Icom IC-R7100 scanner

[joseph2020]

I just got this as a gift from an old friend. It has a telescoping 4 ft antenna, hooked up to the radio with about 4 feet of round coax cable. All I can get on this radio is the NOAA weather broadcasts. Does anyone have any experience with this radio or have any opinions on it? thanks in advance.

 

[Token]

Do you mean an IC R-7100 desktop communications receiver?

T!

 

[nate1992]

From what i can find there is no Icom ICT 71000 Scanner
~ However there is an IC R7100 Desktop 2 way radio ( Desktop communications receiver )
Which you should be able to pick up more then just noaa but if it was used previously as say a ham radio for skywarn something of that nature then it may be limited in what it can receive which would be the ham bans & noaa radio... check the s/n & see what come up chances are the frequencies you are trying to listen to aren't supported by the radio!

If some one has further please share!

 

[joseph2020]

Token, thanks for your reply...yes, it's a icr 7100. My fault, typical typing for me, notice the "r" is next to the "t" on the leyboard, therefore "ict 7100".

nate1992 , thanks for your reply. According to the specs (I have the manual), the frequency range is 25 - 9999 mhz

 

[AK9R]

The Icom IC-R7100 is a receiver only, not a two-way transceiver. It should be able to hear just about any frequency in its range which is 25 to 2000 MHz (later ones sold to the general public in the U.S. deleted the 800 to 900 MHz range to comply with federal law).

What were you planning to receive with this radio?

In the meantime, check the mode switches. For reception of most analog land mobile or amateur radio frequencies in this range, the radio should be set for FM mode. Press the FM switch once for FM, press it again for FM Narrow. Also, check the position of the attenuator (ATT switch) -- it should be off. Adjust the Squelch and AF Gain controls until you hear white noise coming from the speaker, then back off Squelch to just close it.

I would also try another antenna as the one that came with yours may be defective. Note: the RF input on this radio is an N connector so you will need to use a cable with N connectors or use an adapter.

 

[nate1992]

The Icom IC-R7100 is a receiver only, not a two-way transceiver. It should be able to hear just about any frequency in its range which is 25 to 2000 MHz (later ones sold to the general public in the U.S. deleted the 800 to 900 MHz range to comply with federal law).

What were you planning to receive with this radio?

In the meantime, check the mode switches. For reception of most analog land mobile or amateur radio frequencies in this range, the radio should be set for FM mode. Press the FM switch once for FM, press it again for FM Narrow. Also, check the position of the attenuator (ATT switch) -- it should be off. Adjust the Squelch and AF Gain controls until you hear white noise coming from the speaker, then back off Squelch to just close it.

I would also try another antenna as the one that came with yours may be defective. Note: the RF input on this radio is an N connector so you will need to use a cable with N connectors or use an adapter.

Thanks for the correction

 

[aar9sm]

You might want to check and see if your rig is missing the 800-900 MHz range? These are very good receivers besides lacking the 800-900 range they are also missing the HF segment below 25 MHz. Two poor decisions on Icom's part.

What are going to do with the rig?

Mike

 

[AK9R]

Icom IC-R7100's built before the 1994 federal ban on scanners and receivers that could receive cellular frequencies do not have the 800-900 MHz block. I have one that I purchased in 1993. It receives continuously from 25 to 2000 MHz. Blocking 800-900 MHz after 1994 was not Icom's decision--it was forced on them by the FCC.

As for HF, Icom never intended the radio to receive below 25 MHz. The IC-R7100 was a mate to the IC-R72 which received 30kHz to 30 MHz. Just like the IC-R7000 and IC-R71 were mates with one covering VHF/UHF and the other covering HF. In the timeframe when the R7100 was being produced, the only Icom receiver that covered HF and VHF/UHF was the IC-R9000 which was horrendously expensive.

 

[joseph2020]

issue resolved

Thanks for all your interesting and educational comments. I have not checked below 25 mhz or in the "forbidden" 800-900 mhz.

aar9sm, You asked >> "What are going to do with the rig?"<<
More than likely I will sell it and buy some equipment that I am actually interested in, like better antennas, maybe another transceiver for mobile/ decent base unit. Due to being severley underemployed, I don't have a lot of cash to spend on this, (I know, expensive hobby for a poor man), so I will need to be careful with the money and spend it wisely (equipment that will be useful for at least a couple years) and take me to at least the General license.

My new HT can scan all the frequencies I need, so I can't imagine any reason to keep the dedicated scanner, especially when I can sell it. I looked around and this radio is selling $400+... that would buy lot of upgrade. But first I need to have it thoroughly checked out, then to Ebay it goes!
>>
In this forum how do you say "issue resolved" or "problem solved" so as not to waste space?
Also how do you make something bold or put special emphasis on it, like "quote" or "code" ?
I guess that's its own topic.
>>
Anyway Mike, thanks for your reply and interest.

 

[AK9R]

Thanks for all your interesting and educational comments. I have not checked below 25 mhz or in the "forbidden" 800-900 mhz.

If you have an Icom IC-R7100 that receives below 25 MHz, it is a truly odd-ball piece because Icom never built that radio to receive there.

