IC-R71A Receiver How Does it Stack Up Today?

[MTScannerNut]

When I was a teenager back in the 1980's, my dad bought an Icom R71A for shortwave listening. That was my first introduction to shortwave listening and I was hooked. At the time we lived only a few minutes from Icom dealer EEB, long since closed. But I remember going in there numerous times and was like a kid in a candy store. Anyway, mostly for nostalgic reasons, I've been wanting to pick up a used one. I also love the look of those old Icom receivers. I see them listed for sale occasionally for anywhere from $300-$400. I'm aware of the potential issues, especially the backup memory problem.

How does this rig compare to modern receivers in terms of performance I wonder? I already own an R8600 receiver that I am very happy with. So it's not like I need one, more like just want one. But finding a good one that is not beat to hell seems to be a challenge.

 

[iMONITOR]

I bought an ICOM IC-R71A back then and in it's time it was about the best the average SWL could afford. While it performed great (back then) it can't stand up to newer more advanced technology today. If you're considering buying a used one. Unless someone who knew what they were doing went through it touching up cold solder joints, replaced dozen of capacitors and replaced the internal power supply I'd avoid it completely.

 

[MTScannerNut]

I bought an ICOM IC-R71A back then and in it's time it was about the best the average SWL could afford. While it performed great (back then) it can't stand up to newer more advanced technology today. If you're considering buying a used one. Unless someone who knew what they were doing went through it touching up cold solder joints, replaced dozen of capacitors and replaced the internal power supply I'd avoid it completely.

Yeah, that’s what I figured. Not sure they are worth the $300+ I see people asking for them. Not when you’ll spend another $300 to have it gone over by a pro. I’d take a chance on one for a couple hundred, but not much more.

 

[iMONITOR]

I've seen them on Ebay as low as $250.

Here is some info you might be interested in should you end up finding one:

ICOM IC-R71E Specs and Prices | RadioMasterList.com | The Radio Directory

www.radiomasterlist.com

Google Search

4S6DRJ – ICOM IC-R71A Receiver Restoration

Full restoration and recap of an ICOM IC-R71A HF multi-mode receiver by Dilshan R Jayakody 4S6DRJ.

www.qsl.net

N2CBU's Technical Information Resource

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/SCANNERS-F-R/ICOM_R71%20HF%20Comms%20Reciever_Manual.pdf

 

[majoco]

I regularly use HF radios that were made in the 80's - one I bought from new - and they have all had good reliability. They all perform just as well as my Winradio G33DDC but that not really a good comparison as the they all run from a delta loop through an eight way multicoupler with a 6dB amplifier - so they are all getting the same level of signal. As I said, the performance of all the radios is substantially the same but what the modern radios gain is more bells'n'whistles to make life easier for the operator - waterfall displays, infinitely variable bandwidths, superb notch filters, infinite memories, synchronous detection and so on. Yes, the R71A is a good receiver along with all the others of that era and price point - but you have to know it to get the best performance and give it a good antenna. US$300 in good working condition, clean and tidy is probably a good deal.

 

[R7000]

I have one and a bunch of newer rigs as well but the R-71 is one of my favorites. I use it everyday. When it dies I won't get another one because of age/condition concerns of unknown examples. I've had mine for 25 yrs and will keep it till it dies.

 

[iMONITOR]

I have one and a bunch of newer rigs as well but the R-71 is one of my favorites. I use it everyday. When it dies I won't get another one because of age/condition concerns of unknown examples. I've had mine for 25 yrs and will keep it till it dies.

Looking at your Avatar I'm guessing you also have the IC-R7000 wide-band equivalent!

 

[prcguy]

Rob Sherwood has been doing critical testing on receivers for a very long time and publishes the results on his website. Some of the tests include sensitivity, noise floor and some complicated tests using nearby signals and measuring how they affect the frequency you are trying to receive. These later tests determine how the receiver will do in a congested band like trying to receive a very weak signal right next to a very strong one. There is a wide space test with the interfering signal 20KHz away and a narrow spaced test only 2KHz away. It takes good engineering and a lot of $$ to get high numbers on these dynamic range tests. Sensitivity is not all that important on the lower HF bands and will only show up between receivers when using a 3ft clip lead as an antenna.

Out of about 150 receivers tested over the last 20+ years, the Icom R-71A comes in at number 14 from the bottom, or 14 up from the worst ever tested with the 20KHz wide band dynamic range coming in at 86dB and 2KHz narrow spaced dynamic range at 62dB. In contrast, the Icom R72 20KHz dynamic range 87dB and 2KHz narrow spaced dynamic range is 71dB, or 9dB better than the R-71A.

Looking at a modern radio designed with current technology like the Icom R-8600, its 20KHz wide spaced dynamic range measured 109dB and 2KHz narrow spaced dynamic range is 107dB, which is 45dB better than the R-71A. That's mind blowing.

Here is a link to Rob Sherwood's test data. Receiver Test Data

 

[MTScannerNut]

If anyone has a line on a good used R71A let me know.

Been searching the usual ham websites and can't seem to find one. As for Ebay, there are some truly delusional people selling there. $400-$500+ for a radio that looks like it has been dragged behind a truck for several miles. Several I saw in this price range are actually listed as "for parts only, not working." LOL, yeah let me go ahead and send my payment right now

 

[VK3RX]

I had the R71A and the R7000 from new and sold them about 20 years ago. Their displays later failed and various other faults arose.

They were quite nice receivers but I wouldn't buy one now. Given given their age 30+ years, possibly some parts no longer available and prone to faults, they'd be more trouble than they are worth. Like me, perhaps others are moving them on for these reasons.

Being younger, an R75 might be a better option.

 

[majoco]

The display on my R7000 failed - it would slowly fade out after about 15 minutes in operation from cold. Plenty of advice on the net about replacing the capacitors on the driver board but that didn't fix it. I noticed that in a darkened room the display heater was not going. a few more tests showed that although there was heater power on the board, there was none at the display. There is a flexible connecting multi PC between the board and the display - I paralleled the heater wiring with some small gauge insulated wire and it's worked fine ever since - about three years now. If you want to try this fix, be very careful that you get the right terminals on the transformer - you only get one go and if you get it wrong the transformer will/may burn out.

 

[N4DJC]

I had a R71A back in the day, a good receiver for it’s time. I guess the last dedicated SW receiver I owned was the R75 and it was pretty decent. Mainly interested in SW broadcasts but they went the way of the dinosaur. I wish I had invested in a Drake when the bands were busy. The old tube Drakes have absolutely the best audio I heard then or now.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I picked up a used R71A some 30 plus years ago . The seller said it did not work. A few minutes of putting the front controls in the proper position it worked perfectly. I bought it to replace a Kenwood R1000 and to accompany a new ICR7000 receiver. I used both ICOM 's for a few years until I bought my ICR9000. The IC71A and ICR7000 are still used by a freind of mine . The only major repairs were the memory battery and a new power transformer. I located a toroidial replacement at CTC.

These are fine radios in performance and ergonomics.

 

[N8YX]

I have a few R-71As and a couple of R-70s. If you're an SSB, RTTY or CW user they work well. On AM, not bad but wouldn't be my first choice.

What's replaced them in my lineup are NRD-525s and a 535. Those receiver displays will also fail given enough run-time, but I've been buying spares for Icom and JRC alike.

If computer control is a requirement, the R-71A has everything ready to go out of the box, as does an NRD-535. There are aftermarket RS-232 boards available for the NRD-525, as the OEM accessory has been out of production for years.