IC-7100 from A to Z #1 Introduction and manual overview

[@heronsbend1318]

Outstanding instruction series for visual learners! This old man/new ham had his back-ordered 7100 arrive around dinner time yesterday, and in about an hour with help of your second video by 8 pm I was online for the local club’s Thursday evening rag chew. This will help me with both my new gear, and the hobby in general.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks! Congratulations on the new rig.

[@P47Harry]

Tom, you are what amateur radio is all about! Thanks for your efforts to educate us out here!

[@johnbaxter9446]

Thanks VERY much for this kindness to your fellow hams! Just got the IC7100 which is basically the radio of my dreams. Now I need to learn to fly it... My friend, you are a great Elmer!!!! best 73, John N3FPZ

[@gsansoucie]

I was drawn to your video via my search of 7100 and then noticed your taste in trucks, which kept me here :-). I like how you just solved my dilemma for mounting not only the 7100 head unit, but my TPMS and possibly our Airstream’s rear view camera to boot. We have a 2015 Ram 2500 right now. Thanks, de W1ND

[@stevesmith9239]

Thank you for the 7100 Videos. I bought this radio as a backup to my FTdx10 (Which is in the shop!), and I use it mostly for ft8. As a result, I didn't explore the user interface too much, operating mostly from the computer. This is a Great radio! And your videos introduced me to that! Thank you!

[@melming8751]

Really glad you are doing this series. I loved your 7300 series. Mel N7GCO

[@DaleDurnell]

Many thanks for this series. I've just installed my new iCom 7100 and getting started is a bit more than a little intimidating. I tried to have it up and running for Field Day, but I don't think I mastered enough of the bells and whistles on my own as I wasn't having much luck with anything but simplex 2m. I'm looking forward to learning about this rig -- it seems like a nice piece of kit for the price and for my needs. I got a nice Yaesu 991A for my QTH base station, and I bought my 7100 to replace my Yaesu FT8900 in my Toyota Tundra. While the 8900 offers 6 and 10m capability, it's only FM which is pretty useless. The two Ham clubs I belong to both offer 10m nets, using USB. The only way to accomplish my communication goal was to move to a much more versatile rig which I'm already seeing in the 7100. I look forward to working my way through your sessions. 73 Dale KF8DLD

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Dale. Thanks for the kind words. I just mentioned in another comment that I’ve been offline for a while. We’ve been moving into a new house. I’ll be back in video production soon and plan to get the 7100 series re-started.

[@1crazynordlander]

Thanks for doing this. I bought the IC-7300 last November and the IC-7100 in February of this year. I have it installed in my Jeep Cherokee. I have a video on that install on my channel. I dumped the terrible microphone for the IC-7300 microphone but had to purchase the adapter to go from a round DIN connector to a RJ45 modular plug. Not happy that ICOM does not supply the mounting bracket that I had to buy to make my Jeep install complete. I could have made one but would have spent more time into that than what it was worth. Yaesu includes brackets with their FT-891. Puzzling except I just have to call ICOM cheap skates! I have made some great contacts with just the three 20, 40 and 75 meter meter Shark Distributing whips. I have received great reports on audio and signal strength.

[@michaelbradley8508]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.... I have a 7100 and have always struggled with understanding the full potential of this marvellous under rated radio. Hopefully this series will help me. Michael VA6XMB

[@daveross9598]

🙂 good to see you at Warrensburg . 73 Dave KA0VXR from Alpha Antenna .

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Dave. Great to see you too. I’ll be sure to look for you at the next local fest. 73

[@destinogaia7168]

Great video series. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I´m plannig buy a IC-7100 for travel in a motorcycle and camping. Greetings from Colombia

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I'd love to see how you mount it on the motorcycle. That sounds like a very cool project.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks Thomas great review 73

[@boosebill]

Just got my 7100. Only came with basic manual. Had to download full manual. The basic manual now refers to full manual as FM not AI. Section 7 from basic manual is still not in full manual; odd. Thanks for these great videos, some of us learn better from hands on visual instruction than from reading the instructions..

[@mikel5077]

found your videos this awesome! thank you from a new Ham !!

