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Reviews For: ICOM IC-746

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-746
Reviews: 234MSRP: ICOM IC-746.
Description:
HF+6M+2M Multi-mode transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
002344.7
SQ7DQX Rating: 2003-12-07
Looking for a rig ? IC746 :-)) Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have IC746 for a short time but I can tell that its a realy good radio. I wanted to buy FT847 or FT100 or IC706 or FT897. I decided to buy second hand IC746 (JA version, how to unlock - see http://republika.pl/mateuszpigon/unlock746b.htm ).
Why - high scores on eham (hi),
-internal antenna tuner,
-HF+50+144 with good ARRL receiver dynamic test,
-better transmitter purity (no comparision with FT847 - I live in crowdy city),
-real SSB crystal filter at 2nd IF (I dont need spend 150-200 $ for "optional" one like Yaesu owners !),
-realy good PBT working for digital modes in SSB,
-digital detection of RTTY,SSB,CW at 4th IF ~15 KHz (Its modern ! is't it ?),
-I can turn-off AGC !!,
-lower phase noise without peaks far away from center frequency,
-good DSP NR (try it on FM) and DSP filtering on CW,
-its not "tiny" one - heavy and stable chassis with good heat conductivity.
-very good frequency stability

FT100 - very small and versality but read eham reviews (with low scores like 2/5 or 1/5)! More malfunctions appears when rig is smaller and hotter. Pigtails !!

IC706MK2G - like FT100 but with better reviews, without such unexpected appearing bugs like FT100 but HF part is not good enough. To much often-used menu controls. More malfunctions appears when rig is smaller and hotter.

FT897 - not good known model without crystal filter(s). Good known problem. Portable (I like) but low HF receiver performance.


DL0USB Rating: 2003-11-12
FINE RIG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
JUST MISSING THE S-METER NEEDLE AND A MAINS SUPPLY FOR ITS SIZE. OTHER THINGS WORK GREAT!
KE4KVW Rating: 2003-11-11
GREAT RIG Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been running my 746 now for just over 13 months and have ZERO complaints! I get nothing but praise reports and the audio is GREAT with the matching SM-20 desk mike.I keep hearing the same thing from many locals about my receiver."It is HOT on SIX meters!"I keep working stations they NEVER even hear or can just tell they are down in the noise.This happens almost every week and the are running all brands and models of rigs.I give some of the credit to the rig hearing so well to the M2 6M5X I use on SIX Meters.(one BAD little antenna)I have no problems with receive on TWO meters either like I had been told by others who work weak signal.The rig is VERY sensitive to SWR but that only protects the rig from stupid mismatches wth BAD antenna systems.I would buy another one over any other rigs I have owned if I found another used one that is in as great of condition as this one was when I purchased it USED from HRO in Anaheim,Ca.(DALE) last year.If Icom can add 440 to a NEW rig with all this rig has I would buy it in a minute.Try one and you will be VERY PLEASED as am I!73's,ClaytonKE4KVWEM80
NA4IT Rating: 2003-11-06
Easy Radio to Operate Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We have one of these in the KF4CFO club station. I sat down to it first time, had it on the air in seconds! We operate thru an 80M dipole, and the intenal tuner tunes it from 160M all the way to 10M.

Only thing I would change is have a "fast" button on the VFO. You have to spin the VFO really fast to change MHz.

We use a Warren Gregoire & Associates TR 2000 headset on it and get good reports!
N8YV Rating: 2003-09-18
Back Again for More Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just picked up my second 746 in three years, this one from a ham swap. My first was a "demo" rig that I got a then-good deal on in 2000 at $1200. It had a minor flaw in the display bezel and was a trifle short of its 100-watt rating, but the rig had a KILLER receiver and superb audio on both transmit and receive modes.

This one's even BETTER although it is older, with full 100-watts power and runs cool as a cucumber. I have this one outfitted with the CR282 TCXO unit, to improve its accuracy and stability for 2M SSB work. Hard to beat the quad-conversion RF section, even with the new digital rigs. I speak from experience owning a Ten-Tec with IF DSP, and can tell you honestly that the 746 has smoother, more enjoyable receive characteristics.

This 746 is cosmetically perfect, as if it just left the carton for the first time. At $800, it is unbeatable and I will likely hang onto this rig for good. By the way, I was very tempted to buy a new 746 PRO, but all the problems with the transmitter section I have been reading and hearing about, I thought it wiser to stick with a proven performer.

Of all the rigs I have used---Kenwood, Yaesu, Ten-Tec---even Drake---the ICOM rigs I have owned are by far the best, especially for the money. If you can find one of these at a ham swap, and it is in good shape, GET IT!
N0JYC Rating: 2003-08-14
Happy Surprise! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had this rig for almost 2 years and have not had any disappointments. I receive excellent audio reports. It has a DSP that works very well. The internal antenna tuner works very well and far surpasses the internal tuners I have in my FT 767 and Knwd 940.

IMHO it would be difficult to be disappointed in this product.
W2VD Rating: 2003-08-13
Keeps On Ticking... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my 746 for some time now. It has a great receiver. I have never had any problems of any kind with it. I operate it mostly on CW and PSK31. I don't use the internal tuner, so I can't comment on it. All in all, I am very happy with this rig.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2VD on 2001-08-07

I bought my 746 last month. It is a great rig. I also purchased the optional SSB and CW filters (I haven't installed them yet). I've been inactive for a number of years, and thought that I'd buy a newer rig. I was considering a 756Pro, but did not feel justified in spending the extra cash (I'm not on the air as much as I used to be). For $1200 and change (the extra two filters cost me about $175), I'm very happy with this radio.
KA9EKG Rating: 2003-08-12
Bad News Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had my 746 for abought a year.Had to send back after 6 months cause the backlight went out.Well guess what after getting back backklight and transmit went out.I had enough of Icom products.73s De KA9EKG
KA4KOE Rating: 2003-07-30
Still checking it out.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a loaner rig from a friend that I'm checking out prior to a possible purchase. The receiver is outstanding. The DSP actually works and I dug a guy out of the static crashers on 160m this week with it...In the summer....unbelievable. This would've been impossible on my Kenwood 830.

Cons:
Antenna tuner could be better.
LCD display has brightness/contrast quirks, ie one side is brighter than the other. But, I am a picky engineer as it is.
G7TOK Rating: 2003-07-18
Brilliant All-Rounder !! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
What can I say, IF DSP that really works, HF receive that is a pleasure to listen to, comments on the transmitted audio never less than excellent.
A few menus, but excellent front panel controls, Twin Passband works a treat, especially in conjunction with the APF filter, auto notch filter is the deepest & fastest ever, just a shame there is no manual control.
Triple band stacking for every band plus the general receiver.
Meter readings on 2m are stingy, but is not connected to the receive sensitivity, this radio hears everything my IC-275 did, just learn to mentally adjust.
Could do with the menu buttons moving away from the mode buttons, but it is a small point.
I don't miss 70cm, as it generally a dead loss anyway, and every radio that has tried to cram all the bands in has suffered in this respect, TS-2000 - Utterly dreadful, in the bin. FT-847 - VHF & UHF very good, HF not very good. IC-706I/II/IIG & FT100/d/857 are all flawed in many respects, the only exception being the FT-817.
So there you have it, the best IF-DSP all rounder ever made...No competition.