But after twiddling all those knobs and buttons I soon realised that my tiny shack was getting tinier and the big radios had to be placed at awkward angles on shelves which were at awkward heights. The 7100 soon became more appealing and so I looked further into it and found that it grew on me - so I got one. And I'm glad I did.
First of all, I like the fact that this radio is a "Shack In A Box" with HF, 6M, 4M, 2M & 70cm plus DSTAR (all modes). I think it's probably the only radio in the world which covers all those bands in a single unit!
I also like that it has good computer connectivity and not only can it be controlled directly through a PC, but it can also be controlled remotely through one!
The Head unit (control-unit) is neat and compact but it still has some weight to it which is nice and it certainly feels like a very high quality bit of kit. Pushing buttons on the unit does not cause it to move around on your desk - it pretty much stays where you put it. Underneath it has four anti-slip feet and the back ones can actually be extended out to make the unit even more stable. There's also a very handy "Tripod Mount" on the underside.
The VFO Tuning Knob is large and comfortable to operate with a nice level of detenting. This can be adjusted by use of a small lever to the side, so that the knob rotation can be tailored to suit your personal preference (either stiff and notched or free and spinning). It's very easy to live with and it's a shame that other radios don't have this - I would have certainly loved the feature on my super-sensitive FT-DX3000 VFO dial!
The screen is nice and crisp and clear. Illumination is good and it can be controlled for brightness and contrast. It is a shame, however, that it's not colour. Icom should have maybe included it as standard or offered it as an option. Having said all that, I am perfectly happy with the 7100's display and when I'm using the radio I never give it a second thought. It almost looks as good as a Paperwhite Kindle!
The IC-7100 is extremely easy to use - straight from the box, without even reading the manual. It's all very intuitive and the Touch-Screen really adds to it. To me, at least, everything is 'just right' and when I want to do something new, I always seem to find the relevant options quickly and easily. Icom have included some physical push-buttons on the head-unit, most of which make sense, but I must admit that if I had been on the design team, I'd have done something different with them. Still, that's just my opinion and there's probably others out there who think it's spot on.
The Touch-Screen makes the IC-7100 a dream to work with - it's like Point & Shoot! You want to change something? If you can see it on the screen, you can usually change it just by touching that part and an option window appears. At the bottom of the screen is a row of 5 context-sensitive, virtual buttons and these form part of the MENU system - there's actually 3 sets of them - you cycle through them by pressing the physical MENU button.
Once inside the Menu System, it's all very easy to choose your options and then get back to listening to radio. I have hardly ever reached for the Manual and even less so, the advanced manual! And I don't even think it's because I've had other Icoms - it's because the Icom system is just so good!
So how does the radio perform? Well I guess it's all relative to what you've had before and in my case, I've had some pretty special rigs - Elecraft KX3, Flex 6300, Yaesu DX101D, Elad FDM Duo and currently, an IC-7610. So I'll be (unfairly) comparing the IC-7100 to those.
One has to accept right at the beginning that a £1400 'Shack In A Box' is never going to be as sensitive as a dedicated HF transceiver costing twice as much, but in every day life, there is very little difference. Sure, the tiniest, most faded signals can better be pulled out of the distance with the premium HF radios, but the IC-7100 is no slouch!! It has really surprised me when making direct comparisons with my other radios. Flicking the antenna switch from one to the other has often resulted in me trying my best to find an advantage that the "superior" radios have over the little Icom.
So if there's a minute difference, it's of no significance to rag-chewers and everyday users. DXers will want lower floor noise, more sensitivity and better filters, but they'll have to pay a chunk more money for that and they won't have VHF, UHF and DSTAR. Everything in life is a compromise and so too is the IC-7100.
One has to accept right at the beginning that a £1400 'Shack In A Box' is never going to be as sensitive as a dedicated HF transceiver costing twice as much, but in every day life, there is very little difference. Sure, the tiniest, most faded signals can better be pulled out of the distance with the premium HF radios, but the IC-7100 is no slouch!! It has really surprised me when making direct comparisons with my other radios. Flicking the antenna switch from one to the other has often resulted in me trying my best to find an advantage that the "superior" radios have over the little Icom.
The 32-bit floating point DSP supports many digital processing features such as digital IF filter, twin PBT and manual notch filters. Of course, these high-grade digital processing features work on all ham bands, from HF to the 70cm band.
