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Reviews For: ICOM IC-7800

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-7800
Reviews: 105MSRP: 10,000 US
Description:
The ICOM 7800 HF/6M was first introduced at the Dayton Hamvention 2003. ICOM believes it is the most advanced amateur radio ever developed. It utilizes four separate 32-bit floating point TI DSP chips, has a 7-inch wide TFT display, built in RTTY/PSK31 receive and transmit using a USB Keyboard interface, plus compact flash technology. The radio features an IP3 of +40dBm and 110db dynamic range. It features two identical, fully independent, receiver circuits. There is even a separate preamp and mixer for the 6 meter band. More information, brochures, U.S. dealers, and pricing should be available soon.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/amateur/7800/index.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151054.7
VK2XXL Rating: 2024-07-20
Excellent! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought an Icom IC7800 MKII version with all three roofing filters in absolute showroom quality condition.

I made my choice over other options such as the IC-7610 or Yaesu FT-101D. I have used both of those models and they have absolutely nothing on the 7800 (sorry owners of those radios, I have to be blunt).

Other Ham's 'know' when you key up with something like this over the air and I get unsolicited compliments all of the time for the quality of my transmission. All of that engineering and design produces a Signal that still stands out as of the writing of this review in 2024.

I laugh (seriously I fall off my chair) when I hear the SDR world talking about their so called 'pure-signal' digital pre-distortion filtering. I've fooled a few operators over the air who thought I was running an Anan Apache Labs transceiver.

Icom has really known what they were doing with this stuff for a long time, going right back to the IC-781 design. But it must be mentioned that Collins perfected so called 'pure signal' design with their mechanical filters way back in the 1950s when the S-Line equipment was born.

Why does the SDR world think they've perfected radio when real egineers did all of the ground work decades ago? Are they just comparing against cheaper radios?

My IC-7800 was produced in 2009, has the latest firmware update and came with it's original box, test reports, feet, rackmount handles etc.

If you're in the market for one, do as you would when buying a car. Make sure it doesn't have a mark on it, make sure the controls are not worn out and try to avoid the earlier versions. Then of course do all of your transmitting and receiver checks. Make sure the ATU works etc. Any other issues are nothing more than operator negligence or smashing it in countless contests.

This was a ground breaking cutting edge new design when it was first unveiled in late 2003 and as expected with a concept radio, there were a few issues. But the power supply and PA module issues were resolved with later versions and today, it's amazing value for money if you can find one in good condition.

It's a lot more radio for your money when compared with an IC-7610 or especially the Yaesu FT-101D which looks like an over done 1990s stereo with flashing lights and graphic equalisers.

The most important thing is to be willing to pay a little bit more for a well looked after example. The Ham's like me that have these rigs are not going to want to part with them lightly.

This is a real radio that was an engineering project of great prestige and importance. I look forward to seeing what replaces the successor of this radio, the IC-7851.
PA1CW Rating: 2023-09-10
Love this radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the Icom-7800 for several years, what a great transceiver.
As a real Icom fan I enjoy using it next to my IC-781 which is also a pleasure to listen to.
M0ITX Rating: 2021-01-17
17 years since my last review ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In early 2004 i bit the bullet and bought one from the first small batch available in the UK,so this is a very,very early model,arriving here before North America. I felt confident in my purchase due to previous experience with icom rigs (706,746,756 pro7400,775) and the brilliant customer support offered by ICOM UK.
What can i say .. 17 years later and 'IT'S STILL HERE' giving me everything i need and working perfectly,offering performance that can still give most new rigs a run for their money.
I often think it would be nice to have a new toy in the shack,just to have a play with something different,but i know a new radio wouldn't really offer me much more in terms of performance,so i will keep using it until it eventually expires,though i hope that won't be for a good while yet.
KF4HR Rating: 2020-10-20
Great, for its time. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned an IC-7800 for eight years. It performed excellent for its day, with almost lab test instrument precision. I had 3 gripes with the IC-7800. First, it's display always seemed too dim (even with settings turned all the way up). Of course an external monitor helped. Also the IC-7800 has limited spectrum display settings, although this issue wasn't apparent until I purchased a Flex 6xxx series transceiver. And since this is a very heavy transceiver, shipping and insurance to ship it back for repair can be costly, and repairs can also be costly. I only had to send my IC-7800 back for repair once for a board replacement. Cost was a bit over $1,000 plus shipping/insurance costs both ways.

I purchased a Flex-6700 but also kept my IC-7800 because [at that time] I wasn't 100% convinced yet that I wanted to shed the 'knob & button' type rigs. Two years later my IC-7800 was collecting dust so I sold it now use my Flex transceiver pretty much exclusively, although I do also own a IC-7300... doesn't most everyone? hi

Perhaps my biggest concern about IC-7800 ownership was how long would ICOM continue to provide service for this transceiver? Without the necessary replacement parts the IC-7850 can easily turn into an expensive doorstop.

