Any ICOM users out there??

#120943

I've had my share of HF rigs, but I see that some of the higher end cb rigs price high enough that they are getting into entry level real HF rig territory, especially if you are looking at nice used ones. And, they come out of the box doing nice wattage without having to hack them up and peak them. I know a couple of you run Icoms, yaesus, and Kenwoods, but does anyone in particular run an IC-718? I've heard the 706 is good on am and was wondering about the 718. I'm kind of attracted to the 718 due to its commercial toughness, front fire speaker, features and price, as I'll also be getting an Ameritron to go with it, for a clean home station, so the savings will be needed. The 706 has the upper bands, but I've been there and really don't have enough interest to spend the difference, plus I'll be using it at the house and want something a little bigger. I've done enough 6, 2 and 440 for a lifetime and don't care for it anymore. Any input out there?? If so, when they say 40 watts AM, does that mean 40 carrier, and it just sits there, or does it tend to modulate up to the 100 range?? I've had several hf rigs, made by the big 3, ranging from a 757gxII, to knwd 440's, and a 1000MP, and they all have that dull low level sound and don't take well to being pushed. They had good output, but were a disappointment in the audio department on AM. They all shined on CW and SSB however, as that is their purpose. They almost sound like sideband on am, kind of like the old siltronics would. Granted, those rigs aren't made for that, so it isn't their strong suit, and I have radios that do AM well, but was just wondering. I'm a little more of a yaesu man at heart, but I've heard so much about the am on the 706, I want to try something different.

-drdx

#120944

i run a little icom 208h

Mr RadioActive · #120948

I've owned many, sold many, and currently use a 706MKIIG. Sold a IC-7000 I modded to a moderator on the forum even. The 706MKIIG prob has to be the best all round audio radio on all mods. The 7000, works "good" on AM, but not as well as the 706MKIIG.
Never used a 718 but if my thoughts matter any, not many of the sort sound all that wonderful on am. Its rare to find a sweet am rig talker. Heil makes some good Icom mics, I use the icM. Most all sound great on ssb. While the 706MKIIG may not be the "best" rig ever build, its solid and excels for general purpose use. I dont overly recommend the first gen 706 as it was a great rig, but picked up tons of noise. The MKII solved alot of issues, but the MKIIG is still the best.
The 7000 is awesome with all the built in filters, and better display. 706mkiig pre-owned would be about the same price as a new 718 I think.

Mr RadioActive · #120950

Is there anyway you can make that pic alittle smaller! Then it may load better for everyone.
I had a 208 when they first came out, sold it in a week. NOT BECAUSE I DIDNT LIKE IT, I just wanted to check it out. Thats one of the radios I really regret selling, and now after seeing that pic, and seeing one the other day when a customer came by with one when he was dropping off a bunch of stuff, makes me want another!!! Snazzy dualbander. I have a new FT-90 thats the size of a pack of cigs I bought new from a guy for next to nothing, its cool but no 208!

#120952

I have been pondering securing my ham ticket, and (after researching a few rigs) the 718 is at the top of my list. Some have complained about getting a (static discharge) shock when touching the tuning dial. A couple others have **Censored** and moaned about the lack of filtering for CW. I still have a ton more research to do before a definite decision is made, but IMHO it appears to be one of the best (entry level) rigs out there in that price range. There is a review about the 718 [Please login or register to view this link]

#120959

I have a 706mk2g and I like it. If you don't like menu driven rigs don't get the 706. You need to access the menu for all most every thing except volume. Having the remote mountable face plate is a great option and you can plug the mic into the face plate or the main unit. It's a nice choice. I have heard good things about the 718 but I don't know anyone who owns one. I know none of the "Ham" rigs are designed to work well on AM. Your right that there made for SSB and cw. I have never heard of anyone moding them like a cb rig but I bet a tech could do it with enough experience? Maybe you could get an old boat anchor? They will work real well on AM. I have heard many folks talking about how well there tube rigs work on AM. I also have heard some tube guys talking on 10 meter am that sounded real well.

#120962

I read a lot of reviews, and overall, the gripers were understandable, considering it isn't a high level rig. They are cheap used. In fact, I just heard back from a local here on one that I plan on buying if it is as nice as described. It is reasonable enough ($350 with dsp and power supply) that if I don't like it, I can get my money back out of it. I was a cw freak for years, but don't think I'll be going down that road. I already have a power supply, so I didn't need it, but it comes with one, so all the better, just more trade material, as I'll need a desk mic if my D104 sounds like carp on it. -drdx

#120964

I'd grab it for 350!! You could sell it on ebay for twice that!! Radio stuff is going real high on ebay now because of all the new licensees.

#120969

Yeah, it is a good deal for both of us. I have to drive a little to get it, and he doesn't have to pay any ebay fees, ship it, etc., so for his 350, it would be like him getting 400 for it on the web after all the fees and effort, so it is a win win. He is the original owner, so I'm hoping it is a nice one, and not hacked up. He is a fellow ham and an extra, if not advanced class, so my guess is that it should be well kept. They are only $549 new after the rebate. Here's to hoping. Have a good weekend there 80mm. Hey, that "80mm" sounds like some kind of artillery rating. -drdx

Mr RadioActive · #120974

Snatch it up for $350! Thats a great deal. You can't lose.