The Noise Reduction on this radio is superb in IMHO and works wonders in letting you hear weak signals on noisy SSB bands. I was quite surprised by how good it was. The PBT is another fantastic tool in getting rid of unwanted noise. It works by electronically modifying the IF PassBand width to reject interference and although it took me a while to get the best out of these tools, it was well worth the effort and practise. Up to now, I haven't honestly used the Notch Filters so it would be unfair to comment on them.
On the desk, you soon start to appreciate how very very convenient it is to have a compact radio that can be placed virtually anywhere. I tend to have mine sitting just underneath my computer monitor where it's out of the way but still easily within reach and very visible. The 45 degree angle on the screen seems to be perfect wherever you position the radio and there's no darkening of the screen when viewed from the sides. With your wrist on the desk, the VFO dial falls naturally to hand and playing radio is just a pleasant experience.
On the desk, you soon start to appreciate how very very convenient it is to have a compact radio that can be placed virtually anywhere. I tend to have mine sitting just underneath my computer monitor where it's out of the way but still easily within reach and very visible. The 45 degree angle on the screen seems to be perfect wherever you position the radio and there's no darkening of the screen when viewed from the sides. With your wrist on the desk, the VFO dial falls naturally to hand and playing radio is just a pleasant experience.Most radios have a meter which allow you to cycle through a range of displays such as SWR, POWER, ALC, Etc. But the IC-7100 does one better than that - it will show you ALL of them at once including temperature, current and voltage. Nice!
The speaker within the control-unit is perfectly adequate for listening to VHF or UHF frequencies in FM mode where the signals are generally clean and bright once they've broken through your squelch, but if you are trying to dig something out of the dirt on HF you'll probably want to plug in an external speaker to the base unit (or the control-unit). Alternatively of course, you can plug in a headset or headphones.
BEAR IN MIND TOO that the HM-151 (which was designed purely for the 7100) provides you with a great deal of control. It permits you to change frequency, change bands, change modes and much, much more!
Having said that, there's always someone who's looking to squeeze the most out of their mic by making alterations. If you're one of those guys, LOOK HERE for some help from Bob Nagy (AB5N). I'd strongly suggest asking for lots of audio-reports from lots of different people, using different bands and playing around with the settings before committing to a modification.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of Bob's 'MOD KITS' on UK eBay of all places, so I might just give it a go when I've got some free time (I've got other kits to build).
I use this digital mode frequently on my Kenwood TH-D74 handheld. I initially found it more user-friendly and trouble-free than Yaesu's System Fusion! Because I cannot reach a DSTAR repeater from where I live with the handheld, I use an OpenSpot.
Setting up DSTAR was a total pain in the ass on the Kenwood (not helped by the fact that no one at the local radio club had a clue and no one on the online forums seemed to know anything about setting up a D74) but eventually I got my head around it. I was hoping that the IC-7100 might be different but it's not. You basically have to setup memories not only for the Gateways/Reflectors but also to make an initial Connection and then you switch to another memory channel to CQCQCQ (or that's my understanding of it LOL). I purchased RT Systems programming software to make the whole process of setting up DSTAR far easier - I'll update this section later.
Another great feature of the IC-7100 is the SD CARD that sits in the front of the base-unit. It can be used to store all the radio's memories and also to record QSO's or even store pre-recorded voice messages which can be transmitted at the push of a button. It's simple to make a backup copy of the card and even share it at the Radio Club with fellow 7100 owners. Speaking of the Base-Unit, there's another small, but sensible feature - the fan is at the front of the case instead of at the back where it's normally stuffed up against a wall with restricted airflow.
The connections on the rear panel are well spaced and easy to identify. The unit works well with a range of ATUs and a simple interface guarantees a fully integrated operation. I use an MFJ-993B in the shack.
Playing with FT8 and other such digital modes is a breeze with the IC-7100 because the soundcard is built-in and everything goes through a single USB port (my ELAD uses three). Control software like HAM RADIO DELUXE or WIN4ICOM works well with the radio and one of the unique features is the ability to use the IC-7100 remotely using Icom's own RS-BA1 software.
I have a small shack in the corner of a shared 'Hobby Room' and my desk is filled with Flight Simulation paraphernalia, MFD's, keyboard, mouse, etc. The unit fits in any gap remaining and I can quickly and easily remove it for portable operation.
