IC-7100 from A to Z #4 VFO Tuning Operation & Options

[@iPsychlops]

Many other people have already thanked you for making these awesome videos (thanks from me too!) The fact that you already put them in a playlist and numbered them is the cherry on top! I ordered my 7100 today and these videos are going to hold me over until it arrives!

[@alphacharlie1127]

Tom, thank you very much for taking the time to prepare these instructional videos. I bought a 7100 under serendipitous circumstances literally days ago. I have never worked any ICOM rig before. Walk-through videos on the 7100 are scarce on the web. You have saved me the trouble of having to read the manual to get started. 👍 73

[@lesb6542]

Tom, Thank you for your in depth review of the 7100,I have one arriving tomorrow May 6. Les G4JDC 83 year old in Birmingham UK. 73.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thank you for the kind words Les. I know you will enjoy the radio. I hope we meet on the air someday. 73, Tom

[@frostgfx]

Tom: I absolutely love your video series on the IC-7100. So much info not logically covered in the manual. Didn't know about the Advanced Instructions. I'm off the air except for Echolink due to lack of antenna real estate, but I have learned so much and practice without Xmiting from time to time to keep up. I do wish they would have placed the SD Card on the head though.

[@goodxrvn2053]

Tom, I'll join the folks here thanking you for this IC 7100 series as well as others on ICOM radios.After much research, I have recently purchased the IC 7100 as well. It promises to be a good addition to my communication gear. W4JCH

[@fdnyfish]

Amazing info

[@MrCurtishanner]

Great video. I just love your instructional videos.

[@TheRetiredtech]

I want to thank you for this as I have had this rig for a few years now but Never really learned it's operation.

[@sensaras]

Thank you very much Tom. Your videos on the 7100 are really helpful.

[@davidlong5594]

Love your videos, Tom. Quick question if you don't mind. I am having a devil of a time transmitting with my 7300. No one seems to hear me or respond. I've called on 80, 40, and 20. No responses. Vox is on. Could I have the settings wrong?

[@melming8751]

Thanks you so much for these. I am just now setting up my 7100.

[@fdnyfish]

Would like to see a video of your TONE Settings (Base/Treble)

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. I will be doing something on how to set the tone controls. As for my setup, I'm using the Icom keypad mic and I have the tone controls set at their defaults. I have always received good audio reports. Maybe I just got lucky that my voice fits the default settings.

[@okieiam7236]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@frankwc0o]

Thanks for the video. You have been invaluable in several YT videos for IC radios. In your experience, would you be able to hear a difference in receiving signals between the IC7100 vs IC7300. I know it's subjective, but in your opinion do you hear a difference? I have a IC7300 and I can hear those low signals and I want to buy the IC7100 for the car, but I don't want to loose that sensitivity. I wonder if I would be able to tell the difference. Thx.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Frank. I’m afraid I don’t have a good apples to apples comparison. I think the receiver in each radio is pretty good, but as you’ve seen I mostly use the 7100 in my truck and the 7300 at home. I have setup the 7100 in the shack a few times, but I’ve never compared the two radios side by side. I think that’s really the only way get the information you want. With different antennas and different band conditions on different days, it’s really hard to say anything meaningful about their sensitivity. That might be a good idea for a future video.

[@frankwc0o]

@@HamRadioA2Z Thanks for replying. I was thinking of using the 7100 in my car, for the 7300 is just to bulky and the 705 has not enough power and having the 705 on the dashboard is not safe. On the other hand, I love the 7300's audio quality, so far people who have the 7100 like it usually don't compare it with other radios. -73

[@ericrider9718]

Waiting for my coax, have a the radio, power supply and antenna for vhf/uhf. Hope to be putting all of it together soon.

[@ericrider9718]

Enjoy your no nonsense videos

[@ericrider9718]

Just put in my repeater and named it using your video! Thanks! Looking forward to #4 in the ic-7100 series

[@ericrider9718]

Duh! #5

[@littlejohnny4470]

I have my equipment setup similar to the way you setup yours for this video! I don't have any issues with the bands until I get to 80 and 160 meters! On these two bands, the touch lamp goes on and off repeatedly, and the PC monitor goes bonkers when I transmit or use the tuner! I recently learned about touch lamps and ham radios. But the reason for the monitor issues might be because my radio and tuner aren't grounded. Your thoughts, please... Thank you for your time!! It is MUCH appreciated!! PS, I do have grounding rods and cables on order.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. Touch type lamps & light switches are definitely extra sensitive to any RFI problems. You may have to do some experimenting with RF Chokes and routing of cables to solve everything. Getting a good ground setup is definitely the right place to start.

[@DorisHaskell]

Thank you for this series of videos. Can you please tell this beginner how you get the "Tune" word to appear in the top left corner? Friends have come to our house, and programmed the radio for me, and then left. If I bump the dial or a button, I lose my ability to set the numbers bck where they belong. So far, I'm using my 7100 to check in on nets, and I'm looking forward to expanding my use.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Doris. Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you are finding the videos helpful. On your question, the TUNE indication in the upper left of the display has nothing to do with tuning frequencies. If you have an external automatic antenna tuner connected to the radio, TUNE will be displayed when the tuner has been engaged and was able to find a good match for your antenna. Honestly, “TUNED” would make the meaning more clear. If you don’t have an external tuner installed, you should never see that displayed. As far as why you can’t tune the frequencies any more, I would need a little more information about which buttons you hit and what you’re trying to tune to be of more help.

[@DorisHaskell]

​@@HamRadioA2Z, thank you for your quick reply! I have an MFJ-945E tuner. I'm getting acquainted with it too. A couple of days ago, I learned that I need to have RTTY selected on the 7100 before I try to adjust the tuner. I think my problem may be with the lower left knob on the 7100. I was trying to check in on the World Famous Wyoming Cowboy Net, 3.923.50. I am also trying to learn how to check in on the High Noon Net, 7.240.00 and the Beehive Net, 7.272.00. I'm here in Rock Springs, WY (I think you already figured that out). My friend, KE7UUJ, has programmed our local repeaters in, so now, I will watch your videos again and try to program these frequencies in, and name them. You speak and a good rate, and it's easy for these old ears to hear you. Thanks again. KB7HEQ

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. If you are just going to push the PTT on the Mic, then yes, setting the radio to RTTY will put out a carrier so you can tune it. You should also adjust the power output down to about 10-15% while you’re tuning. This puts less stress on the output transistors and less stress on the tuner. Once you have a good match, then you can turn the power back up to 100%. And, just a reminder, since the 945E is a manual tuner, that TUNE on the display won’t come on and doesn’t apply to your situation. Enjoy those nets.

[@mikebowman7002]

Thank you for the video's on the 7100. This is the first modern radio I have owned. There is not much out there about the operation of it. Would like to see a set up on FT-8 on this radio. A lot of trial and error is all I find. Thanks again Mike KA8IIM 73s

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I did one for the 7300. Very similar for this radio. I will do one for this radio too. For the 7300 videos, search fo IC7300 A to Z #23, #24, #25 & #26

[@mikebowman7002]

@@HamRadioA2Z Thanks

[@stevenharris521]

A helpful demo, please move your left hand out of camera more often....I liked it and subscribe, thanks.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi and thanks for the like and subscription. Sorry about the hand. I usually use a stylus so it’s easier to see what’s going on and I also film from a little different angle. Unfortunately, I forgot to pack the stylus and had a different camera angle in the camper. Should be better next time. 73, Tom