[@73dem6vmo7]

Hi, Tom. Thank you for all your efforts. Is there a download link for the advanced manual? I can't find it on the Icom UK website. Cheers. 73.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

For the 7300, they call it the “Full Manual”. Icom manual downloads are on the Japan website. You can find the 7300 manual here: www.icomjapan.com/support/manual/2271/

[@73dem6vmo7]

@@HamRadioA2Z thank you ever so much, Tom. 73, Frankie.

[@dannydivine7699]

Do you go into setting up and using an external GPS with the 7100 I am very interested in the Near Repeaters functionality using the GPS

[@HamRadioA2Z]

It is something I’ve thought about doing. Just haven’t got around to it.

[@dannydivine7699]

@@HamRadioA2Z Definitely looking forward to it. As a relatively new ham researching radios, the "Near Repeaters" is probably going to be my drop dead must have feature in every radio. The GPS capabilities of the Uniden SDS scanners have sold me on the idea of active radios.

[@jeremyt1917]

Thanks foe rhe video! Have you heard any news about Icom updating the 7100 to directly compete more with the Yaesu 991a?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I have not. The last firmware update for the 7100 came out in 2016. Even though it doesn't have the hardware capability of the 7300 or the 705, there are some features on those radios that they could implement on the 7100. I keep hoping that they'll release another update since they are still selling the radio.

[@bahathir_]

Great new episode. Looking forward to see it. I hope to see mobile operation., at different QTH/locations. :) Tank you, and keep safe.

[@bkj242]

Your videos on the 7100 are really great. Can you elaborate why there is a low power output "hardware hack" required to enable advertised power when operating on phone portions of the HF bands? Is there a firmware update to fix this? Thanks

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Jerry. Thanks for commenting and for your kind words. You’re not the first to ask this question. I have done some research into this and have contacted Icom about it. It is a somewhat controversial subject. I believe the perception comes from not seeing the meter hit 100% power on voice peaks and also, not seeing an external meter hit 100W on voice peaks. According to Icom, the radio does put out the advertised 100W when modulated at the correct level with a steady tone and appropriate test equipment. I have looked at several of the mods on the internet. I have not personally tried any of them. I’m sure they do cause the radio to put out more power. I’ve seen some claims that a few of them will push the radio beyond 100 watts. The questions are: Are they overmodulating and putting out a lot of splatter? Will they damage the radio by putting out too much power? I don’t know the answers to either question, but I would be wary. I have not felt that this is a problem with my radio. When I set the mic gain and compression level to get some movement on the ALC meter, but not too much, I don’t have any trouble making contacts. I don’t typically watch my power meter that intensely unless I think there is some specific problem going on. To put this in context, a properly calibrated S meter on a receiver moves 1 S unit for a 6db change in input power. 6db is approximately a 4X difference in power. So if your radio really is putting out peaks of 60-70 watts and you do something to get those to 90-100 watts, you’re not going to change the receiving station’s S meter reading by even 1/2 an S unit. So it really is splitting hairs and (I believe) more about seeing the output power meter peg more often. That’s my opinion. I’m sure you’ll find many others if you do some searches on this topic. 73, Tom

[@bkj242]

@@HamRadioA2Z I do agree with you and have done additional reading on the subject as well. Considering all settings are at least default, I’m thinking this is more of issue using an average power reading watt meter as opposed to a peak reading one.again. Again great videos? KO4IAB 73 friend!

[@ouijim]

Disassembled stock HM-198 microphone and found tiny mic hole is also NOT aligned with mic element rather its at the bottom of rubber mic element support nearly completely blocked. The tiny (obstructed) hole in mine was at the top of the second louver. I drilled a hole at the bottom of the first louver which is dead center aligned with mic element. I suppose you can imagine the performance increase! Be sure to completely disassemble the microphone before drilling a hole or you will damage the microphone element (obvious) if you do this "Necessary Modification"

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks for the tip. I wonder if they’re all that way or if you just got one that was poorly assembled?

[@ouijim]

@@HamRadioA2Z I posted on Facebook Group also and someone else had the same. He did a similar modification and posted photos. You can remove the rubber grommet blocking the hole and remove some material allowing the original hole to be clear. Wednesday Night 10 meter Net many praised my audio, one asked how much power I was running (Just 30 watts) no more was needed with good audio (Mic Gain 65% - Compression 2) I do not have a loud voice ; ) Thank You for HM-219 / HM-198 comparison which is what sparked curiosity ; ) I am not a modification advocate but this seems obviously necessary. . .