Good point about the menus. Ive had alot of them since 96, I went to Hamtronics and met their tech back then he wanted to show me some of his equipment, and waned to show me to align it to the wwv.
Anyway, its been so long since I thought about that, alot of people dont like the menu driven rigs.
My DX 2527 gets more, wows, then my 706 ever does! LOL

#120980

Those menu driven rigs are a little different. I had an MP about 7 years ago, before detouring to the expensive world of harleys, and that thing had so many menus and features, it took a while to learn how to get the most out of the rig, and I'm sure most people never do. Dual receive, dsp, if,etc, it gets complicated fast.

Yeah, I'll give it a whirl. I'm setting up an invisible station in a neighborhood with a zero tolerance antenna policy. I'm mounting an outside hidden remote coax switch (Ameritron, 5 position) and have assorted dipoles, a tree vertical for 10-12 meters going up, and a large 100 ft long metal fencing structure I'll load with a tuner for the low bands. It's kinda fun keeping it all low key. I'm running underground conduit and everything, so it should be fun. I'm on high ground. My Icom approach came about as a good way to get a good clean signal with a little punch. Hey, 80mm, they mod very easily for full coverage transmit, but I'll wait on that until I know it is a keeper. The shack is in the end of a large master closet, where I have a 4 ft desk, its own circuit, close outside grounding(desk is on an outside wall) and best of all, a visitor will never see it. I'm taking all TVI precautions, including lots of grounding and my trusty drake filter, so we'll see how it goes. I'm close with several neighbors, so I can get a couple of free "tvi" checks easily. I'm at the end of a circle with no house at the end of it, and no close by houses, so my chances of running a little power should be good. -drdx

PONY EXPRESS · #120987

I myself own 3 Icom 706 MKIIG . Like all 3 of them. Only issue we have had is on 10 meters we have 1 that wants to all at once show a high swr and shut down transmit. When we put a separate swr bridge to it the other day it looks like it might be thinking it is transmitting elsewhere oscillation issue. Its my oldest of the 3 so after what 8 +years its bound to have an issue. Funny thing is it doesn't do it below 21 MHz just above 21.999 so I suspect a leaky diode is giving up. Guess Ill order a service manual and fix it this winter .
But overall I give the 706mkiig 10 STARS out of 10
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quickdraw83 · #120998

so this is how little i know about different kinds of radios. my question is can a i-com style radio be set up to run on the classic 40 channel cb frequencies. i always thought these would be better because the small size can be mounted much easier than a traditional CB. thanks and sorry im not trying to hijack the thread

#121001

You can do a simple mod to a ham radio to get it to transmit on the Cb band. They already receive there you just need the mod to transmit but what you wont get is the 1-40 channel numbers to display on the radio. If they could do that they would be illegal in this country. So if you get a ham radio for cb you will need to know your frequency numbers including the weird ones up around 26 where the numbers go backwards.

DX_MONKEY · #121035

Hi guys, All Icom here like my ID shows, except for the 2950 in the truck. All the Icom HF rigs do 40 watts AM but they work best this way: Set the carrier to 20 watts. Use (turn on) the speech processor and then set the mic gain so that when you talk the modulation peaks don't go over 100% on the ALC meter. The 20 watt dead key then easily swings forward to the 40 watt maximum. My 746 sounds great on AM. Talk on it most every day. Great reports from all the locals.

good luck

#121040

80 meter man wrote:You can do a simple mod to a ham radio to get it to transmit on the Cb band. They already receive there you just need the mod to transmit but what you wont get is the 1-40 channel numbers to display on the radio. If they could do that they would be illegal in this country. So if you get a ham radio for cb you will need to know your frequency numbers including the weird ones up around 26 where the numbers go backwards.

You can store CB frequencies in the memories, if you really want a channel display. 26.965 in memory 1.. 27.405 in memory 40.
Every ham rig has a "M" memory mode where you are channelized, and "V" vfo mode where its free tune. The IC-718 has 99 memories.

By the letter of the law its illegal to use a non type-accepted radio on CB, and ham rigs are not type accepted for use on CB.
But just like anything else with the FCC, you wont see trouble unless your a trouble-maker causing people to file complaints about your station.
Its no different than using a "10 meter" radio on CB.

#121045

dud muck wrote:
80 meter man wrote:You can do a simple mod to a ham radio to get it to transmit on the Cb band. They already receive there you just need the mod to transmit but what you wont get is the 1-40 channel numbers to display on the radio. If they could do that they would be illegal in this country. So if you get a ham radio for cb you will need to know your frequency numbers including the weird ones up around 26 where the numbers go backwards.
You can store CB frequencies in the memories, if you really want a channel display. 26.965 in memory 1.. 27.405 in memory 40.
Every ham rig has a "M" memory mode where you are channelized, and "V" vfo mode where its free tune. The IC-718 has 99 memories.

