Icom IC-9700 Who should buy one, and who shouldn't!

In this video, we cover who should buy the IC-9700 and who shouldn't!
As lovely as the IC-9700 radio is, it isn't for everyone, so we've quickly gone through where the radio excels and where it doesn't.
You'll have to excuse Jarrad VK3BL on this one, as I'm suffering from a bit of the old 'summer flu' and have a croaky voice!
For those wanting to see the IC-9700 being used to work satellites, here is the link promised:
• Working FO-29 with an ...
73, Jarrad VK3BL

[@RateMyRadio]

Sorry @ 11:31 I meant Rob measured the 23cm drift at 70Hz.

[@YD1DYZ]

Hi there, my experience with IC-7300, it's frequency stability I think was very good. From the begining I powered it on until 1 to 2 hours rag chewing 100w on 40m, I could not sense any frequency drift. I was verifying it to WWV 10Mhz. That's why now I'm seriously considering to get IC-9700, I assume that it has good frequency stability as IC-7300. You said 70Hz drift on 23cm, do you have the same infomation on 145 MHz ?

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks for the video, I know it's 3 years on but the points are still very relevant to anyone thinking of buying one (I have just bought one) and I hope your cold got better!

[@AndrejaKostic]

About the applications... There are two Android applications: RS-MS1A and RS-MS3A. The MS1A is an application is an application for DStar. You can do some basic remote control of the radio, send/receive photos and text messages and so on. The RS-MS3A and RS-MS3W, for Windows computers, are applications for Terminal Mode and Access Point Mode. As far as I understood it, if you register onto the DStar using a Gateway with version 3 of the software, then you can use the radio to access DStar directly over the Internet, even if you don't have any repeaters in the area, and to use it as a local Access Point, for other DStar devices.

[@gerryrichards1383]

Mine should arrive tomorrow (Friday) not bothered about 23cm. Your Videos are spot on for the normal Operator and I thank you for putting them up. 73s Gerry G0PWX

[@RateMyRadio]

A pleasure Gerry! Thanks for the kind words. A recent survey on the IC-9700 FB group showed the vast majority (>70%) were happy with their rigs. Not everyone expected the first direct conversion 70cm!!! radio to do everything under the sun including make a cup of coffee :). I hope you enjoy yours as much as the rest of us do, 73 Jarrad VK3BL :)

[@AnthonyJones-vk6xq]

Give 23cms a go, its a excellent band, you will get a good opening on 1296 when 2m and 70cm are shut !!

[@PrecisionGroupYT]

I am loving my 9700!! It definitely compliments my 7300 HF radio that is mounted right next to it now! And I look forward to doing SSB and Satellite 🛰 work in the future with it! I understand what you said about why you can not receive 2M, 70cm and 23cm on both VFO’s at the same time because of how the radio was designed but it is a bit disappointing as my Hotspot and all 4 of the local repeaters I listen to and access most frequently and like to monitor are all on 70cm!! So I can not monitor D-star and my local repeater at the same time on this radio (even lower end radios can monitor two different bands at the same time like my great TYT-TH9800) thank goodness I have other radios to accomplish this like The Excellent Kenwood TH-D74a for D-star so it’s not the end of the world but for some who purchase this as their main and only Tri Band Rig this could be a bigger issue! Well there you have it my 2 cents! But with that said I am still really excited about my 9700 being added to my Shack!! Love the videos hopefully you are feeling better now! 73’s K4BBC

[@keesvanengelen1521]

PrecisionGroupYT v

[@JamesP6084]

Received mine today and i am IMPRESSED, good video. 73 VK6NJP

[@bahathir_]

Hi Jarod, Yet another great video. Thanks for all the pros and cons about the IC-9700. Very informative. Yes, we need to take note when to deploy UHF/SHF antenna system, because the RF signal loss in coax feedline. Very good point. Off topic. We can do RF related experiment, with HF tranceiver and VHF/UHF tranceiver. 1. Set the HF tranceiver at 29.0 MHz on FM mode at low power, about 1W. 2. Set the BHF/UHF tranceiver at 145.0 MHz on FM mode. 3. Now TX from HF tranceiver, and listen to the UHF/VHF tranceiver/receiver. 4. If necessary QRO the HF tranceiver to 5W.. 5. Try with other mode, such as AM/SSB. The expected result, we able to hear the transmitted signal from HF rig on BHF/UHF rig. This is the harmonic of the fundemental frequency. Example, Fundemental frequency 29 MHz, creates harmonics at 58 MHz, 97 Mhz, 116 MHz, 145 MHz, ... which may be received by the receiver., IF the TX rig has not fully filtered out the harmonics.. Then try TX at 50 MHz and try to RX at 450 MHz. .. I successfully did the experiment with IC-73000 as TX rig, and Baoefeng HT as receiver. I did it for checking IC-7300 audio setup. This is one of the reasons to mention band, during CQ, example, CQ, CQ40, on 40m band ... because, someone may RX the harmonics at 20m... If you like the experiment, try it and share the result. :) Anyway, enjoy your IC-9700, and looking forward for your next video.. Thank you, Bahathir 9W2GNU, 73.