[@JeffHochberg]

Another ham made a video on using the IC-7300 speaker mic with the IC-7100 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYuvpJWDZ9-SkKM

[@boosebill]

Just got my 7100 set up.to replace my 20year old 706. Found this great set of videos. My 198 mike also had the hole blocked. Thanks for the great tip. I saw someone's video where he said the 198 mic was not very good, I wonder if her had this same problem?

[@albertomlzioli1158]

Thanks so much. My Icom 7100 will arive in 3 days.......... :)

[@qrptedmac]

I know this vid is a couple yrs old but I am going to buy a 7100 now that they’re going to be back in stock at dealers in a few weeks, allegedly. Do I need one? No, I just want one. Thx for the vids.

[@napomania]

does this thing has a integrated ATU?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

No it does not. The 7100 can control an Icom or Icom compatible external tuner. I use an MFJ 939i with mine.

[@twohandsandaradio]

Kind of a weird question... Isn't there a rubber ring that goes around the tuning knob? Or is this something they've cheapened up? Your stock picture shows it but it's not there on your dash.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I have kind of a weird answer. Yes, there is supposed to be a rubber ring. The one on my rig was a little bit loose and fell off several times when I was moving the rig between the house and the truck. I finally lost it. I keep meaning to contact Icom service to order a replacement, but I just haven't got to it yet.

[@docpearson]

I feel that one of the major downfalls or problems with this radio is you cannot Cross Band repeat with it. I can get by with an extrernal antenna tuner hidden someplace in my trunk but what is absolutely a horrible failing is the Japanese have absolutely failed by not putting Cross Band repeating capabilities in this radio.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I agree that having true dual transceivers (which enables cross band repeat) would be a nice feature. I am not aware of any HF/VHF/UHF radios that have that capability. I suspect after packing all of the transceiver gear and filtering for all modes/all bands into such a small box, there just isn’t room left for anything else.

[@W5MHG]

Where did you get that amount for the 7100?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Mark, What amount are you referring to?

[@W5MHG]

@@HamRadioA2Z I’m sorry, the mount that is used in your truck holding the 7100.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Ohhhhh. Got it. It’s a RAM mount. They have all kinds of options for the arms and end pieces. I’m using the 1” ball version. There are also some knock off brands that are compatible. I think the one pictures in the video came from my local Bass Pro Shop. They have them in the marine electronics area. You can also order them on Amazon and I think they have a direct shopping website too.

[@W5MHG]

@@HamRadioA2Z Great thank you for the quick reply

[@HamRadioLiveShow]

Great video! Well organized and well taught. I’d like to use it on my KZbin channel that helps encourage people to get their license. I’d like to use it for my channel as a starter radio to begin with. I’ll make sure and credit your channel in the description section of the video and a link to it. Thanks for making this video. It helps people. In my book, that’s a big deal. Larry de K7HN

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Larry. Sure, be my guest! Thanks for the kind words.

[@johnfox-sg3tg]

you don't cover dstar

[@shawjw247]

help - Hello, 7100 Newbie here. I am interested in data operations with this rig, and winlink email. Help me choose a correct data cable to interface with my laptop to rig. de N8NSK

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. Thanks for watching and for your comment. If you go to the reference website for the channel at: a-2-z.tech/ you'll find a "Stuff" page with links to various accessories and cables that I've had good luck with. For the IC-7100, specifically, I use a Monoprice USB cable. I've added a link at the end of this comment. Truth in Advertising: it is an affiliate link. I hope to have some videos on connecting via USB and digital modes soon. 73, Tom Monoprice USB A to Mini-B cable on Amazon: amzn.to/3jaSj6F

[@9821Joker]

I like the Radio but as with all Icom, Price point is too high and honestly if they moved away from that form factor, I'd probably get one anyway. It looks like something out of a 1960's budget sci fi movie.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. When I first saw the radio, I wasn’t crazy about the form factor either. Honestly, since it’s been in my mobile setup I love it. The angle between the display and buttons works out great with the display tilted toward me and the buttons tilted down. I talk about this in another video here: IC7100 A-Z #16 My Mobile Setup kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHywiaKLitaWjdE As of November 2022, if you do ever decide to get one it looks like your only options will be used. I’ve seen several posts saying that Icom is discontinuing the 7100.