| MM0DUN |
Rating:  |
2005-12-20 | |
| Great Radio.... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have used a Yaesu FT-847 since getting my MM3AWM call initially in June 2002. I recently sold the FT-847 as I wanted something different and after reading may reviews and seeing a friends (MM0DRA) IC-7400 I decided thiswas the one for me.
In particular interest is the superior receiver on the Icom as I often get an S7+ of noise of 20m...cannot trace external local source of it. Noise is still present on the IC-7400 but it is easier to filter out to a degree.
Nice looking, excellent layout, great control from computer with a lead from G4ZLP for £15 yep £15 not Icoms £99 CI-V here but does the same job.
Also found a few good applications out there for programming the memories and settings from the PC.
I bought my IC-7400 2nd hand from Jaycee in Glenrothes and was told it is about 2 years old. I only hope I get none of the problems others are referring to here as the rig is in mint condition and may not have been used very much.
The purchase of this Icom IC-7400 has so far been the best £725 I have ever spent. |
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| HA5X |
Rating: |
2005-12-19 | |
| The best I have ever used |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I was off-air for quite some time, and when I returned to the hobby in 2003, I decided to buy an FT-897 and an FT-817, mainly because I wanted all bands and because my QTH has severe antenna restrictions so I wanted to have compact portable radios. Both radios are excellent, but as most of my home activity was DX-ing and contests, I wanted a radio with some better ergonomy, i.e. when you do not have to enter the menu, push the button, turn the selection knob to find the needed menu option, press again, set the value with the knob, then press a button a few times to exit the menu if you wanted to do something as easy as change the CW keyer speed or set a split frequency.
So I needed a radio with more dedicated buttons. I was thinking of a Yaesu FT-1000MP, but it would have been too big for my small desk. Then thought of the IC-756ProII, but stocks had run out and the IC-756-ProIII is very expensive. Plus, I would have still needed the space for a VHF/UHF radio...
Then in July a friend of mine ordered an IC-7400, and because normally somebody is at home, the radio was delivered to my QTH rather than his. So the box was in my shack and I phoned him if I can try his radio before he takes it from my place. He replied yes. Yes, your bet is right: The radio has remained with me :-))
After wiring-up, I turned the transceiver on, and started playing with the controls. I found EVERY function very quickly without the manual. It has the best ergonomy I have ever met in a transceiver.
And how about the performance? Well, when I turned the radio on the first day, my wife asked: "And where is the radio noise?" :-) QRM-fighting tools are truly excellent and easy to handle. Then I re-discovered SSB for me. SSB with the FT-897 was a problem. Shouting-shouting, only a few stations hearing me. with the IC-746, using the speech compressor and the equalizer, I even get calls for my CQ :-))
During the CQ WW SSB contest I made some side-by-side comparison with my FT-897. Okay, the FT-897 does not have an SSB filter, but it does have AF-DSP. The IC-7400 only has IF-DSP. Well, the comparison was very quick. I found the FT-897 to have a somewhat more sensitive receiver on a clear frequency, but on a busy band there was QRM wall-to-wall, only a few big guns ripping through the noise, whatever I did with the DSP. On the IC-7400 though, the QRM was managable, even weaker signals could be picked up after playing around with the filters. The one block-jam I heard on the FT897 simply cleared up into several stations working a bit too close to each other. A HUGE difference. Stations tuning on your QRG? Auto-notch cancels it, you never realize. Noise too high, signal weak? Use the "NR" knob. Stations too close? Use PBT.
On 2m...? No comparison yet. I am only interested in 2m when there is some sporadic E or a contest that stirs up the band.
Unfortunately there is a strong contest station just a few kilometres away, and if they start operating, all my receivers simply die on 2m. The IC-7400 is no exception. Otherwise the IC-7400 provides the same excellent ergonomy on 2m, and has a 100W transmitter, which is usually enough.
For this price, I believe it is the best deal now for somebody who is a casual HF operator and contester like me, who has limited budget, limited space on his desk but still wants to enjoy HF and VHF.
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| ON6AB |
Rating: |
2005-10-31 | |
| Nice on VHF too |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Apart from all the other qualities this transceiver has, let me add a subjective feeling that it's not that bad on 144Mhz neither.
What else to think when working EME with it on a single 3wl yagi, 350W and NO preamplifier...(no, not W5UN only)
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| OE2 |
Rating: |
2005-09-30 | |
| Icom makes very good job |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
One of the best Transceiver I have buy.
