Icom IC 781 top of the line HF SSB transceiver from the Nineties

This is the Icom IC-781 transceiver, which entered the ham market in 1990 (not 1980 like I said in the video, sorry for that). The IC-781 was the top of the line radio in those days, it kept that title unil the IC-7800 came out almost 15 years later. It had a price tag of over $8000 at its introduction, which is worth over $15k in 2019 dollars. The one you see here has been used only lightly, with no CRT burn-in and excellent performance.
The Icom IC-781 was the first transceiver using a direct-digital synthesizer (DDS), the first radio to use a digital display and the first radio to have dual-receive capability. And it was the first ham radio having a dynamic receiver range of 105 dB, which is still an impressive number today. And the transmitter IMD is better than 35dB, a number that most modern transceivers cannot match. The IC-781 set the standard for many years to come, almost al transceivers today have features that were first made available to hams by the IC-781. As a result, the IC-781 has become a highly desirable collectors item, especially when they are in original and pristine condition like this one is.

[@wes11bravo]

Very advanced for its time and still an amazing performer. Pretty sure you can still find replacement CRTs but I wouldn't be surprised if someone has come up with an LCD conversation mod.

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

Yes, I think dat is available now, someone told me about that. Cheers.

[@TrimeshSZ]

Interesting - I used to have an Icom R-9000 HF receiver, and that had a very similar look - it had less controls on the left side, but the CRT and the stuff on the right was pretty much identical. I wonder how much of the same platform the units shared.

[@haydenperrine854]

I picked up one of these, with an ALPHA, at a swap table, about 12 years ago. I don't think that the seller did any research. He said make an offer, I just threw out "a grand", he jumped on it and asked if he could help me out to my truck. I did the external monitor right away, because it's cool. I run a net on Fridays on 7.204 and get great feedback from contacts, at how well it sounds. Great video, thanks. KG6YVD

[@rickodell6095]

Nice Rig. I have the Icom 765, was supposed to have been a fairly solid performer in the early 90's also. I think list price was around $2995. Like to hear one of your reviews of that one too! Enjoy your videos.

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

Sure, I have a video of that one also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooCyaqyvf7lga9U

[@bobowzki]

Love the look of that radio... They're hard to find now though.

[@fuleung4296]

Great work with your presentation

[@mattottie6410]

Have to say i like it even better with big monitor. Vey nice, you should keep this one.

[@mattottie6410]

Really nice radio. Looking forward to more reviews, your review of the sea 235 really helped me understand my 235 better thx. matt

[@inferno7654]

23:48 Satanic Laugh (eheheheh) Fantastic, never seen this on video about the Icom 781 and i never know that is possibile, compliments and thank you. Wonderful feature for radio lived between 1987-1993. The Icom 781 is LEGEND !

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

Yeah... listening back, it was a pretty stupid laugh. I should probably have edited it out.

[@Ryedale]

Thank you for the great video on the IC-781. Can you please describe ...or do a quick update video on the DIN connector or the video out and how you made that connection? Thanks again. I've subscribed to your videos.

[@patrickbouldinkm5l143]

Did you ever get that info? 73 - Patrick KM5L I loved this video, got me re-excited about my old 781

[@Ryedale]

@@patrickbouldinkm5l143 Not yet

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

See 23:05 of my video, it shows the page in the manual that specifies the cable. You need an eight-pin DIN connector as shown on that page. Connect a piece of coaxial cable to it (preferably 75 ohm). Connect the shield to DIN pin 2, and the inner conductor to DIN pin 3. The other end of the coax goes to the monitor's composite video input. So you will need a monitor that has an NTSC composite video input, and is capable of 15 kHz scan (which is standard for NTSC). Newer LCD monitors might not be capable of such a slow scan speed, so check the monitor's specs first before you buy one. In this video, I am actually using a low-cost LCD TV receiver, those most likely will also offer NTSC backward compatibility (mine did indeed as you can see here). Cheers.

[@chansetwo]

I believe the Collins KW-1 is the most expensive ham radio ever produced. $3800 in 1951.

[@agso73]

The big vintage radio 😮.

[@proudsnowtiger]

This was introduced in 1988, not 1979-80. Still a great radio, but not something Doctor Who dropped into the market!

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

You are correct - my bad. It was introduced in 1989, and the price was over $8000 then. Cheers.

[@proudsnowtiger]

@@LifeIsTooShortForQRP I only know this because I was a penniless teenager in 1981 with a new license and serious lust for the IC-720A,, which seemed state of the art at the time for ham radio. After a lot of saving up and holiday jobs, I could just about afford an IC-2E, which was... not quite the same (although I had huge fun with it...) So that period of radio is etched on my heart.

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

i used to have the ic r9000 and miss that radio, although only a reciever, virtually the same, super, but did not realize composit vid out, super,

[@LordGryllwotth]

Very hard to see the usefullness with the apectrum scope there on those weak signals.

[@Gw0wvl]

It's a beautiful radio 👍

[@fuleung4296]

KI4MZS Good info a blast from the past

[@rubusroo68]

Very attractive set

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

How do you get all those rare radio`s?

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

By plunking down a lot of the green stuff.... Cheers.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

@@LifeIsTooShortForQRP I believe that! You can buy a small house from all that Tech!

[@haroldnorwood6594]

GREAT 11-18-19

[@kormidoit6709]

I have a Perfect IC 781. What a beast. Thinking about selling it...hard to find a buyer here.

[@markfeltham9456]

Did you think it is as good as the Yaesu FT-1000D ? 73

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

On paper the IC-781 is slightly better than the FT-1000D, but in practice I could not find any differences. Of course with the noise level I have here, that does not say much. Both radio's are also built very well, so that is not much of a differentiator either. Hard to say which of the two I would prefer more. Probably the IC-781 because the CRT is so cool, but again, it is really a toss-up.

[@sonystats]

Where did you get 1980? Wtf dude this came out over a decade later in 1993!

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

You're correct, I was wrong about that, my bad sorry

[@pastorshanewotcb9884]

It was 1988 not 1980, I think you misS spoke. Thats ok we all do it. I know the history of HF rigs very well, and Icom did not have much in the way of HF gear until 1983, the ic781 came out in 1986-88,

[@antennebuis]

i can swap my ts590sg for this 781 what you think 73,

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

I would make that trade, on condition the 781 is in excellent condition: No mods; no burn-in on the CRT, no dents and scratches.

[@robertrockwell7581]

very nice radio. ahead of it's time.

[@chrisdelong2932]

1987 is the original release date

[@KB2CWN]

1993 people. This is not an 80's transceiver

[@radioflyer9959]

Mine is a1993 vintage and serial # 2200 and something so ya they made them in 88 or so. Total made over 3200

[@LifeIsTooShortForQRP]

Patrick, it was blocked for whatever reason, I will copy your original post for you: Patrick Bouldin Finally got a IC-781 user group forum back - let's get the info restored everyone, please subscribe here: groups.io/g/IC-781

[@1977kb0wqh1996]

NO... NO... You're about a decade off. This particular top of the line radio was first retailed in 1989-1990.