By the letter of the law its illegal to use a non type-accepted radio on CB, and ham rigs are not type accepted for use on CB.
But just like anything else with the FCC, you wont see trouble unless your a trouble-maker causing people to file complaints about your station.
Its no different than using a "10 meter" radio on CB.

You are correct. I never thought of that using the memory to show the channel. That will work and yes using a ham rig on cb is not legal. I guess I should have been more specific about the illegal part. If the radio can be converted to show the cb channels then it would be classified as "easy to convert" therefore it would make the FCC's list of banned radios.

#121092

Well, that would make the RCI2950DX easy to convert. On manual, it is a ham looking readout, freq. only. Hit the "lock" button and it walks through the cb channels, even the "A" channels. It goes 1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a, etc, all the way to 40. Nice, and easy to convert. I love it. I've done the memory channel deal before. I know most if not all of them, but get confused and have to think about channels 21,22,23,24,25, as they got weird there. The're fine from 26 on. Thanks for the 20 watt, use the compressor, and watch the alc deal. Are you using an Icom mic, or an Astatic, Shure, Heil???. I'm a Heil fan and used to run one, a dual element one, on a boom and foot switch. Great for vox and real studio like feeling with headphones on. -drdx

DX_MONKEY · #121166

Hey drdx,

I use the Icom SM 20 matching desk mic

Thanks

#121219

Hello DRDX the RCI2950DX is on the list.

#121222

That's good to know. I wonder how they get away with type accepting them? They've been out close to 20 years now. -drdx

#121774

Ok folks, I scored the $350 Icom IC-718 on my local Craig's list, and I must say, this thing is a peach, especially for the price, and not a scratch on it and I got the manual with it. The guy even threw in a used G5RV (good materials for my radial system and dipoles, but I'm not a fan of them), and a home brew power supply. I won't be using the power supply, so if anyone needs one, I'll sell it cheap. PM me, or I'll post it when I get a chance with pics. The radio is a 9.5 out of 10, the exception being that the buttons are a little browned from sitting around, smoke, or something. The knobs needed a little cleaning so I pulled and soaked them, and they're as good as new. I ordered new rubber buttons from Icom at a nice $17, and with them it will look totally new. I've programmed the memories for 11 meters (for listening

) and the full hf transmit mod was a 2 minute deal, wait a minute, make that "so I hear"

. The memories are nice, as they store the mode too. The receive is great and it has the dsp module as well.

I see a lot of folks on here spending some serious money for high performance 10/11 meter high output radios that are new, but this is a bargain and many, including their entry level HF kenwood and yaesu counterparts can be had in that price range, if not just a little more, and the resale on them is great as they meet the demands of a much larger audience. I can't speak for its AM performance yet, but I have other radios for that if need be.

Now, after the home projects, it is on to a restricted neighborhood antenna system, TVI proofing, and an Ameritron to get me out of the weeds due to the lack of tower. I already have the dedicated circuit installed, just need to drop in a plug. The antennas will be dipoles, and a tree I'm turning into a vertical with a serious buried radial system, all on a remote coax switch complete with buried conduit carrying the coax and control cable. CB will be the focus, but I'm feeding a 100 ft. long metal fence against ground through a tuner for the low bands to shout at friends on 75m. I'm on high ground so here's to hoping. I won't be the biggest one out there, but I should make a contact or 2. C-ya. -drdx

DX_MONKEY · #121779

Wow congrats drdx. May you ascend the heights of dxland and graduate from RF Academy with the full title of Reverend Dr. Coolbreeze....with clusters.

Great score on Icom's basic HF rig. Super duper price man. And the extras to boot. Really pays to look around at a wide variety of sources.

Happy LX'ing and DX'ing bro. Hope to catch ya somewhere on the bands my man.

Santa came early

#121828

I've had nicer, but not cheaper. In fact, other than my last hf rig 8 years ago, a 1000MP, and with the exception of that 2800 dollar beast, it has more than many of the older ones did, such as the 757's, 440's, etc., and cost less, even new. I bought a new 757gxII in about 91, and it was like $849. It replaced my kenwood 830s, and that radio was top notch back in the day, and in about 83, it was like $800. You can buy several rigs that far surpass that for less money, and here it is almost 17 years later. That's technology for ya. Those were, and still are great radios, but you need to find one that hasn't been hacked up or abused. Those radios do enough on their own, but just like with cb's people are "peaking" them or whatever and ruining them if they don't know what they are doing. That said, I still like tearing up the band with a nice amp in the car on AM. That'll never change. -drdx

#121843

I have a706MKIIG, 756 PRO II and a IC-2200H 2 meter radio. My first radio was a Yaesu 902DM and I loved it but, bught the 706 and learned to love the Icom stuff. It takes some getting use to the menus but, once you figure them out, they are great radios. you'll love them

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Any ICOM users out there??

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