ICOM IC-7610 REWIND

OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN!

Without any doubt at all, the best radio I have owned is the ICOM IC-7610. But the grass is always greener and so even though I loved my IC-7610, I thought there might be something better out there. I purchased a YAESU FT-DX101D and really disliked it. 

Obviously, it was a magnificent transceiver (as they all are at this price level), but I just couldn't believe how annoying it was to work with. No point going on about it - just read the review and see for yourself. It obviously suits a lot of people - but it didn't suit me. After that I invested in a bit of Russian technology in the form of an Expert Electronics MB1 Prime. Again, a fabulous radio, but I hit a problem which led to me returning it and getting my money back.

For a very short time, I convinced myself that I didn't need a BIG radio in the shack because most of my radio-time was actually spent outdoors with my IC-705, so I ended up "making do" with a Yaesu FT-891 and my Icom IC-7100 for indoor play. To be fair, they’re both fabulous!! 

But I kept pining for my 7610. It had just done everything so well. Nothing at all annoyed me about it. I never felt that it was lacking in any way. And as is often the case, I kept seeing IC-7610's on the internet in Groups, Forums and Blogs, making me wish I had that happy feeling back. 😂

Well now I do! Because I've bought another one and (I know I've said this before) it's a keeper! Having first-hand knowledge of what's out there, I no longer need to look for the best - it's right here in my shack…

ICOM DREAM MACHINE

When I originally considered buying an IC-7610, I had looked at the FT-DX101D and came to these initial conclusions…

• I hate the 101's chavvy 3D waterfall!
• I dislike the 101's 2D waterfall.
• I love the 101's overall appearance.
• I love the 7610's progressive tuning.
• I like the 7610's meter options.
• I like the 7610's screen layout options.
• I like the 101's 3 antenna ports.
• I love the 7610's built-in network server.
• I love the 7610's  4 USB ports.
• I love the 7610's Remote Control capability.
• I love the 7610's QSO recorder.
• I like the 7610's compact dimensions
• I like the 7610's TWIN CLOCKS (Local/UTC) (FT-101D has none!!)

I should have trusted my gut feeling about the 101, because having owned both radios I now know that the 7610 is the better radio for me. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly clearer that I have a strong preference for Icom’s way of doing things and find myself more and more at odds with Yaesu - especially with their newer products. 

 

No one can accuse me of bleating on about a product that I haven’t paid hard-earned cash for. I’ve forked out good money for them all and I look at them without any bias and without any favour. And I’d like to say that I’m not a blind ICOM ‘fan boy’.  I’m not a Yaesu hater too - I have had more Yaesu radios than any other make and I currently own four Yaesu!! 

18 Feb 2022 : I bought an LDG MC-7610 for the radio and it looks great. CLICK HERE to see.

I’m a very happy chappy and super excited having the 7610 back 😊

73, Tom, M7MCQ.