| VE7BGP |
Rating:  |
2024-12-15 | |
| A Treasure of a Vintage Radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I got an venerable old IC-740 to add to my Vintage collection last September at a ham fest. Having had IC-751A's for 24 years now. The 740's Receiver outguns the 751A's and is also very close to the latest Yaesu FTdx-10. What a great way to Celebrate Icom's 60th Anniversary by getting myself an IC-740. It has the FL-52 cw filter, marker and FM board options. I have brick wall selectivity using the PBT tune. I really like the IF Shift/PBT choice you have and the variable AGC controlling of the Fantastic Receiver. I use my modern FTdx-10 on RTTY and Digi modes haven't tried the 740 yet. I cannot comment on RTTY. I have already given my IC-740 lots of use and the Vintage SSB net is a lot of fun. If you see a great old IC-740 at a swap meet grab it fast it is one of the best old school Analogue radios out there. 73 Gerry |
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| VK2MW |
Rating: |
2024-06-09 | |
| Absolutely a Great Rig |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Many have noted that for approximately AUD $400-600, it’s an excellent entry-level setup for a new Ham Radio enthusiast who prefers not to invest in the advanced features of newer models. This marks my second ownership of an Icom IC-740. I regret parting with the first one.
Now, I have the complete setup, including the IC-AT100, IC-AT500, IC-2KL, IC-2KLPS, IC-SP3, IC-HM5, which serves as my primary DX Rig. The IC-2KL allows me to operate at about 300-400W continuously throughout the day.
I’ve discovered that the IC-740 is significantly more sensitive in reception compared to my Yaesu FT-847. This is largely due to the absence of WARC bands in the IC-740, which is why I predominantly utilise it for DX operations. |
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| WD4NKA |
Rating: |
2024-05-16 | |
| One of the best rigs I ever owned! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I would call my IC-740 "The Rig that Saved Ham Radio" for me.
I live in one of the largest bedroom communities in Florida, Deltona. And.... it is loaded with cheap Solar Panels. Wall to wall Solar Panels. And ancient plasma TVs. The noise level on average is about S9 to as high as 20dB over. On occasion, it drops down to about S7. But on average, the line noise is pretty crazy. I have had Duke Energy out three times, but at this point, the high noise level is just a fact of life.
Since I deal largely with vintage rigs (my station is staffed with apparatus dating 1926 through 1980... I restore these old gals) - it gets pretty tricky negotiating the lower bands. I am an AMer, and frequent 7285-95, and 3880-90 kc. As the noise level has increased, my RMEs, Hammarlunds, FT-101s, &c., have fought bravely for me... but ultimately they succumbed to the noise level. And I was about to cash in the BAs, and move on, after 50 years in the Hobby, to something else.
Man. Ham Radio pretty much defines me. I can't just walk away. Fortunately, a friend of mine turned me on to this little Icom a couple of years ago at the Orlando Hamcation, a 1980 vintage Icom 740, literally mint. It looks like new. It does not have any options included; it didn't even have the WARC bands activated, although I can listen in on them. I guess you have to get inside the rig and clip a few wires to activate the transmit on them, lol. But I am a Five Band Op, never set foot on the new WARC bands, so I don't feel I am particularly missing anything. But I may activate those bands down the road a piece.
About two years ago, having obtained this radio, I also began to probe the world of Keyboard to Keyboard (K2K) digital modes. I purchased a SignaLink USB, and set it up for the '740. I also updated my computer to Windows 10, and downloaded FLdigi 4.0
Wow. This rig really excels, here. Of all my rigs, the Noise Blanker on the 740 takes a massive "bite" out of the extremely high noise level, reducing it to between S5 to S7. None of my "classics" could do this. Or even come close.
After a time I learnt the peculiarities of tuning and adjusting my 740, what, with the tone control, the PBT, the IF shifting and notch filtering.... the NB settings.... and also some of the well-documented foibles, such as the speech compressor switch interfering with the transmit output (the cure is to replace the switch entirely!)
Generally speaking, save for the light in the S-meter going out, and the compressor switch issue which I solved, this rig operates perfectly for me, and between FLdigi, a decent antenna, and the Icom 740, I am still an active ham. Yeah, this old codger did have to get into the digital modes, but then, I have a background in the ancient RTTY apparatus, so there is a vintage serendipity doing K2K. I love it.
