| W4KVW |
Rating:  |
2022-12-08 | |
| It's everything I wanted! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Well I have only had my ICOM 9100 for a week & I must say I'm truly Impressed.It came with Both Optional Roofing Filters Installed & the D-STAR Module as well.I also own & use an ICOM 7600 & I have tested them Head to Head & the receivers sound the same with both radios filters set the same.I have not compared the specs but I know what I can hear is what's important.I will be using the 9100 as my Full time 2 meter & 432 SSB Radio & as a Backup to my 7600 & it will be an Awesome addition to the station.If it had a color screen & a band scope it might just be the Perfect Amateur Radio.It's a Winner & a Keeper & best of all it does Not have a Stupid Touch Screen so I'm Very Very Pleased.I am using the HEIL PR-780 with the 9100 with a HEIL HS-2 Hand Switch & it's a great combination.AWESOME Job ICOM with another Sweet Transceiver but you should build them again with a color screen,band scope, & No Touch Screen. |
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| M0AFJ |
Rating: |
2022-11-28 | |
| Great shack in a box |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Managed to pick up an IC9100 as a back up HF rig and as my main VHF/UHF base station. Performance has proved to be superb both as a base station and portable from a local hilltop. Initially it was not fitted with 23cms but I managed to find a NOS unit in Australia which arrived in good time. Fitted easily.
Now integrated into a QO100 system. Pity they are not made these days. |
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| SQ9MLZ |
Rating: |
2022-10-16 | |
| Heavy but Great |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I own this rig since 2017.
Great receiver for VHF with 100W output on 144 band.
Same for HF.
Advantages:
-great filters,
-very sensitive and quiet receiver,
-Operate on HF/50/144/432/1296
-Menu options are easy to operate.
-built in USB card.
-recommended to base station use.
Three disadvantages:
-weight 12kg,
-standby current 3.3A,
-poor HF tuner. |
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| ND8W |
Rating: |
2022-03-04 | |
| What a GEM! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have to join-in the conversation about the 9100. I used a 9100 for many years, first as my main radio, then as a VHF/UHF/D* only radio, then I replaced it with the new 9700 thinking it was a logical move and the 9700 would be easier to program on D*. After two years using the 9700, I realized just how poor the VHF sensitivity was (compared to even a cheap mobile, side-by-side) and I remembered how the 9100 was such an excellent performer in all functions. So, I found a nice second hand 9100, sold the 9700, and ordered the RT systems kit to help me with 9100 programming. I am so happy I made the move back.
I only use the 9100 for VHF/UHF/D* but I like the HF performance too, as a DC backup for my main HF rig. I even put my HF antenna system on a coaxial switch and compared the 9100’s receiver side-by-side with my collection of “top rated” big-box transceivers (TS-990S, IC-7700, IC-7851, and FTDX5000). It made me even more impressed, seriously! Does the 9100 have awesome RMDR as purported by Sherwood? No. But do I use my 9100 as a close-in field day radio? Hell no. Makes it a moot point, doesn’t it? Sherwood ratings are woefully misunderstood and misused by thousands of amateur radio operators around the world. It’s a real disservice if you ask me.
The RT systems programming software completely alleviated my previous D* programming confusions, too. Highly recommended and well worth the small additional investment.
I am so very impressed with the IC-9100. I like it so much that, for the first time, I’m going to look for a second one to keep tucked away as a ‘cold’ standby.
Thanks for reading and 73! |
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| VK3AQD |
Rating: |
2021-07-30 | |
| Fantastic radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| It's a fantastic radio. Everything in one. I've had mine only a short time and already used it for EME, satellite and HF. With the built in USB sound card is an easy hookup to the PC. Can't recommend it enough. |
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| VK2CZ |
Rating: |
2021-07-20 | |
| FT8 and WSPR using a laptop |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Try as I may to get the BA1 control and WSJT working on the IC9100 for the past few years, a concerted effort finally paid off. I use a Lenovo W541 laptop, as mains powered PC's made RF noise, and simply no room.
Discovered the IC9100 has a 3 port USB hub built in, covering the external connection, audio and control functions. This USB hub is NOT powered by the radio, but rather the PC/Laptop!
