Icom ic-7300 thoughts as first ham unit

[makerdino059]

Working towards getting my general by the summer and I'm already eyeballing the icom ic-7300 as a pretty incredible unit to start out with. I've watched quite a few videos about its features which are pretty impressive. I'm just wanting to hear some feedback from owners/ users of this unit with pros, cons etc. I've got a half wave 11 m antenna up and I know the tuner will help me out to use that antenna but within limits. Also interested in recommendations for an antenna that would work through all the bands this radio offers given the auto tuners capabilities. Thanks in advance.

 

[DeaconHarry16]

IC 7300 is a great entry level HF rig right now due to new 7300 Mk2 release.
Lots of good used 7300s on QRZ "swapmeet". All the features you will need and then some.
I run mine with 84' end-fed wire (9-1 UNUN) and the rig will tune 6m through 80 with the internal tuner.
Good luck on your general...have fun!
Harry KD8HE

 

[ejbrennan99]

Working towards getting my general by the summer and I'm already eyeballing the icom ic-7300 as a pretty incredible unit to start out with. I've watched quite a few videos about its features which are pretty impressive. I'm just wanting to hear some feedback from owners/ users of this unit with pros, cons etc. I've got a half wave 11 m antenna up and I know the tuner will help me out to use that antenna but within limits. Also interested in recommendations for an antenna that would work through all the bands this radio offers given the auto tuners capabilities. Thanks in advance.

Do you actually mean the 7300? or were you meaning the 7300 mk2? Eyeing a mk2 myself in the near future...
If you did mean the 7300, as the previous poster said - lots and lots of them for sale, and they are often ~$800-$850, but keep in mind you can get a brand new one today at hamradio.com for $889 w/rebate, so if it was me - for the extra ~$90, I would prefer a new one, with a warranty. I am thinking the used 7300's I am seeing need to come down another ~$200 to make them competitive against a new $889 one.

In either case, if you can afford it - go for the Mk2, IMO. I have a feeling the resale value will hold up a lot longer

 

[W3DMV]

I have two of these rigs (Original). I'm a old timer and have had a slew
of rigs over the years. I don't understand why everyone keeps calling
this radio a good beginner radio other than it's a very easy radio to learn
when you start out. From a performance view point, this radio works
extremely well and I've had several occasions to operate high end rigs
costing three times as much, and always return to my 7300's. There's
a reason Icom has sold more than 100,000 of them. For the reasonable cost,
they packed a lot of performance and features into this box.

 

[trap5858]

It might be worth having the moderator move your question to the Amateur radio forum.

 

[pauldenisowski]

I have an original 7300 and it's my main HF rig. Fantastic radio for the price. I would definitely get the newer version if I were buying now, but perfectly happy with the one I have.

 

[makerdino059]

Thanks for the feedback. Seems like a great radio from all the positive comments.

Key differences 7300 vs 7300MK2 I've found in a search for more info:

The Icom IC-7300MK2 is a significant, modern update to the original IC-7300, improving receiver performance (better RMDR/phase noise), adding native LAN remote operation, HDMI output, a CW decoder, a superior IPS display, and lower power consumption. It addresses key user feedback from the original 7300 for better contesting/DXing.

All very useful features. $1499 price tag on the MK2. These radios seem to hold value quite well. Buying a 7300 used might be a good way to go. I saw one go for $750 on Ebay yesterday. I can always upgrade to a MK2 later when they start showing up on the used market and use the 7300 for mobile. I think I'm sold.

 

[trap5858]

You will do better in terms of getting a quality used transceiver by shopping at QRZ.com or QTH.com. QRZ has very stringent rules about posting items for sale and you will have access to their contact info where as on Ebay- who knows who really owns the radio and is it's condition as good as the seller says.

 

[DeaconHarry16]

I got my 7300 on QRZ...$750 shipped...
Trap5858 is right, QRZ is pretty secure and easy access to the seller
Harry

 

[makerdino059]

I ended up picking up a Kenwood TS 2000 from eBay. Seller has sold other radios and his feedback on them was positive so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. $638 shipped. It's in good working condition. Should be here by this weekend. It's a 2008 model so no bad filters like the 2010 models had.

 

[k7ng]

TS2000 was a great radio in its' time. Technology has moved ahead. However, as a 1st HF+ radio, it'll probably do you fine.

BTW, welcome to HF. Get that General. You won't be sorry!

 

[wa8pyr]

You will do better in terms of getting a quality used transceiver by shopping at QRZ.com or QTH.com. QRZ has very stringent rules about posting items for sale and you will have access to their contact info where as on Ebay- who knows who really owns the radio and is it's condition as good as the seller says.

True, but on eBay if you read the description carefully and look at the seller's ratings, you'll be fine. Plus, you almost always have purchase protection. If an item you receive is a PoS that was misrepresented and the seller won't make good, eBay almost always makes it right. I've only had to invoke that assistance once, and they came through; I got my money back, while the seller got a spanking and bad reviews.

 

[bill4long]

I have two of these rigs (Original). I'm a old timer and have had a slew
of rigs over the years. I don't understand why everyone keeps calling
this radio a good beginner radio other than it's a very easy radio to learn
when you start out. From a performance view point, this radio works
extremely well and I've had several occasions to operate high end rigs
costing three times as much, and always return to my 7300's. There's
a reason Icom has sold more than 100,000 of them. For the reasonable cost,
they packed a lot of performance and features into this box.

Right. I was going to write the same thing. I've been a ham for 40+ years and owned several HF radios, Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom. I do not consider the 7300 to be in the "entry level" class. The transmit and receive specs on this radio are excellent. I doubt I will ever buy another HF rig and I can afford to buy whatever I want. I would put radios like, say, Icom 718, into the entry level class. Their receivers are dogs, and that's the first consideration for me.

I was one of the first adopters of the 7300. It's relatively simple to learn. The user interface is well designed. I still like it very much. It's not a "contester's radio", per se. If I were a contester (never will be) maybe I would pony up for the 7210 (the 7300's "big brother"), but I don't see the need. One thing, get an external speaker. The stock speaker sounds thin as one would expect a stock speaker to sound. Most hams with HF radios use external speakers or headphones anyway.

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to waddle on over to the shack and get on my 7300.