The 740 does great on SSB, and I also enjoy doing cw with it. It is, to date, the best receiver in my line-up. But one look at my QRZ.com page (WD4NKA) will reveal just what my "line-up" is.
Anyway, I had to add my 2d. worth here. I won't go over the specs, it has been amply described. I just wanted to express how well this rig has performed for me, 2022-24, and also how, in a very real way, it actually saved the Hobby for me. So much so, that although I am looking to maybe update to a 7300 or the new Yaesu 710 Field... I am in no hurry to do so. Happy with what I have.
I would heartily recommend the Icom 740, even in this advanced age of digital technology. It still has a lot to offer. Especially if you have an operating profile like mine!
Five Stars!
vy 73 de wd4nka ar k |
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| AJ4UY |
Rating: |
2023-02-07 | |
| Preamp Switch Noise |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
ICOM model IC-740 Transceiver.
Overall I like the performance of this radio.
However,
Pre-amp Switch May Cause Audio Distortion.
I was expecting this fault to have been posted, since this is approximately a 25 -30 year old transceiver.
I have not located a similar post with the searches I have performed.
When the Pre-amp switch is selected ON, the Pre-amp function does operate - however, if you wiggle the pushbutton switch
it will create a small amount of Audio distortion. Easily noticed operating and receiving on any band in SSB mode.
The Pre-amp switch only closes to 0.4 to 0.5 ohms. I suspect an Icom or Switch manufacturer defect within the Pre-amp
Pushbutton switch assembly.
I Purchased a OEM switch / wire harness assembly from a parts unit IC-740 on eBay. The switch found on this purchase was the same ( 0.5 ohm ) contact resistance. Therefore, several units may have this slightly defective switch - ( " ALPS/Alpine p/n 234 " ) stamped /marked on side of the switch. |
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| LU1LS |
Rating: |
2020-05-25 | |
| Excelente equipo |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Leí todas las reseñas de los colegas, coincido totalmente con todo lo dicho. El único defecto, no se si es de fabrica, es que para modos digitales, a la interface no admite conmutar el ptt con un transistor, únicamente con relay.
Igual trabaje con el en todos los modos digitales, RTTY , psk, Hell, sstv, FT8 , packet, etc.
Otro equipo que tengo es el Alinco dx70, me gusta pero el 740 le supera ampliamente.
Otro tema es el preamplificador de micrófono.
73 de lu1ls |
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| K9UR |
Rating: |
2019-06-11 | |
| Very solid mid 1980's radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had several over the years. As others note, very good receiver. Has all the WARC bands. Lacks 60 meters. No general coverage receiver. No funny lithium battery backup for everything. Very dependable. Only made for 3 years, so they are a bit rare. Nice CW radio.
Help Help: My only issue is that I have installed the 9Mhz IF CW filter and one must set jumpers to get the filter to engage. Yet, the service manual is WRONG on how to set the internal jumpers to activate that 9Mzh cw filter. SO, the radio has the filter installed but does not switch in when CW is selected. The radio came out pre-internet era, so am sure there was addendum to the service manual but can not find the info. Maybe someone can post the updated jumper settings here.
The radio also requires a special microphone. A simple modification these days is to add a small audio pre-amp board into the radio on the internal side of the mic plug (pins 1 and 7 are audio). One can buy a simple audio preamp board for under $10 and install. Then can use with any mic. WARNING: These very early "zero series" Icom radios DO still have phantom voltage on the audio line (pin 1) of the mic connector, so, there is a need to add a 4.7 uF or a 10 uF blocking capacitor to the mic audio line if you use a separate pre-amp board, or use an amplified dynamic or other non-electret condensor style microphone. Blocking cap of 4.7uF or 10uF (value not critical) prevents the micrphone element from getting damaged or damaging the 8V regulator in the radio as a dynamic mic element would put that 8V DC directly to ground through the mic coil.
Would be perfect if I could figure out how to get the cw 9 mhz cw filter to engage.
Another common SSB mod is to remove the ceramic SSB filter in the 455 IF and replace with the mechanical filter that is found in the IC-730. A swap-transplant is all that's required.
