Icom's Forgotten HF Gem - the IC-7410
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- Icom has produced a lot of good HF ham radio transceivers over the years, but there is one that has escaped the attention of a great many amateurs. Join me as I dive into the history of the IC-7410 and explain why it's such a good value on the used market.
Fantastic video. I really enjoyed the history lesson about these ICOM rigs.
Thank you very much, Mike!
I bought one a month ago from an Icom dealer in my country. Built like a tank and indeed a lot of conventional buttons. The capacitor of the backlight has been replaced, as a precaution because the lighting started up increasingly slowly. I'm a happy 10-meter Ham! And yes, a great story about this Icom line, thank you.
No no no! I need to stop collecting cool old transceivers I couldn't afford when they were new!
Thanks for the video really.
More information is better.
My experience: I've only had one Icom HF rig (7300), but have had plenty of others (KW, TT, Y). My elmer was a big fan of his 756Pro back in his days. I'm happy with my 7300 but am considering backups and maybe a non-QRP travel rig, or another mobile HF. Whoops I forgot I did own a 7100 for a while, used it mobile, but I never liked the display and also didn't like being isolated from 2m while using HF. I prefer a dedicated VHF/UHF rig plus an HF rig for mobile use rather than shack-in-a-box rigs. My biggest problem with the Icom 7100 display was that I had to get into the menus to dim it for nighttime use. It was way too bright on my daytime settings to use at night without dimming or throwing a towel over it. And why only one color? The 817 has plenty colors. Icom just says no to that "fancy feature". I'll always prefer the amber of my early Icoms and Yaesus to that stark white-ish display of the Icoms. I like the blue of the 817 sometimes, but hey I can change it! But I just bought a 1990 satellite chasing rig--the old FT 736R and do love having a button for EVERYthing rather than a menu system. I have a module to install.
As a newer Ham, I really enjoy these videos on what to look out for on the used market. Please continue with other videos in this format as well with your other stuff as well love the videos always has good information.
When I got my license, I also thought about this radio, but then decided on a different brand. These older radios all have a nice charm, but problems can arise with the supply of spare parts. A friend of mine has a defective IC 7700 in the shack. Nobody in Germany can repair it anymore because new spare parts are no longer available from Icom.
yes mate that's a big problem that's why i bought two ft857d,s one in the car and one for backpacking they can still be fixed most components are in other devices like the ceramic filters etc .
I like the fact that there are no confusing menus. If I were looking for a second QRO rig, this would be one to look at. Thanks for the most informative video!
Yeah, the reality is that "soft buttons" and menus on a touch screen are cheaper, not that anyone prefers them. I think the late 90s was the peak of front panel ergonomics. Radios like the Kenwood TS-850S, and Yaesu FT-990 had it down, then Yaesu just went weird starting with the FT-950 where you have to go into the menus just to adjust power. It's also good to realize that even the most basic entry level transceivers were like $1200 in 1990s money, then you had to spend $300 or more on options.
"iCOM, for the Love of HAM Radio" I am sorry Tracy,I never owned a IC-7410. But I owned a IC-756 Pro + the 756 Pro II and a IC-746Pro. The 746 Pro was a repaired second Hand Radio in mint Shape coming with new replaced Finals and repaired Display. I had it for 5 Years working excellent.
Thank you for the excellent video. I‘ve been using an IC-7410 for the past three years and I agree - it is an excellent transceiver, a real workhorse.
One of the great unspoken truths that newbies to the hobby miss is, you do NOT have to buy a New radio to enjoy the hobby! So many great rigs from either just a few years ago to, say, 40 years ago (Kenwood TS-830S, for example) offer outstanding performance for relatively little money. While the IC7300 is a favorite of so many newbies, as you’ve shown, a higher quality radio is out there for the same money.
I LOVE my old Kenwoods for the simple operation (and my 599D Twins are also beautiful to look at). My literal “daily driver”, because I’m 100% mobile for now, is a FT-891. Although it's gotten me 75/100 towards Mobile DXCC, the "menu system" has me sitting in a dark corner, talking to my belly button! If i knew i could connect a large cellphone sized monitor to a 7410, I'd dump my 891 in a heartbeat! "New" isn't always better! Fantastic video!!! 73 de WB3CFN/m
I traded my IC7300 for an old Flex 3000 years ago, and I've never looked back. The 7300 isn't bad to learn on, but one can't stay in one's cradle forever...
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I have owned this radio for 5 years now and will never let it go. it sits on my desk in company with some of the best of old and new. and for all of you that wonder, it makes a pro3 and a 7300 a fools errand. It is as good a radio as human ears will ever need. best $600.00 I have ever spent on this hobby.
Thanks so much for posting ! I have the 7410 and it's truly all I need in an HF rig. Excellent video
The 7410 also has a direct connection from the USB CI-V to the processor. This is different from a lot of CI-V USB ports which have the T and R data lines connected together just like the remote port. It’s a good radio.