[@rjy8960]

Thing with this radio is that Icom fitted a 10MHz ref in which should give you near accuracy of an atomic clock (Read upon GPS disciplined oscillators). They messed up the implementation and have a servo which trains the on-board clock slowly. For microwave and other applications requiring accuracy they dropped the ball on this. Most users don’t need it, true. But it’s frustrating that they messed this up.

[@Dg-zj6jo]

lovely radio sir

[@anthonyryan923]

Another well balanced,thoughtful and informative review. Many other reviewers should learn from your KZbin offerings. Thank you.

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Great review. I am a long term IC-970 (not a typo) owner . I have two with 23CM and 13CM. My only complaint is that the radio is so very tiny. I have big hands and poor eyesight. Otherwise I would run out and get one.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Interesting listening to you talk about frequency stability. One of my other interests is high quality home audio. Jitter between digital audio sources and the DAC is something I spend a fortune to address. Almost all decent network audio bridges, streamers and DACs have OXCO clocks, offering precision timing to the data stream. There is no reason at all that modern HF/VHF/UHF sets couldn't employ this same technology. Taking that thought one step further, I wonder if any transceiver can accept a word clock input from a 10MHz Reference Clock? Perhaps taking it a bit too far, but my point is the technology to ensure stability already exists in other areas; it's just a question of whether it is being used?

[@1OFGODSOWN]

I saved lots of money & purchased an ICOM 910H & an ICOM 821H BOTH together cost less than $1000 so I got a much better deal.I use the 821H for Satellite work & the 910H for 2 meter & 432 SSB so I'm a happy happy boy.I do my 2 meter & 440 FM as well as D-STAR with my ICOM 2820H. {:>)

[@2e0btx]

Thanks for the review , just bought Mine couldn’t really afford it but I do love the radio

[@Grasss]

"I can't afford it , but I just bought one" that an interesting way to put it ) enjoy the radio

[@forgetyourlife]

agrasyuk yep, i think that’s called dept or bad decision making. Both work well here.

[@bradcfi2]

Great 9700 discussion. How do you switch you PR781 between the 9700 and 7610?

[@educatedmanholecoverbyrich8890]

I like my IC-9700

[@ManuelPinner]

For Receiving, I Use a SDR Play Model SRD DX Receiver, Covers from 1 Khz to 2 Ghz, All Modes including Digital Voice and Video,

[@riaanM]

New to all of this. Can I use this to communicate with my business partner who is in San Diego while I am San Diego in Texas?

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Are you both hams? If not, iCOM sells a satellite PTT radio that uses Iridium and they sell a PTT network radio that works on the cellular network.

[@beowolfso.6096]

How do you compare it to the FT-991A since it also does 2m & 70cm?

[@ManuelPinner]

9700 is Perfect for Hams in New York City!

[@captlarry-3525]

who the Eff sits around scanning repeaters ? I mean what for ?

[@hobojon44]

do I need a uhf and a vhf antenna to use it or can I get by with my uhf vhf antenna

[@miker1473]

You'll need a duplexer to run a dual band antenna.

[@tracerfacer6234]

Why do you suppose that dstar is not included in the 7300 or 7610, but is in the 9700, 7100, 9100? Do you think that they could add that in a later firmware update?

[@RateMyRadio]

I suppose they probably could, but digital voice doesn't work particularly well over HF, and I doubt there is much demand for it on 6M. If its something you'd like, I suggest you write to Icom. 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)

[@G0URK]

Tracer Facer putting it simply D-Star wasn’t designed for use on HF, not only for the RF conditions of HF but also consider the bandwidth used. If you were designing a digital voice mode for HF you would end up with an entirely different codec choice, taking into account signal to noise ratio etc, this is what amateurs who don’t understand digital voice codecs just don’t get.

[@salat]

D-STAR simply doesn't fit on most HF bands as it uses ~6kHz bandwidth - per IARU band plans 6 kHz is the maximum permitted bandwidth on the upper part of the 10m band, but on every lower band it's less. Also: While IARU band plans have recommendatory character, many local regulatory entities specify the same bandwidth or stricter bandwidth limits by law.

[@tracerfacer6234]

Thx for the replies guys, reason I ask is that there is a HF dstar net every week on 30C, but only 2 HF radios are capable of doing it which I thought was strange.