Setting up DSTAR was a total pain in the ass on the Kenwood (not helped by the fact that no one at the local radio club had a clue and no one on the online forums seemed to know anything about setting up a D74) but eventually I got my head around it. I was hoping that the IC-7100 might be different but it's not. You basically have to setup memories not only for the Gateways/Reflectors but also to make an initial Connection and then you switch to another memory channel to CQCQCQ (or that's my understanding of it LOL). I purchased RT Systems programming software to make the whole process of setting up DSTAR far easier - I'll update this section later.
Another great feature of the IC-7100 is the SD CARD that sits in the front of the base-unit. It can be used to store all the radio's memories and also to record QSO's or even store pre-recorded voice messages which can be transmitted at the push of a button. It's simple to make a backup copy of the card and even share it at the Radio Club with fellow 7100 owners. Speaking of the Base-Unit, there's another small, but sensible feature - the fan is at the front of the case instead of at the back where it's normally stuffed up against a wall with restricted airflow.
The connections on the rear panel are well spaced and easy to identify. The unit works well with a range of ATUs and a simple interface guarantees a fully integrated operation. I use an MFJ-993B in the shack.
WIN4ICOMSUITE
HAM RADIO DELUXE
ICOM RS-BA1 V2
Using a shielded CAT-6 cable which came with my BT Router, I sometimes just take the head unit into the adjacent lounge and sit comfortably on the couch playing radio. Absolutely brilliant! If I could be bothered to have a cable routed around the outside of my bungalow to the conservatory, I could do the same there. Or now that Ofcom have changed the rules, I can just connect from anywhere using IP software (RS-BA1).
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO
The final feature is the built-in scope - it's non-active like the FT-991. Personally, I prefer to use an RSPdx to provide a large and accurate scope and waterfall on my big PC screen.
The RSPdx shares the same antenna as the IC-7100 but is protected from the 7100's transmissions by an MFJ-1708B. The 1708B detects the 7100's TX and puts the RSPdx to ground until the transmission is over. Very handy devices and incredibly good value for money.
So overall, I'm really very pleased with the radio and I'm very glad I bought it. It fits in well with everything I do. It allows me to work on 160M right through to 70cm 😮😮😮. It has RX from as low as 30kHz. It can operate remotely, it receives the AirBand (an area of interest to me) and the Scan speed of the memories is nice and fast.
So overall, I'm really very pleased with the radio and I'm very glad I bought it. It fits in well with everything I do. It allows me to work on 160M right through to 70cm 😮😮😮. It has RX from as low as 30kHz. It can operate remotely, it receives the AirBand (an area of interest to me) and the Scan speed of the memories is nice and fast.
Since writing this post, I have fitted an IF OUT to my 7100 using this kit which is fitted internally (requiring soldering).
Below is a piece from someone FAR smarter than me - KV5R. I would strongly recommend that you look at his review of the IC-7100 - it's much more thorough than mine and the rest of his blog is a mine of information. Click Here.
Low SSB Power?
Much has been written (and YouTubed) about the 7100’s SSB power. Indeed, out of the box you plug in the mic and talk and see about 13 watts on the meter. This is because it has a very fast ALC, pulling average talk power (and typical meters) way down. But the PEP is actually there! On mine, a bit over 100 watts PEP, on a ’scope. There is no need to mod the radio, either with the capacitor mod, or the jumper mod. Version 5 of the firmware brings up average power some, though it still needs to be run with a fairly high ALC indication, and maybe a 1 on compression. If you are used to running SSB voice with little or no ALC indication, well, forget that, and run the 7100's ALC at about 40-80% indication. Also, Icom has corrected the initial ALC overshoot problem, but adding a capacitor to slow down the ALC is a bad idea, as it may cause ALC overshoot, perhaps arcing your amp or tuner. KV5R
Sadly, Howard has not posted anything or updated his QRZ page for a couple of years, so I'm not sure if he's still 'on air' 😢
M7MCQ
_______________________
SPECIFICATIONS
| Receiver: 0.030–199.999MHz*2 400.000–470.000MHz*2 Transmit 1.810–1.999MHz 3.500–3.800MHz 7.000–7.200MHz 10.100–10.150MHz 14.000–14.350MHz 18.068–18.168MHz 21.000–21.450MHz 24.890–24.990MHz 28.000–29.700MHz 50.000–52.000MHz 70.000–70.500MHz 144.000–146.000MHz 430.000–440.000MHz | |
| Mode | USB, LSB, CW, RTTY, AM, DV, FM, WFM(Rx only) |
|---|---|
| No of memory channels | 495 regular, 4 call, 6 scan edges, 900 D-STAR repeater channels |
| Antenna connector | SO-239×2 (one each for HF/50/70MHz and 144/430MHz, 50Ω) |
| Operating Temp. range | −10°C to +60°C |
| Frequency stability | ±0.5ppm (0°C to +50°C @ 430MHz) |
| Power supply requirement | 13.8V DC ±15% |
| Current drain (at 13.8V DC) | Tx: 22A (HF/50/70MHz) 16A (144/430MHz) RX: 1.2A/0.9A (Max. audio/standby) |
| Dimensions (W×H×D, projections not included) | Main unit 167×58×225 mm Controller 165×64×78.5 mm |
| Weight (approx.) | Main unit 2.3 kg Controller 0.5 kg |
*2Some frequency bands are not guaranteed.
