Icom IC-7100 On Board?

[Dockhead]

I am close to pulling the trigger on a ham VHF/UHF rig for my boat -- the antenna and power supply are all set up and ready to go.

I had been looking at the Kenwood TM-D710, and managed to play around with one at a HRO store in Portland while I was in the States earlier this month.

The very knowledgeable guy who was helping me, however, nudged me towards the Icom IC-7100, which does HF as well as VHF/UHF. Now of course I already have an HF radio -- my Icom M802. But the IC-7100 does lots, and lots, and lots of things which the M802 doesn't. It has really sophisticated filters and IF DSP, and looks like it will be much easier to use for ham HF than the M802.

The only apparent downside for VHF/UHF compared to the Kenwood is the lack of dual receivers (something I love on my Icom HT), and lack of APRS.

The 7100 is extremely compact and has a fantastic desktop control head which is perfect for a nav table. It looks like it was just made to be used on a sailboat. I wonder if anyone is using one already onboard and can comment?

[SoonerSailor]

I agree it looks like a good choice for the boat, it would make a good backup to the M-802, and you would probably enjoy using it.

It really depends on what you want to do as a Ham. From the recreational ham perspective, the M-802 is not a comfortable ham radio, unless all you want to do is Winlink Pactor and routine SSB voice.

Chip

[goboatingnow]

I have the icom 7000. Great set , given the little use its gets !


Dave

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I have the icom 7000. Great set , given the little use its gets !


Dave

Why so little use? uzzled: Is ham radio that boring?

[SoonerSailor]

I have an IC-7000 that I use on board. It is a good radio, but if you want to put out a full 100 watts, it seems to need 13 to 14V fed to it. I use a TGElectronics boost converter.

The IC-7000 also runs warm, so I modified the fan to run continuously at a low level but still boost up when it gets really warm. Also in tropical weather I point one of my Hella fans at it. Supposedly doesn't need this much attention, but I just like to be careful.

I suspect that the IC-7100 is an IC-7000 with a UI update, maybe a few more optimizations too.

Chip

[El Rubio]

I'm not familiar with the 7100, but unless Dstar is important, I might look at a Yaesu FT857, it's a lot cheaper and covers all the same bands/power. The interface is small and requires good vision or glasses. I had one as a backup and sound card digital HF rig at my QTH. It performed very well, but it took a while to get familiarized with the menus. A control program like ham radio deluxe is helpful if practical. There are many used ones for sale as well as some IC-7000's or 704's.
These standard rigs aren't usually as rugged as the marine rigs including 100% duty cycle PA. Some are similar like the IC-7200.

[El Pinguino]

IC-7100 is grandchild of the 706.

I have a 706Mk2G and a 710 on board...

The 706 is the radio that gets 99% of the use. I use it for Sailmail, Digital DX, etc etc but must admit to never having used it for VHF/UHF.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Why so little use? uzzled: Is ham radio that boring?

hmmm,, Yeap I mean outside of cruising nets in the south pacific it seems, cause Im not that interested in tabbing on about nothing over a radio contact.

Have you seen the age profile at the meets!!!!

dave

[Cruiser2B]

IC 7100 is a very new radio that I am sure will have issues arise, they all do. i'd wait a year or 2, I would buy a good condition late production 706MKIIG, or late 7000 if you have your heart set on ICOM. Yaesu 857D, or even 897D. Kenwood 480 series radio(these don't have VHF/UHF)

check QTH.com classifieds

good luck

[Goudurix]

I have no experience with the Icom 7100 or 706.
They seem both quite comparable to Yaesu FT-857 and 897D.

I have a old Icom marine VHF and and Icom marine VHF handheld.

At home "QTH" I have 2 old Kenwood TS-850....

So I am not brand-biased.

On my boat I am using since many years the Yaesu FT897D.
Very rugged and versatile.
I is great to have it as an emergency spare (at 50 Watts!) for the marine VHF. I sometimes use it to check marine VHF reception since it has an S-meter.
On HF/SSB the receiver is a bit noisy, for sure. I et along using the IPO and RF gain.

Jan

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

hmmm,, Yeap I mean outside of cruising nets in the south pacific it seems, cause Im not that interested in tabbing on about nothing over a radio contact.

Have you seen the age profile at the meets!!!!

dave

Hah, and how about the age profile around here?

I've had reasonably interesting contacts over VHF/UHF repeaters in the UK. The public does not seem to be particularly aged or boring, certainly not more so than the amateur radio community in the U.S.

Operating procedure is different in the UK, more disciplined, call sign given more often, etc., it has seemed to me.