[@jamesk0ua]

@@tracerfacer6234 Nothing strange there. The net is for discussing D-star NOT using D-star on HF. They use SSB like everyone else.

[@mattcero1]

For drift, why didn't you mention the 10 Mhz reference input this radio has and you can get a 10 Mhz reference for about $150? Damn boy! Whoooooops! You did later. Thankfully you did mention it in the end as I was wanting the accuracy up high. Thank you, now get a proper shave.

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

There is an aftermarket fox for the reference oscillator. Not sure how it works, but it has a board you must install inside the radio.

[@radioman6489]

Another thing 1.2 gig is a waste I don't know anybody in my area that uses it to better off putting 220 megahertz in there

[@Ronparks1378]

The 1.2GHz is used some for satellite (and this is a satellite machine) and there is a 1.2GHz node for on D-star repeaters. 220 is dead as a doornail around here... and the repeaters have all disappeared

[@forgetyourlife]

@@Ronparks1378 we have six 220mhz repeaters locally and zero D-star.

[@TheDaveho]

What did you feed the x7000 with?

[@RateMyRadio]

LMR-400, 73 Jarrad VK3BL :)

[@brian.7966]

A great Radio but if the French have there own way we won`t have 144-146 or even 23 cms to use in the future, in a recent meeting only Germany voted against it, so it now goes to a meeting in October,

[@forgetyourlife]

blah blah blah blah blah blah.

[@RegNatarajan]

Over $2000 for a dual bander with a pretty screen. Ridiculous. Ham is becoming about toy collecting instead of communication.

[@RateMyRadio]

I suspect you shouldn't buy one; try one of the second hand radios flooding the market at super cheap prices now the IC-9700 is here. 73, Jarrad VK3BL

[@RegNatarajan]

@@RateMyRadio Jarrad, I'm actually toying with the Yaesu FT-991a. I'll have to do a search on whether you've reviewed that radio. Anyway, I enjoy your channel very much from Vancouver, Canada and Medellin, Colombia, which are the two cities I split my time in. Cheers.

[@RateMyRadio]

Reg Natarajan we haven’t done the FT-991A but those in the community that have them love them, they sell very well and the build and feel of the one on display at our local store is very nice. We have been toying with getting one ourselves but they are quite expensive for a ‘stand by’ radio in a sense. 73, Jarrad VK3BL

[@captlarry-3525]

you can put a good 2m fm rig on a match book . why use a moon bounce capable radio for such low tech nonsense.?

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Get a ft 991

[@KillDaRoy]

Why buy scrap?

[@RateMyRadio]

The FT-991A is far from 'scrap' and I expect it will serve a niche for some time. We'd actually like one in our shack, although can't justify the cost simply to have a 'desktop sized' radio with which to use System Fusion / Wires-X! 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)

[@radioman6489]

Way over priced for a radio they make cheap. SDR radios are so cheap to make. 9700 should be sold realistically for about eight hundred bucks.

[@RateMyRadio]

In the future I am sure SDR radios will come down in price, but what we have to remember is that Icom have invested heaps in R&D to develop the FPGA programming needed to release these products. The fact Kenwood and Yaesu have taken years to catch up should be indicative of the intellectual efforts required. 73, Jarrad VK3BL

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

@@RateMyRadio I would like iCOM to design an SDR platform with band modules and open architecture. Like a black box SDR but with nice front panel screen and controls (like IC-970 styling). So you would buy the SDR radio, it would be HF in basic configuration, but have slots for UHF, VHF, Microwave, plus slots for third party modules.

[@dannelson8556]

are you actually a ham ? is so then you should know that brick wall front end band pass filtering found in the 9700 is far from cheap to make. the front end band pass filtering is what drives up the cost and its why it doesn't have a general coverage RX. If they included a general coverage RX then the front end would be as wide as a barn door allowing unwanted spurious signal to enter the Receiver chain

[@radioman6489]

@@dannelson8556 A lot of radios are better then the 9700. Icom especially has a lot of noise in the front end. I've had the IC-9100 and is far Superior compared to the 9700. Icom's SDR Is not that great. Yaesu has a way better front end and then icom could even think of. If I had a choice between the IC-7600 or the IC-7610, I'd take the 7600. New radio's the FTdx-10 and 101's destroys the Icom radio. By the way I like my Icom's but until Icom comes out with better front ends I'll stick with my older Icom's all day. I'd take the 7600, 7410, 746pro, and the Best radio ever made the IC-775DSP. 😁

[@captlarry-3525]

if that is 75 db dynamic range at 5 kc... it is hardly the best.. and not even very good. old FT847 did better.