Good audio of resceiver and transceiver side.
The filters making a very good job in QRM and QRN.
The tuner is excellent and yery fast.
I use also a 8 band EQ from W2IHY and with this set-up we have a BBC audio-quality.
Only the NB works not so great. But all in all
I was very happy with my IC-7400......go to the Icom dealer and buy one !!!
73's |
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| IK6IOQ |
Rating: |
2005-09-13 | |
| Il mio primo ICOM |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Ho comprato il IC 7400 per provare per la prima volta un ICOM e sono rimasto molto soddisfatto.
Prima di questo ho avuto un TS50, TS570DG, TS2000 quindi sempre Kenwood ma poi mi sono detto, perché non provare un ICOM ?
Presto detto e fatto.
La radio va molto bene in ricezione (decisamente superiore al TS2000), la gestione dei filtri digitali, con la doppia opizione sharp e soft, è semplicemente fantastica sia per il CW ma anche per la fonia SSB.
Lo stesso dicasi per la funzione DSP di riduzione del rumore (NR) veramente efficace la manopola di regolazione manuale, senza distorsioni permette un ascolto pulito anche in 40 metri.
Divertente il DISPLAY con caratteri ben visibili ed il modulatore RTTY.
Critiche da parte mia solo sul fatto che la potenza non è regolabile con menu (come il TS2000) ma solo con apposita manopolina.
Accordatore interno buono, rapido negli accordi e mantiene la memoria.
Insomma per 1.480 euro non si può chiedere di più.
In banda 144 Mhz mi dicono che la modulazione è bassa in FM ma la cosa mi interessa relativamente.
Consigliato a chi lavora soprattutto in HF senza spendere cifre da capogiro.
Saluti a tutti
Marco - IK6IOQ |
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| G0CVL |
Rating: |
2005-08-23 | |
| Stunned!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Having had two 746's in the last 3 months, and not being happy, bought a used immaculate ic7400 from the superb L.A.M. Communications, with 18 months warrenty left. Unpacked it, turned it on, tuned in, and WOW!!!! Forget ANYTHING about the 746 and the 7400 being related, take it from me, they are from a different planet!!!
The receive is BETTER than the ProII because it came AFTER the ProII, and it runs a different processor and freq - 60mhz as opposed to 40, and apart from the colour display, is superior. Talking to Icom, the guy said that the 7400 was "almost perfect" and only NARROWLY beaten by the ProIII. Take it from me, this is an ASTOUNDING radio for the money. OH YES, as regards the Trannie failures, a man in the know at Icom, told me that very late ones have had very little trouble, and those fixed with MOD III this year have not been back. BUY ONE!!!!!
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| G4SJP |
Rating: |
2005-01-15 | |
| Wonderful radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Despite losing a driver transistor (returned within the week from Icom) this has been the best radio I have owned. I have had it since November 2002 and used it mainly on digital modes where it excels, and on 80m ssb where the tx audio with the SM-20 mic is apparently outstanding.
It's a pity that perceptions of the radio are clouded by the reliability issue. I feel sure that like a lot else in life we tend mainly to read bad news. It's a great deal of radio for the money, and the only change I would make would be to a 756proIII or the 7800. |
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| M3GMN |
Rating: |
2004-12-14 | |
| 1 year old |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Almost a year now since I bought my 7400. After reading some bad reports on tx failure I decided to give the rig to a fully licenced pal to drive and test on full power.(i am limited to 10 watts)and low and behold, tx went down after a couple of days. I must admit, after sales service from Icom was A1, and the rig was back in my shack inside a week. since then , there has been no problems and all seems to be OK. I really like the sreen size, Its easy to read, And I have had some cracking audio reports. But any M3s out there Take heed, Get a pal, or your local club to try your rig out for you. At least before its out of warranty . |
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| GM1FLQ |
Rating: |
2004-10-30 | |
| Cheap & nasty - correction, just nasty. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| Quality on a par with VCRs built in honky tonk land - just feel & look at the mic gain and power controls for example. Pleased to get shot of mine before it failed. With one or two exceptions if you want a good radio that you can almost be sure will last (like TS520s 25 years on do) you can really start to struggle when you sit down & look at what is on offer these days. |
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| OZ7FP |
Rating: |
2004-07-10 | |
| Still works |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Hi there.
Have owned my Ic-7400 for more than 12moths now......its transmitter still works great as the day i got it home here.
So in that way i havn´t any complayints so far.
The reciver works really great.
So i can only say thats its a great rig. |
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