Jarrad from Rate My Radio did a “mini-review” of the IC-7100.
He mentioned that it was a great radio both for new amateur radio operators, and for veterans who are looking for more advanced features in a desktop or mobile radio. He called it a “great radio” for anyone wanting to get into HF, VHF, UHF, and D-STAR all in a single radio.
In a video review, Eric from Ham Radio Concepts reviewed the Icom IC-7100, which he purchased for his personal ham shack.
More than 2.0W at 10% distortion with an 8Ω load It’s not cheap, but the Icom IC-7100 has tons of amazing features and is built to last, making it a good overall investment. This is a great mobile transceiver, particularly for newer operators who may have mostly used HTs, but are now familiar with the basics and are ready to set up a home base station or a mobile vehicle station. You may want to keep this in mind while shopping.
Touchscreen quality control – A handful of users have noted that they’ve experienced malfunctioning touchscreens or complete touchscreen failure.
Lacks a few features compared to the competition – Some comparable radios in this price range have features like a GPS, color screen, and built-in antenna tuner, which the IC-7100 lacks.
500+ memory channels – The IC-7100 supports 495 standard channels, 4 call channels, and 6 scan edge channels, as well as 900+ DR mode repeater channels for D-STAR users.
Powerful DSP for clear audio – The proprietary digital signal processing (DSP) uses a 32-bit, floating point architecture to provide clean, crisp audio on both digital and analog bands.
Paired with the proper antenna and accessories, this powerhouse will have you reaching repeaters and base stations worldwide.
Tri-band design with plenty of power – Maximum transmit power is up to 100W in HF bands, 50W in VHF, and 35W in UHF.
While it doesn’t come with a GPS, it can be expanded with a variety of compatible units for further functionality. It supports both DV mode digital voice and low speed data communications.
Excellent D-STAR capabilities – The IC-7100 is an excellent choice for any ham looking to dabble in digital radio.
And, despite its light weight, durable rubber feet keep it from moving around during routine use.
Intuitive detached control head – The angled control head may look a little bit funny at first, but it’s got great ergonomics.
It even functions while wearing gloves, which makes it ideal for use while working outdoors in cold conditions.
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Great display with excellent touchscreen – It may not be full color, but the LCD touchscreen is large and responsive, making for an excellent user experience.
But it justifies its price tag with robust features, excellent sound quality, and a surprisingly small learning curve, especially for those who have already used Icom products in the past. A fully-featured tri-band radio that also offers amazing D-STAR compatibility? Who could say no? The Icom IC-7100 may be a little bit expensive, particularly for new ham operators.