The internal USB hub requires a VERY solid source of 5volts which explains the issue for the need for short USB cables. The Lenovo laptop can only supply this amount of juice from its permanent 5v ports, and only then will the drivers load..
Very happy finally now, and a quick test with 10w WSPR into my huge 20m antenna pretty much triggered every 20m WSPR receiver globally..
I now only bemoan the lack of AM on 23cm, and the rig runs quite warm when left on receive for days.. |
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| AF5CC |
Rating: |
2021-03-07 | |
| Tuner lasted 1 day |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought one of these used last summer, thinking it would be the best HF/VHF/UHF satellite radio out there. Used it the first few days on the satellites-it did great there. Finally got around to downloading the virtual COM port drivers for it and got it up and going on FT8.
The first night it did fine on HF FT8. The next morning I tried it on 6 meter FT8. Ran fine for a little while, but then the power started dropping. After some troubleshooting and searching, determined that the autotuner was dying on it, which lowered the output power. Even with the tuner out of line, the power was now below 100 watts on FT8, FM and CW, but still did around 100 watts on SSB.
What a disappointment! I sold it as a fixer upper and the buyer stated the Icom had tuner problems with some of the 9100s. Lost some money on that purchase. The tuner lasted less than 1 day for me. I am using a TGM Communications MQ-26 miniquad on HF and 6, and the SWR isn't flat on 6m, but several other rigs with autotuners have had no problem on that antenna running 6m FT8, including a Kenwood TS590 and TS2000, and a Yaesu FT450D and FT991.
Also, the bandswitching for 2m and 70cm is odd. There is no band key for those bands. You have to do an odd combination of key presses to get on 2m and 70cm. If you are running WSJT-X software, you cannot change the radio to 2m or 70cm with the software. That ruined any chances for catching a 2 meter Es opening while running remotely using WSJT-X.
This radio had potential but the terrible tuner was a huge bummer. I am sure the same tuner is used in the 7410 and I think it is used in the 7600 as well. At one time I had thought about getting a 7600, but after this experience, that is not going to happen. Too bad because the 7600 looks like a great rig otherwise. |
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| N4URW |
Rating: |
2020-02-27 | |
| A Everything radio for the price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This is the third IC-9100 that I have owned and I cannot say anything bad about it. New these were pretty expensive but was able to find another one that had a decent serial number and what a find. Already had both filters and the DStar module installed. Flawless radio and I am very happy to own one again. Makes a perfect companion to my Icom 7600. Excellent performer for HF as well as VHF and UHF. Great sounding audio. Not going to let this one get away. If you have the chance to get one, I highly suggest you do. You will not be disappointed. |
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| VE7REN |
Rating: |
2019-11-06 | |
| incredible!! and some |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| the capability of this rig is tremendous. the ergonomics,functions,and build quality are superb. whats not to like? its a performer,and stays cool while doing its thing! ive looked high and low for one of these over the last few years,and found a brand new one for a steal of a deal. I loaded the ut121 dstar board,and the fl430/431 filters....and... it sounds fantastic. I also own the 7410,and can truly say the radio had very little learning curve. it the 9100 runs circles around my ts2000 for reception,and overall heavy dutyness feel.the reception is clear,and has the audio I like to listen to. cannot find one bad thing so far.. I use it on 2 meter and all the hf bands.. loving it. |
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| W6ACT |
Rating: |
2019-08-18 | |
| Absolutely suberb radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have been running this radio for about 3 years now and I have had a chance to compare it to many radio's TS-950dsp, ft-920, ft-100d, ts-480 ic-775 and the list goes on. I use it mainly on HF and 2m sideband also some repeater action. All I can say is it has never failed me, it's been just rock solid. I installed the IF output board for sdr and WOW what a receiver. The transmit audio is just as comparable as my TS-950DSP which in my opinion is the best, even in today's standards. I get nothing but compliments about how good the radio sounds. Everyone asks what rig are you running? I say IC-9100 they all say I don't know much about that radio. It's just not very well know like the IC-7800 or the IC-7600, but in my opinion it's just as good if not better. This everything you need in one box. To bad they discontinued it. Icom hit a home run with this radio. |
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