I have had my 7410 from new and love it. I particularly like how all the controls are right there in front of me. Easy to use and does not have a steep learning curve to get the maximum from the radio. I use it as my main station radio and have no plans to ever sell it. Cheers Paul VO2PRS
What you say is all true! Fantastic radio. I like changing radios but this one has always been here since 2017, which is unusual for me. Furthermore you can remote control un Ba1 it exactly like a 7300. Nice review, Thank you
That was an interesting walk through the Icom line from the past. Thanks for posting.
Barry G. Kery, KU3X
Great video. I think the IC-7410 is a great rig for the home shack (the IC-7300 wins out for potable ops for its low receive power consumption). Despite the lack of spectrum display, the rig is easy to modify with an IF output for driving an external SDR receiver to provide a pan adapter display on a computer monitor. I have a TS-990 with a wonderful built-in spectrum display but I still use an SDR Play to get a large waterfall on my PC monitor. For the home shack that's the way to go and I'd even prefer the legacy display of a radio like the IC-7410 on the front panel with the spectrum display on a separate screen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Nice home station you have there.
How fast is the refresh rate on the spectrum display?
@@throwaway-ds6yg not fast, maybe one cycle per second and the receiver is not audible while it's working. I never use the feature.
Great write up Tracy. I am still using a plan Icom 746 and it's been a winner from day 1. I would trade up to a 7410 or a 756 Pro if I found the right radio.
Nice Video - As someone who uses Icom in the QTH, it was interesting hearing/watching of the evolution of the radios - in particular how Icom listened to its customers - I have to say that Icom have always given me excellent customer service, and the 7300, 9700 and 705 are a brilliant line of radios, learning more about the older radios is great as well, even tho I'm not on the market to buy one.
My primary base station rig is an IC-756 ProIII. The color display and spectrum scope are standard features in modern transceivers. DNR works fine and I use it for digital modes with a SignaLink. Having controls for most functions minimizes going through menus.
Best kept secret in ham radio!
The finals were rated at 100w each!
STILL one of the quietest 2-3 radios ever!
And the tuner is super quick and quiet.
3 memories per band button makes jumping from station to station a breeze.
Power output in the real world dwarfs the 7300 and 7100!
First new radio i bought was a 7410 wasnt my first choice but its a nice radio it lives at my dads house for if he ever gets his general class license i just kinda didn't like it enough to not turn down a good price on a ft3000 kinda wish it was in my shack now to use it more than i did when I had it
Great video Tracy. I was only looking at the 756proIII not that long ago thinking to get it for a home rig. Thanks for the info.
73
Thank you and 73 from VE3TWM!
4 years with a 7410. I prefer it over any other radio including the 7300.
Great analysis Tracy
Thank you, Tim! Always nice to hear from you.
I have the IC7400 and the IC7600 in the shack. The 7400 performs a not notable differents with the 7600. Only the 7600 has a more fancy display. Biggest + for the 7400 is the use of HF AND 2m in the same box and on 2m 100w!
I realy love the ICOM equipments. The problem I see in these older radios is that the cw filters costs as much as the radio it self...
No need for an optional CW filter with the IC-7410, the 32-bit DSP takes care of bandwidth and does that very well.
I love my IC-9100
Owned a 756Pro. Front end was wide as a barn door.
The digi-filtering wasn't adequate or was it otherwise noise/interference? thanks
No such issue with the 7410.
Hi tracey i agree with you 150% i own and operate a 7410 its a boss i love it ....6y5ho
As we speak (June 21, 2024), I friend who is a pro repair guy of 45 yrs just offered me one for $500 USD. It belonged to a guy who bought it as a Tech and never upgraded and decided he'd rather have the $$$ than the radio. I've been looking at the G90 because I wanted something simple and small that I could go POTA with and just use battery power. My location is going to make it very difficult if not impossible to install a proper grounding system and good antenna which is why I wanted to go with the G90 and just remain mobile. Now I'm wondering which is the best way to jump - I'm 79 and doubt I'll be in this house for another 3 years so hate to sink the funds into proper grounds and it's an HOA so must be stealthy with the antennas - I can probably get by with an 40m EFHW in a tree and that's about it. I hate to pass on the Icom because it sounds like a great radio but I have to be practical. Great and informative video!! 73s KQ4KVU
Decisions decisions...the 7410 is certainly not portable, so you might want to opt for the smaller rig. 73 from VE3TWM!
Very interesting video Tracey. Recently three ic 7400 came up for sale and this radio type retained the 2m capability. I was wondering on your thoughts on this radio are in the tranceiver line up you have just described.
The IC-7400 is the IC-746Pro. It was sold outside of North America. Unlike the 746Pro, the 7400 did not have a reputation for blowing finals. It's a good rig.
You forgot to mention the 100w spike problems it had. Icom did a mod if you sent it in. Only a problem with low drive amps. I thought it was the 7300 that killed this radio.
Like you say though it should be a good value.
I think you might be off on the price used to new on Flee Bay mid 800 to 1100 dollars I'm seeing. FYI
eBay is typically not a good place to find decently priced used gear. Check out online ham radio oriented swap shops instead. Right now here in Canada there is a used 7410 selling for $800 CAD (about $550 USD), you'll find similar prices in the US though you might need to wait for one to appear.