Transmitter
| Output power (at 13.8V DC) | SSB/CW/RTTY/FM/DV: HF/50MHz: 2–100W 70MHz: 2–50W 144MHz: 2–50W 430MHz: 2–35W AM: HF/50MHz: 1–30W 70MHz: 1–15W |
|---|---|
| Modulation system | SSB: Digital P.S.N. modulation AM: Digital low power modulation FM: Digital phase modulation DV: GMSK digital phase modulation |
| Spurious emissions | Less than −50dB (HF bands) Less than −63dB (50MHz) Less than −60dB (70/144/430MHz) |
| Carrier suppression | More than 50dB |
| Unwanted sideband | More than 50dB |
Receiver
| Intermediate frequencies | SSB/CW/AM/FM/RTTY/DV: 124.487MHz, 455kHz, 36kHz WFM: 134.732MHz, 10.700MHz |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity | (HF: Preamp-1 ON, 50/70MHz: Preamp-2 ON, 144/430MHz: Preamp ON) SSB/CW (BW=2.4kHz at 10dB S/N): 1.8–29.995MHz: 0.15μV 50MHz: 0.12μV 70MHz: 0.15μV 144/430MHz: 0.11μV AM (BW=6kHz at 10dB S/N): 0.5–1.8MHz: 13μV 1.8–29.995MHz: 2μV 50MHz: 1μV 70MHz: 1μV 144/430MHz: 1μV FM (BW=15kHz at 12dB SINAD): 28–29.7MHz: 0.5μV 50–54MHz: 0.25μV 70MHz: 0.25μV 144/430/440MHz: 0.18μV DV (at 1% BER): 28–29.7MHz: 1μV 50MHz: 0.63μV 70MHz: 0.63μV 144/430MHz: 0.35μV WFM (at 12dB SINAD): 76–108MHz: 10μV |
| Sensitivity for RED (Less than) Preamp ON SSB, AM, FM: at 12 dB SINAD | SSB (2.4 kHz): 1.8–2.999 MHz 10 dBμV emf 3.0–29.995 MHz 0 dBμV emf 50/70 MHz band –6 dBμV emf 144/430 MHz band –6 dBμV emf AM (4 kHz, 60% modulation): 1.8–2.999 MHz 16 dBμV emf 3.0–29.995 MHz 6 dBμV emf 50/70 MHz band 0 dBμV emf 144/430 MHz band 0 dBμV emf FM (7 kHz, 60% modulation): 28–29.700 MHz 0 dBμV emf 50/70 MHz band –6 dBμV emf 144/430 MHz band –6 dBμV emf |
| Selectivity | SSB (BW=2.4kHz, sharp): More than 2.4kHz / −6dB Less than 3.4kHz / −40dB CW (BW=500Hz, sharp): More than 500Hz / −6dB Less than 700Hz / −40dB RTTY (BW=500Hz): More than 500Hz / −6dB Less than 800Hz / −40dB AM (BW=6kHz): More than 6.0kHz / −6dB Less than 10kHz / −40dB FM (BW=15kHz): More than 12kHz / −6dB Less than 22kHz / −40dB DV (12.5kHz spacing): More than −50dB |
| Spurious and image rejection ratio | More than 70dB (HF/50/70MHz) More than 65dB (144/430MHz) (except 1/2 IF through on 50/70MHz, IF through on 144MHz) |
| Audio output power | More than 2.0W (10% distortion, 8Ω load, 13.8V DC) |
USEFUL VIDEO GUIDES......
