Plus features are many - small size of the control unit, nifty touch screen controls, reasonable price, RF DSP, 4m for Europe, good frequency stability for data modes, USB lead to PC allowing direct audio in/out for data, DStar, coverage up to 70cms, ....
(EDIT - by 2018 I have mellowed, and now accept it as a good rig - http://gm4fvm.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-grudging-appreciation-of-icom-ic-7100.html )
The snags I have experienced and my solutions are - low output powers on SSB (needs separate microphone with compressor), "clicking noise" (not a big thing, I am ignoring it), RF getting back into the control cable (use a short screened ethernet cable CAT6 or higher), deep cut on AGC a problem with QRN (electric fence problem in my case, turn AGC off).
OK, there are some problems, which are capable of being fixed. I complained to Icom about the clicking noise and they said they were looking into it and that they would reply with a solution soon. They did not reply. Also, the local dealer said the same thing and never replied. We are on our own with this one, but it is better just ignored.
For SSB and FM I use an Adonis 508 microphone set to low compression. That allows me to get the power up to the stated outputs, more or less. When I tried to raise this issue on the various sites, I got lectures about the difference between peak and mean power on SSB. Look, I know about that. Yes, I do have a peak reading power meter. There is just no way my 7100 can run the stated peak power on SSB using the internal compression and the supplied mic. But with an external amplified mic and the internal compression turned off I can get good results. And I DO KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEAK AND AVERAGE POWER.
EDIT - there is a mod for this which I have not tried, but I know some people who have. There are in fact two mods here, however I believe that only one of them should be done (the soft one looks best to me) - see here http://gm4fvm.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/ic-7100-low-ssb-output-surgical-solution.html
On data modes it is a triumph. It runs full stated power for ages and does not complain - like a meteor scatter contact with Italy lasting 3 hours! I have used it on FSK441, WSPR, JT65, JT9 PSK, JT6 ... all fine. No problem there at all, which makes the SSB performance a bit disappointing. But I fitted an external mic and I am in business on SSB too.
I don't use DStar so I cannot comment on that. Receiver wise it is OK, but I mostly use 12m and 10m on HF. I would guess it is OK on 80m and top band, but at this price it might not be brilliant in adverse conditions. I bought an LDG IT-100 ATU which is great but I have not used it much. My IC-7100 runs fine on 2m and 70cms.
It might be helping that my IC-7100 generally runs into linear amplifiers, which may cover up the low SSB power issue - on 6m an RM VLA150, on 4m a TE Systems 0610G and on 2m a Microset SR200. With that set-up - it blasts along.
So, I am happy enough and I would not want to put anyone off. But it should be better on SSB transmit. If the touch screen works first time it seems to be fine, in the shack anyway. Not sure how it would work portable or mobile where it would get strong light hitting it. The control unit stays steady if you extend the stabilising feet behind it.
OK, I am peeved to buy a whizzo rig with an internal DSP compressor, and then turn the internal system off and have to use a 1970s technology outboard mic. But after 18 months I have got over that one. It is OK. I wouldn't put anyone off. And for Europeans (or Africans or Asians in some places!) looking for a 4m/ 70MHz rig, it is a reasonable choice.
Finally, a recent firmware upgrade to the DSP and audio might have had the effect of helping the AGC dip issue. It seems better, but it has not gone away. I would suggest that you live somewhere away from electric fences.
Jim
GM4FVM
Hi Jim, Same issues on SSB here. Rig been back to Icom UK and yes, I've had the lectures;-) The reality is, the peak output is VERY low and no amount of tweaking the compression etc fixes the problem. My real issue is that the peak is SO low that, if I adjust the drive to my SSPA for SSB the, if I switch to CW I blow the hell out of it! Great bells and whisltes but on SSB it's a dog:-( 73 Peter G8BCG
ReplyDeletePeter
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hadn't really thought about that aspect of it until you posted this reply. You are quite right. The way you describe it makes it clear that I need to be careful.
With my normal settings into my linear on 4m, I routinely set the drive to 33% to acheive 100W SSB peak. Even that is not full output. On FM the maximum output from the linear comes at just 13% drive.
I need to watch out or I will blow up the linear on the odd occasion when I swtich to FM.
Quite a few people have written to me. I will have to write another posting about the 7100.
I really like it, but there is this one issue which troubles so many people ...
73
Jim
There is a mod for this, unlucky Icom is unwilling to correct their huge flaw in the design.. did they even put a ham operator to test it before it was shipped? I am convinced they did not.
ReplyDeleteThere is a mod for this, unlucky Icom is unwilling to correct their huge flaw in the design.. did they even put a ham operator to test it before it was shipped? I am convinced they did not.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mads. After I read your note I updated both this post and the one on the mod - I put a link between them. You are right, Icom should have known this, and they were told as soon as the rig went on sale. I do not know if later rigs are better. What really annoys me is that a certain "reviewer" told me to leave his review site when I reported this issue right at the start. Be careful everyone. Some people who "review" rigs are not open to hearing the truth.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Jim
Low SSB level here too on output....but digi modes it is great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan.
DeleteSeems to be a common problem.
I wonder if anybody on this blog has tried the physical modifications
http://gm4fvm.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/ic-7100-low-ssb-output-surgical-solution.html
It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has tried either of these.
Jim
Hi Guys friend of mine has one of these radios,G4MOV, and it keeps going off when you key the mic on 80mts, the whole set goes off and when it comes back on all the stuff on the screen comes on like Split and duplex etc he tells me, it even does it on 50 watts with a dummy load, SWR on antenna is good, the power supply is 40 amps, he has tried another power supply and another DC lead...its been back to Icom they cant find anything wrong with it, only does it on 80 meters...he is sending it back to Icom again...any suggestions welcome, sounds like either a radio fault or RF getting in to me, he has a good earth on it, tried 2 different Microphones, its not the TOT setting, it just switches off, the inactivity setting is off, the voltage does not go down below threshold...interesting one...from Fred g4vvq qthr.
ReplyDeleteIf voltage is low, it will do this - same for the 7300...just goes off
DeleteFred. 4 years + on mine and it has never done anything like that. I would agree with you, either it is a fault like a processor (which they should have found at Icom) or it is RF getting in. I would explore RF getting in. You have rightly tried a different DC cable and mike. Did he send the control cable back with the rig so Icom could test it? Is he using the original cable? Does this still happen into a dummy load? I have changed the control cable as it is far too long for me and (in my view) that invites something getting in though it never has with mine. I changed it for a high-spec Ethernet cable. CAT7 (or CAT6A) with metal plugs and the best screening available. Mine is just 1 metre long. Icom recommend sticking with their cable but it looks like a bit of a liability to me. If all else fails, try rerouting it or coiling spare cable round a ferrite. Just a thought. 73 Jim
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I read everyone's comments. I was ready to purchas an ic7100 to put in my vehicle. Surely wont now. I thought full hf and dstar it would be a great choice. Think I'm going to look at another yaesu. Have 2. 857d had for 13 or 14 years never a problem. Ftdx3000 in shack. Great rig. So now the 7100 is off my list, I'll keep researching.
ReplyDelete