If you have an Icom IC-R7100 that receives the continuous range between 800 and 900 MHz, it has some value to a radio enthusiast because later ones sold to the public in the U.S. had those frequencies blocked. I bought mine before the block was instituted and I do not plan to sell it for that reason.

Bear in mind that while the IC-R7100 has a scanning function, it really wasn't intended as a scanner. The scan speed is very slow compared to modern scanners. The radio was built as an all-mode (AM, FM, SSB, CW) communications receiver and is best used as such--parked on a single frequency for a while or using the VFO to search out unknown frequencies.

 

[joseph2020]

W9RXR, thanks for your reply.

I will check that 800 - 900 range when I connect it again. I am hoping to get a good price for it. What do you think it's worth if it's perfect working order, 800-900 mhz included? thanks in advance

 

[AK9R]

Dunno. I think I paid something like $1200 for mine back in 1993. A full range one that's clean and not abused oughta be worth $500. Are the ones you are seeing on Ebay full range or are they cellular blocked?

Note that Ebay has gotten picky about listing receivers or scanners that can receive cellular phone frequencies. If your Ebay ad says that it's unblocked or receives cellular frequencies, they may cancel your listing.

 

[kc8hnz]

If it is unblocked, i wouldn't sell it. I have my 'twins' mounted in a rack and they are my primary search receivers, and they are good at what they do. Get your self a SDR IQ and hook it to the IF out on the back, hook up a decent antenna and you won't leave your shack for a week!

 

[joseph2020]

W9RXR, thanks for your reply. This radio us in almost brand new shape,,,It looks like it's been well taken care of., no scratches or anything on the outside, and no dust on the inside. $500 sounds perfect.

kc8hnz, thanks for your reply. I just checked and the 800 -900 mhz band seems unblocked. I mean the dial tunes it in, and ll I get is squelch noise, but there were several spots where the white noise went away and it was just quiet. On one frequency I could hear tones, so I guess it is working at 800 - 900.

now for the educational moment:
kc8nz said << Get your self a SDR IQ and hook it to the IF out on the back, hook up a decent antenna and you won't leave your shack for a week! <<

what the heck does SDR IQ mean?? Thanks in advance

 

[datainmotion]

Joseph,

Where are you in CO? I'm up in the north end of the Metro area and have an SDR-IQ...
SDR-IQ Receiver

Mike

 

[joseph2020]

datainmotion, thanks for your reply and especially for that link. I live in Boulder (please don't hold that against me, I'm not from here and don't share the typical Boulder attitude!).

Now, to further prove the depths of my ignorance...what would I use a SDR IQ for? I am not about to sink any money into the ICR - 7100. I may regret this after I learn more, but right now, the only thing I can really think of doing with this "receiver" is sell it and build up my shack with good equipment, even if used.

I am brand new at this, do you know of any good radio shops in north Denver, where I could have this thing checked out to be sure I am selling a good radio, and to buy other equipment I need later on...also a place where I can go ask questions and maybe someday get smart on this "radio universe". The only shop I can find in the internet is in Littleton or Englewood, I forget which, but is way down south Denver. I'd rather not have to drive all that way, unless it is necessary. Please let me know if you know any shops nearer to us .

Thanks again.

 

[Hooligan]

If it is unblocked, i wouldn't sell it.

Why not?

I'm aware of what was in that spectrum, but what are you hearing in that spectrum now that makes an un-blocked R-7100 valuable?

 

[datainmotion]

datainmotion, thanks for your reply and especially for that link. I live in Boulder (please don't hold that against me, I'm not from here and don't share the typical Boulder attitude!).

We aren't geographically biased here

Now, to further prove the depths of my ignorance...what would I use a SDR IQ for?

In simple terms, an SDR (or Software Defined Radio) lets your computer do the "heavy lifting" of tuning across various bands rather than using a desktop receiver such as your R7100. Your computer becomes the controller in essence, which also let you "see" signals rather than just hear them. The SDRs are significantly smaller packages (sometimes as small as a USB stick). Also, they only need a USB interface (in the most basic setup) for data AND power. Additionally, they are significantly less expensive in many cases.

While an SDR may serve as a substitute for a desktop receiver, the reason this was brought up by another poster is that the SDR-IQ can also connect to many desktop receivers (including your R7100) creating a panadapter (a good definition of panadapter is here)

 

[k9rzz]

I loved my R7100, a real work horse. I know this is a public service scanning group. but with that receiver, you can DX the European low VHF TV frequencies, monitor the SSB ham frequencies during contests, and if you swap out the ceramic IF filters for some 110khz Murata filters, it makes a KILLER FM DX receiver. I also built a stack of home brew NOAA yagis, and with that S meter, could null the local weather stations to easily hear the sweet DX underneath. Wish I still had mine, sold it to some lucky dog in Iowa.

 

[joseph2020]

k9rzz, thanks for your informational reply.

It sounds like you really liked that radio. But, honestly, I don't know enough to understand everything you said or how to better appreciate the radio.

It would probably be a good learning experience to figure out all the functions available, but right now, I am focused on other aspects. From everything I'm hearing though, it sounds like I will regret selling this radio later.