HEIL ProSet Microphone for better audio and an AMERITRON External Relay if an Amplifier is being used. Icom Service is amazing - on one occasion they turned a radio over in ONE week. I rate the IC-756 as one of the best values in the history of ham radio. 160-6 Meters, Memory Keyer, DSP, Spectrum Display, Intuitive with Parts and Service STILL Available.
N0AH Rating: 2001-04-26
update on repairs Time Owned: N.A.
A follow up to my earlier post: After 6 week wait and $356 dollars for repairs to the front end, internal tuner, and tuning knob- I think this is a great radio for those who never turn on the low bands- As a high bander, you really don't need rx antennas like you do for 40, 80 and 160 meters- And it's a good thing- For as far as the rig's use for the low bands, you need to spend a lot of money for external protection if you are using the rx jack for beverages and even then, it's no promise the radio won't over-load. I had a ICE RF Limitor in line with the beverages and I still over-loaded the rig- I was told of another front end protection circuit made by C&S Engineering at 219-485-1458..going to give that one a try next- So let's see, around a total of $600 in repairs, $150 in shipping, 3 months without the radio have been the downside to the rig but earning my 5BandDXCC and 5BWAZ have been the upside- so I'll just roll with it- And after reading all the nightmares about the high end Yausu problems, I might of gotten off lucky- Man, should have gone with that Kenwood!!!
K2VI Rating: 2001-03-04
works well but... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned this radio for 14 months. I took it out of line to utilize another radio. I placed this rig in a enclosed stereo rack disconnected and out of harms way covered and all. Well when I put it back in line 2 months later it had no recieve and little transmit. Sent it off to Icom and they found the drivers in the pa unit to be blown and the bias on the recieve to be bad??? The only thing i can think of is this radio is extremly sensitive to strong emf. I did have a severe lightining storm and a loud blast over the house. BUT the 756 was completely disconnected and in a enclosed rack. I will never know what hit the radio but it worked just fine when i disconnected it. The rig is a beauty but watch out for strong pulses.....k2vi
AA7IN Rating: 2000-10-15
A great rig :) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this radio since december of 1997 and it has performed just great. It has just about the right amount of functions and filtering for just about anything I can throw at it. I have used this radio on PSK31, RTTY, Slow scan and Packet.The only reason I am giving it a 4 is because I had the "lines in the display problem", the lack of a real IF notch filter and no adjustable noise blanker even though some ads in QST and HRO indicated it had an adjustable noise blanker. Despite some of its short commings it's a very good radio for the money...
HB9LGA Rating: 2000-09-07
very pleased with performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi to all
The reason I was triggered to bring in some comments was the very frustrated article from someone else. I am operating this rig for three years with very much pleasure. I enjoy all functionality’s because I do not need to twiddle many knobs to get satifactorly results. The scope function I never want to miss the DSP simple efficient, just press the button and the tuning noise has vanished.... and many more things I could mentioned.
So, make a long story short; it is a very good transceiver I can absolutely recommend it to all of you.
73 de René, HB9LGA Zurich - Switzerland