The final mod that I did is to install an internal keyer board. The one I use is not the EX243 as I couldnt find one. Instead, I found a $25 board made by MFJ that's small and actually sold as accessory / used on their QRP radios 90XX series - It's an easy install/ requires modifying the board (speed pot removal) and then soldering it into the 740. Now it uses power from the 740, connects internally to the 740, and speed is controlled from the front panel VOX GAIN/ELE-KEY SPEED pot. Neato - for $25 bucks . |
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| W0RDX |
Rating: |
2016-04-24 | |
| Great Radio even today! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
THe 740 has a very sensitive and quiet receiver. Quite a good radio for weak signal and DX work. Dual VFOs, filter options, PBT, really makes this old girl a good investment. Compressor switch problem? Simple fix, the addition of a resistor across the backside.
I have enjoyed this radio off and on for some time and any newbie, would be hard pressed to find a radio in the 300-400 dollar price range with the performance of this older ICOM. |
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| PB0ANT |
Rating: |
2014-03-16 | |
| great rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this transceiver in 1992 and used it without problems for 10 years. Then I lost interest in ham radio and it was unused for about 11 years.
Last December I started using it again but it had some problems. After cleaning the pots and contacts and replacing the pre amp relay it worked FB again.
I once compared it with a ft 757 because I wanted a general coverage receiver.Listening on the same antenna and switching between the receivers for 5 minutes was enough. The ft had much more noise and the weak stations I could hear on the 740 could not be heard on the ft. A good notch filter and PBT makes this rig a pleasure to work with. Another great thing about the 740 is his modulation. Always good reports with the standard
mic.It has some known weak points as all rigs have when they are 30 years old.But these problems are easily tof fix. I gave it a 5 because for its value its a great rig. If you can find one in good condition you won't be disappointed. In Holland they are rarely but sometimes one shows up in the price range of 350 euro. |
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| OK1FIG |
Rating: |
2013-11-19 | |
| It depends... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
If you get a fright when something goes wrong with our RIG, don't purchase. If you need a bunch of bells and whistles to astonish someone, don't purchase.
If you have some technical background & skills, purchase. If you like to study the service manual, puchase. If you look for amazingly hot and quiet receiver, purchase.
Negatives:
o- Final AF amplifier a bit noisy. Can be easily replaced with TDA2003, though.
o- CW side tone slow - can be modified as well.
o- Side tone controled together with AF gain - not much convenient.
o- Slight audible "click" each 1kHz when you tune (can be minimized by a trimmer on MAIN board).
Pozitives:
o- Classical quiet and hot analog receiver. Amazing quiet paradise for people used to DSP only.
o- ACC connector. For example, supply 8V to a pin to switch completely off the PA to use it with a transverter.
o- Extra input/output for RX (behind the antenna relay). Usable for preselector, preamplifier, another antenna, etc.
o- Understandable and modifiable design.
My IC-740 will have finally 8 xtal filters (standard 2 on 39MHz, FL-30/FL-45 on 9MHz, FL-44A/FL-222, FL52A/FL53A on 455kHz).
I belive it does make sense to get/keep one. RX/TCVR without DSP is unmarketable these days. Nobody will return to this simple (but excelently working) analog design. |
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| KA4DPO |
Rating: |
2013-07-02 | |
| Much better than you think |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought my IC-740 from Juns in 1985, one of the last in stock. Mine has the filters in it, I got rid of the ceramic filter, and the internal supply. I also got the FM mod for it since this rig did not come with FM installed. There was a roumor that the IC-740 was a flawed design but that is simply not true, At the time the radio was brought out all of the other manufacturers had general coverage receive, attenuators, and several other features that the IC-740 lacked so it was only produced for three years.
Since 1985 my IC-740 has operated flawlessly and the reciever is actually one of the best of that era but it required the filter upgrades to make it great. The fact that it did not have general coverage was a plus since being a down conversion receiver there were no spurs or birdies in the passband on any of the Ham bands. The noise blanker is one of the best ever produced and the IF notch really works under crowded band conditions on CW or SSB. The passband tuning is superb and once you learn how to use the notch and passband tuning there is almost no QRM that can not be dealt with, and remember this is an analog rig.
It was and still is, an excellent CW rig even by todays standards and while it would be difficult for an inexperienced operator to operate in a contest, I have done so many times over the years with good results. The IC-740 has withstood the test of time and is still one of the best deals out there on the used equipment market as long as you can do without general coverage receive. But if you are looking for a very good performing amateur transceiver don't pass this one up. They are a bit rare because of the short production run but they do show up on the used market. Even though I am several generations ahead with my latest rig being an IC-7600, I still have the IC-740 in my collection and plan to keep it because it is still a very competent radio. |
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