Icom: Icom 7300

[chrissim]

I'm intrigued with the 7300. Sherwood posted some preliminary numbers and they look pretty impressive overall. For a $1,500 radio, who would complain? Seems as though it could end up being listed in the top 15 of his list. I imagine if it does well and the tech plays out they way they've incorporated it, something similar to the 7300 will be used to replace the aging 7600 at a higher price point of course. I'll be watching for an in-depth review from Sherwood and the ARRL over the coming months.

Link to the Sherwood tests: Ham Radio Site - Icom IC-7300

 

[robertmac]

A number of [?] reviews on eham.net have all been positive. Not looking at it myself right now. With any new radio, like to wait a year for some of the bugs to be worked out. The reviews, as I said, are positive, but generally the radio has been used for less than 3 months.

 

[SCPD]

I have seen one (one of the first in AB) .. and so far it looks like an impressive radio.

 

[KE0GXN]

From what I have seen and read, I think it is going to be a one of the best $1,500 or less HF radios out there. Although I am with others in saying, if I were in the market, I would wait a few months and see what bugs come up, however, I would be lying to you if I had $1,500 to dispose of right now and I would not buy this radio right now. I think it is that good!

Whatever bugs if any get found, I am sure Icom would get a firmware update out to fix it quick and in a hurry. I honestly think they hit out of the ballpark with this rig!

 

[AK9R]

Whatever bugs if any get found, I am sure Icom would get a firmware update out to fix it quick and in a hurry.

The radio was released to the Japanese market a few months before being released worldwide. Some firmware issues were apparently found early on and Icom has already issued a firmware update for the first production run. It's my understanding that the radios being sold in the U.S. have the new firmware.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

The radio was released to the Japanese market a few months before being released worldwide. Some firmware issues were apparently found early on and Icom has already issued a firmware update for the first production run. It's my understanding that the radios being sold in the U.S. have the new firmware.

That's good news! This new radio keeps getting better and better looking every day.

 

[KE0GXN]

The radio was released to the Japanese market a few months before being released worldwide. Some firmware issues were apparently found early on and Icom has already issued a firmware update for the first production run. It's my understanding that the radios being sold in the U.S. have the new firmware.

Sounds good!

 

[horizonscanner]

I always buy next version


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AC2OY]

At my radio club meeting tonight this radio made two guys drool. I'm hoping one of them buys one. If they do and let me play with it at field day I will be sure to report back!!! If I was looking to buy a radio I think it would be hard to not consider this one. During the NPOTA pile up the other night a guy said he just got one and absolutely loves it.

 

[prcguy]

Rob Sherwood finally updated his receiver chart and the 7300 places right below the Flex 5000 and TenTec Orion II which are very high performance radios. The specs looks fantastic for the price and on air comments from new owners is very positive. The few 7300s I've heard on the air have fantastic punchy high quality audio on transmit. Receiver Test Data

I have more HF radios than a human can possibly ever use but may have to get me one of those new 7300s.
prcguy

 

[jwt873]

The display and SDR capabilities are amazing. It's very interesting to see one of the big three introduce a desktop SDR radio.

But.. It's just a tiny little guy. (When I first saw a picture of one, I thought it was a mobile rig). It only has a single antenna connector on the back, no receive antenna jack and not many interface sockets on the back to run accessories.

I'm waiting for them to come out with an SDR rig in the IC-7600 class.. (That's my main rig now). Then I'll be interested.

 

[vagrant]

I have more HF radios than a human can possibly ever use but may have to get me one of those new 7300s.
prcguy

I hear you loud and clear. Still, that price is nice.

The display and SDR capabilities are amazing. It's very interesting to see one of the big three introduce a desktop SDR radio.

But.. It's just a tiny little guy. (When I first saw a picture of one, I thought it was a mobile rig). It only has a single antenna connector on the back, no receive antenna jack and not many interface sockets on the back to run accessories.

