R-7000 vs R-7100?

[WilburG]

I'm considering looking for an older Icom receiver, and I was wondering if there are any significant advantages or disadvantages between the R-7000 and R-7100. I read the R-7000 is all through-hole construction but the R-7100 has surface mount components. i guess this should make the R-7000 easier to repair, but are repairs involving surface mount parts an issue with the R-7100? I've been around the block a few times with older through-hole gear but not done much with surface mount.

My intended use is as a receiver and not as a dedicated scanner so the number of channels and scanning speed are of less importance to me, but are there other reasons the R-7100 would be preferred?

Thanks,
WG

 

[riverrat373]

Icom R-7000 has 99 memories. Icom R-7100 has 900 memories. It also has digital readout. Other than that I don't know if there are any electronic differences.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

I always heard the r-7100 was much improved in the rf dept...

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/872 < R 7100

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3768 < R 7000

 

[Turbo68]

Hi i had both main intrest for me is vhf aircraft both performed excellent with an Icom-AH7000 discone.

Regards Lino.

 

[iMONITOR]

I've owned both, but the IC-R7000 was my favorite. I think the build quality was much better than the IC-R7100. If you find an IC-R7000, most likely it will need some work to bring it up to snuff. They were known for having capacitors go bad, as well as solder joints.

It's also better to power them from 12VDC, than to use the internal 115VAC power supply. It runs very hot, and will cause components to fail prematurely.

 

[WilburG]

Thanks for the replies... they help. I'll have to see what turns up.

Thanks,
WG

 

[dkf435]

Have 1 R7000 and several R7100, for looks R7000 is neat but the R7100 is real good. Using a R7100 everyday with the P25 decoder. Had one R7100 that drifted a little in the 800 area and tweeked it back on with a freq counter. The band switch relays are at 512, 1025, and 1512 Mhz points so group your memories. At the end of the R7100A run they blocked the entire 800-900 band but there is a fix for that.

If it is a good indication you do not see as many R7100s for sale as the R7000 so people are holding on to them. You have to take them half way apart to get the memory and clock batteries changed.

David

 

[DaveNF2G]

The R-7000 has true continuous coverage. I believe the 7100 is cellular blocked.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

MINE ISNT....

 

[dkf435]

The R-7000 has true continuous coverage. I believe the 7100 is cellular blocked.

The R7100A does have true continuous coverage without having to flip the 1Gzhz switch.


Only the end of the R7100A run was blocking the entire 800-900MHz block of frequencies done. The only difference between the blocked and unblocked radios is blobs of solder in the configuration matrix.

Have a pre 1994 R7100A and a post 1994 one that I got new and a third one off of Ebay and they now all cover 25- 2000MHz

David

 

[SCPD]

I have an R7000 .. and though it is older, I love that radio.

It performs very well .. and I though it is not a scanner, it makes a great receiver.

 

[DaveNF2G]

The R7100A does have true continuous coverage without having to flip the 1Gzhz switch.


Only the end of the R7100A run was blocking the entire 800-900MHz block of frequencies done. The only difference between the blocked and unblocked radios is blobs of solder in the configuration matrix.

Have a pre 1994 R7100A and a post 1994 one that I got new and a third one off of Ebay and they now all cover 25- 2000MHz

David

That makes the R7100a more attractive as a "new" receiver here.

 

[dkf435]

This is why I have several R7100A and only 1 R7000 as the R7000 issues that happen with age.

There were also quite a few R10, R100 , PCR1000 and some R8500 that could be changed. The AOR AR3000 had an extra blocking board added that actually must be removed to get to the memory battery. The AR5000 must have a couple of the lines in the firmware changed using a terminal program to edit the memory after entering a password.

David

 

[WilburG]

Thanks for the discussion - it helped a lot. I got lucky the other day and did an auction search for R7100 about 20 minutes after one was listed. I was able to snag it on Buy-It-Now at a good price. There wasn't a lot of detail in the listing, but it came in today and it looks like I got very lucky... it seems to be in excellent condition. It came with original manual, cables, and the usual Icom goodies (spare fuses etc) and packed in the original Icom box. It is the older continuous coverage version.

Right now I just have it connected to a spare 2 meter mag mount antenna sitting on a table a few feet away and it seems to be doing fine. I'll know more when I get a better antenna outside.

Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate the insight from you guys.
WG

 

[dkf435]

Now run it off a nice stable 12v power supply have my receivers running off power supply with battery backup and 8 port multicoupler.

Just picked up a PCR-100 off Ebay, was as is for parts, works fine if you have the proper XP or earlier computer, $40 shipped.

I would get another R7100 as it seems everybody is dumping there non digital communications receivers but I think I have enough.

David

 

[mike_gain]

Both radios were great dispite the toyish look and feel of the 7100. The R700 has a void between 1000 mhz and 1025 mhz.

 

[mike_gain]

If you wish to run the R7000 on 12v dc you will have to obtain the optional "Kit" if not so equipted.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

TOYISH LOOK ??

 

[Fast1eddie]

Hi, I have also owned both and found them more than adequate for my needs. Icom improved the front end of the 7100, but both performed well for my needs. The 7100's quirks are the overheating internal power supply and the clickety clack of the relays as band sections were changed in and out. I also disliked the 7100's Windows Scan features as we all know how well the manuals are written, I'm no dummy, but at times I found it somewhat overwhelming and reverted to my AOR 8600. Ended up trading it in for a Icom R9000.

A properly aligned and maintained 7000/7100 will bring many more years of use and they are plentiful and reasonable on the used market. Unless the seller provided proof of recent servicing, I would send it out expecting to pay a little bit more to get it right, but the end result will be worth it,

 

[majoco]

If you wish to run the R7000 on 12v dc you will have to obtain the optional "Kit" if not so equipted.

Just rewire the rear connector using the molex pins and leads from an old computer hard drive. Bring the now longer leads out to a terminal block so you can reverse the procedure if necessary.