Eventually the IC-7850 and IC-7851 came out with improved RMDR specs, along with a much brighter screen.
M0DSK Rating: 2020-10-19
Progress So Far Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried not to rush in to writing this review, as first impressions are not the complete story. I have owned the radio since December 2007.
As everyone seems to report, the radio came very well packaged from ICOM. I collected the radio from the dealer myself, rather than have another carrier handling the goods. The outer box is very big, however we did manage to load it into my car with the rear seat folded down.
I unpacked the radio once at home and set it up in place of the ICOM IC756 Pro3. Physical size of the IC7800 is quite a lot bigger than the 756 but the desk had plenty of room to accomodate.
Anyone familiar with ICOM 756 will have no trouble setting up the 7800 out of the box, without the manual. I would not recommend transmitting until the manual had been consulted - Would you?
When the antennas were connected my first impression was, where has all the band noise gone? Really the difference is outstanding. Signals that would normally be in the noise are now fully readable, even when compared to the 756 pro3 performance.
The extra RF power of the 7800 comes in useful as i do not use an amplifier.
Radio performance is fully up to expectation, so far none of the issues reported in earlier radios have repeated on my 7800.
Firmware is up to the latest version 3.10 - as downloaded from ICOM and installed into the radio using the supplied CF card.

Its a great radio, thanks ICOM.
G7EMK Rating: 2018-08-03
Another World Of Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the IC 7800 since 2004 when the radio was first introduced. I later upgraded the radio to the Mk2 by having the new roofing filters fitted. This has been one awesome radio and a joy to work over the years. The look of the radio and its performance has always been outstanding.You can now pick these radios up secondhand for a very reasonable price, and for that you are getting high quality technology.She has been a great girl for me over the years, but I have now traded her in for a younger model. The iCOM IC 7851. Says it all.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by G7EMK on 2016-10-26

Having owned and worked the iCOM ic 7800 since early 2005 I feel well placed to comment on this outstanding transceiver. The radio has provided flawless communicational enjoyment for 11 years. Even today it is still a pleasure to operate and I'm never urged to consider moving away. There really is just nothing to compare with this radio apart from the IC 7851 in the market today. Yaesu have tried and failed and Kenwood have attempted with the TS 990,but really this is a keeper and THE RADIO OF SERIOUS DXers.
AA1JD Rating: 2018-03-06
Awesome rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I replaced my 20 year old IC-775DSP with the IC-7800 and wow I love this radio. Incredible ability to ferret signals out of a pile up or contest jammed band. During the ARRL DX phone contest last week I literally worked 4 stations all S9+20dB within a 3khz section of the band. Not many radios could do that. I also love the spectrum scope and the full second receiver. It's a real big radio with knobs for everything you could want to access quickly.
VE4MM Rating: 2017-06-18
12+ YEARS AND LOVING IT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased January 2005 from HRO and it still is my main radio.

Still current to today's products.

I bought the IC7300 and love that radio as well.

I call it my mini IC7800.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE4MM on 2005-01-27

Just received Serial# 0201250 yesterday!

This radio is crafted in the sense of artwork.

Ergonomics are great and performance amazing.

It will take a while to learn to use all the features but looks like I will have my Contesting rig for a while!

73

Michael Mark, P.Eng., BSc EE, Life Member ARRL
KK9H Rating: 2017-06-16
10 years and still love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It's hard to believe that I have owned my 7800 for ten years now. A friend and I bought two of them from the same vendor to get a better price and I have been delighted with it ever since it was delivered. I have had absolutely no issues with mine at all. I do a little of everything with it. I am an active DX'er, rag chewer and occasional contester. I use it primarily on CW and also on phone, RTTY and PSK31. I love CW operation with this radio. The filtering is just outstanding. On SSB I always get excellent audio reports and the receive audio is simply delightful with no fatigue felt after long sessions on the air. I find he controls and the menu items to be logically laid out, easy to navigate and very intuitive to use. I guess after 10 years I should feel right at home with this radio. While I know that time and technology march ever forward with the release of the IC-7851, but my 7800 went from the shipping box right to my operating desk 10 years ago and that's where it will stay.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KK9H on 2008-04-17

Over the last 13 years have owned a Yaesu FT-1000MP and an Icom IC-756ProII. With those rigs I learned to appreciate the value of having a band scope and a full second receiver, but I wanted both capabilities in the same rig. When I saw the IC-7800 at the 2006 Dayton Hamvention and actually operated it, I knew had I found exactly what I was looking for. Since I was very familiar with the ProII, I felt right at home with the 7800. I won't repeat what others have said about how well it works other than to say that its performance is truly what you should expect from a rig like this. I really enjoy DX'ing and looking for 6 meter openings. The 7800 has proven to be the perfect rig for those pursuits. I would highly recommend this radio to anyone looking for a high-end rig having both a band scope and separate receivers.
K7HIL Rating: 2017-01-29
Expensive to repair Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wish I could give category ratings. This is the best radio, by any standard I can imagine, when operating at 100 percent. The 4 rating is because my radio has spent a lot of time (months) either down or operating way below par.

My radio, purchased from AES in 2005, has cost almost as much to keep in repair as the original price of the radio! Soon after the warranty period expired the power supply failed. The PS has failed twice twice, first time I felt hostage and paid the almost $3000 for repair, second time I reverse engineered the PS and put the schematic on the Yahoo groups site. I fixed the second failed PS myself for under $10. Icom would not release ANY info on the PS and said it was a "replace only item". The 10 MHz oscillator failed and the original crystal was unavailable so I had to pay $800 for a new one. I have sent the rig back to Icom for two replacement DSP assemblies and at this time the second receiver DSP is bad, again (meaning no split or dual watch functions). The radio has never put out the full 200W on CW as measured with a Power Master meter.

All this being said, I like the radio so much when it is working 100 percent that I will most likely replace it with the IC-7850. I operate each of the modes almost evenly and have found the CW filters are better than any other - after zeroing in on the station I narrow the bandwidth to 50Hz and strong nearby stations disappear.