UPDATE NOV 2021:
I hit a problem which others may come across whereby the radio suddenly switches off. I talk about it in >> THIS POST <<
UPDATE 2024
Here I am in June 2024, still LOVING this absolute gem of a radio!
As you can see from this blog, I've been fortunate enough to try out a LOT of modern radios - the best available - and they all bring something to the table, but none of them bring together the 7100's unique blend of features in a single package in such a compact, practical and enjoyable form factor.
Please Icom, please, please, please - why not bring out an updated version of this magnificent radio with a TFT colour screen and a live scope. Call it IC-Heaven!
Thanks for visiting - please take a minute to leave a comment below
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
13 comments:
Thanks for this nice review Tom. I've been reading it several times. I really like this radio and have been thinking about it to replace my IC-706 last year. But then I thought by myself I never use UHF/VHF so what's the use for me. So I bought a IC-7300 which looks way better. I still have no regrets but I still like the 7100. 73, Bas
No, there's no point in buying a 7100 if you're HF only. And the 7300's are supposed to be awesome radios - I know a few operators who love them. When deciding whether to buy a 7610, I actually thought of getting a 7300 and the matching 9700, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay £1800 for a VHF/UHF radio.
Great info, I agree with most all of your comments. I’m mostly an HF CW guy but I specifically wanted the option for VHF and UHF for local contacts and creating an emergency net for my several family members living within 12KM. I’m still not even close to exploring or pushing my 7100 very far but I will. I’m considering an install into my truck so I can use it more often. Thanks
Hey, thanks for popping by - it's much appreciated. And I'm glad that you found the review useful. Stay safe!
Best regards, Tom. M7MCQ
Hi Tom. I did not understand what you meant at the beginning of your review, when you said: "The two are connected to each other by a single cable (CAT-5 I think).... The two parts cannot be connected together in case you were wondering." I'm thinking of getting one of these, or an IC-705. I was wanting to go portable as my wife doesn't want aggro from the neighbours, as we had some years ago! Thanks, G1TCH
PS My email address is clydehinton5@gmail.com. G1TCH
Hi Clyde,
The IC-7100 Main Unit and Head Unit are connected via a cable with RJ-45 connectors on each end. I was saying that I believe it to be a CAT-5 type cable.
I have now got an IC-705 and it is my favourite radio for sure. Read the review here...
https://tommcquiggan.blogspot.com/2021/01/icom-ic-705.html
73, Tom, M7MCQ
Enjoyed your review. I have two 7100s. Are there better radios? You bet. Are there better HF/VHF/UHF radios for under under $1000? Nope.
Yes Elux, they are fabulous radios! I will always have a soft-spot for the 7100. It's a classic.
Thank you for visiting the blog.
Kind regards, Tom. M7MCQ
Is there anyway to connect both antennas to the panadapter so you can use VHF too?
Thank you for the review. I just purchased an 7100 - my first HF - and an SDRplay. Not many talk about this duo, so I am not finding much info on how to connect the CTRL from the MFJ-1708B-SDR-S to the 7100. Even the ham radio store that I purchased this setup from had no idea. What cable are you using?
Thank you again. 73 Sharon
Oh boy, I'm SO SORRY for not replying Sharon! BlogSpot had suddenly stopped notifying me by email of comments left on the blog!
Connecting the IC-7100 to the MFJ-1708B-SDR is simple! You can either rely just on RF detection or you can buy a PTT Lead from TechnoFix (try the link below).
https://shop.technofix.uk/13-pin-linear-amp-switching-cable-for-icom-ic-703-ic-706-ic-718-ic-7000-ic-7100-ic-7300-ic-7410?search=ic-7100
Have you seen my post on the MFJ1708??
https://tommcquiggan.blogspot.com/2019/03/mfj-1708b-sdr.html
Best regards Sharon!
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
Just one small point. THe HM-151 was the stock microphone included with the Icom IC-7000, thankfully it also works with the IC-7100 and indeed, I liked the microphone so much, I bought 2 of them. I just wish that Icom would start building the 7100 again as I'd love to be 1 more.... One for the shack and the other I have in the living room, with a 75 ft cat 7 cable leading to the radio's body in the shack at the other end of my house. The small control head is perfect for sitting on the end table of my couch, allowing me to check conditions on HF while watching the television.
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