I'm waiting for them to come out with an SDR rig in the IC-7600 class.. (That's my main rig now). Then I'll be interested.

You identified several items I would also prefer this radio had built-in. For the sub $1500 price range, the 7300 and Kenwood 590sg are two radios to consider.

 

[chrissim]

I saw the Sherwood numbers this morning. The 7300's "Narrow Range - Narrow Space," if I recall correctly, is its ability to block offending signals from interfering with the frequency your operating on. Sherwood recommends something in the neighborhood of 80 + for higher end rigs. The 7300 is listed at 94. He's listed it above the 590SG. The 7300 sits at #12 on the chart in terms of performance. For something Icom considers entry level, that's pretty darned good. I don't think entry level is fair, frankly. It sits at the same price point as the SG and the TT Eagle (roughly). Those are not entry level rigs. But the term entry level may have more to do with the omission of certain physical features rather than performance, because a radio doesn't break into Sherwood's top 25 and be a poor performer. I also find it curious that as an entry level rig, on the basis of overall merit, it outperforms the 7600.

I'm very pleased that the 7300 seems to be a winner using the SDR concept with knobs and no PC required. Within the next few years, I would imagine that we'll begin seeing cheaper and higher performance radios come to market using such architecture that are completely independent and self supporting.

 

[AK9R]

But.. It's just a tiny little guy. (When I first saw a picture of one, I thought it was a mobile rig). It only has a single antenna connector on the back, no receive antenna jack and not many interface sockets on the back to run accessories.

Yes, the single antenna jack is a concern for some folks (me included as I use both jacks on my IC-7600). Most of the interface capability you'd want is there through either the USB connection or the Accessory jack. Compared to the IC-7600, the IC-7300 has some additional CI-V commands and it has the ability to have virtual DTR and RTS key lines on the virtual COM port for keying CW and RTTY. Also, the internal USB sound card can pass a virtual IF signal to an external decoder.

I'm waiting for them to come out with an SDR rig in the IC-7600 class.

I agree and I think that day is coming. Icom tested the touch screen HF radio waters with the IC-7100 and now they've added SDR capability in the IC-7300. I think we will see a replacement for the IC-7600 in the next couple of years that will be even better than the IC-7300. I hope Kenwood and Yaesu are paying close attention.

 

[cognetic]

Antenna switch and IC-7300

Good day.

I've been reviewing a new ic7300 and find it to be one of my favs - for many reasons.
The separate monitoring vs transmit antenna is something I have been researching.

As I understand there is a DX Engineering antenna switchable/relay (unsure of details, couldn't find link) that could work. I'd like to get a few more/different antennas up to assess transmit along with a Wellbrook Loop receive that can be switched in (intermittent rogue RF bandits). Thinking through the options! Any ideas appreciated.

Meanwhile the IC 7300 has been a lot of fun and the audio experience on both sides of RX/TX is definitely positive. When you hear the characteristics of the dynamic range (tx) you begin to notice other IC7300 users on the band scan. Held out transmitting until all parameters of new location install where ideal and on first contact an OM came back with more info on the radio then I could have learned in an afternoon of web surfing. Amazing wealth of knowledge using this radio, some wire, and the absorbent brain of another radio operator... Makes me excited to look past the bruises, bumps, skin abrasions, sHaKEy ladder, and sub-dermal wire "implants" getting it all to work 30'+ high!!

VR,

AA9GP

 

[jk77]

I'm a relatively new ham (2013), but I have not seen any radio excite hams the way the 7300 has. It seems everyone wants one or already has one. It's not for me, but I'm glad to see so many hams excited again in the hobby.

 

[wb6uqa]

7300

I have a 7300. The digital filtering makes the radio what it is. Also lack of phase noise is fantastic. A lot of analog to digital and digital to analog converting.

 

[wb6uqa]

E ham.net/reviews have over 100 reviews from hams that bought one.