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PRODUCT REVIEW
ICOM IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF Transceiver Reviewed by Mark Wilson, K1RO QST Product Review Editor It’s hard to believe that 10 years has passed since QST first reviewed the IC-706, calling it “one of the most exciting new products to come along in years.”1 The package proved a huge hit, and ICOM kept the radio fresh by following on with the IC-706MkII and IC-706MkIIG. By the time the G version rolled out in 1999, ICOM had added 70 cm, bumped up the power on 2 meters, made DSP noise reduction and notch filter standard, and made quite a few improvements. Meanwhile, ICOM has been busy doing extreme makeovers on the rest of the product line, moving to DSPbased receivers and sophisticated display screens. Which brings us to the IC-7000. Although the ’7000 is similar to the ’706 in many ways, it also shares features with the IC-756PROIII. ICOM touts the IC-7000 as a mobile transceiver, but, like the ’706, it will find its way into many a suitcase for DXpeditions and Field Day outings. For a lot of hams, it has everything they want and need in a home station radio.
Feature Overview The IC-7000 covers 160 meters through 70 cm except for 1.25 meters. Power output is 100 W on 160 through 6 meters, 50 W on 2 meters and 35 W on 70 cm. The radio works on the five 60 meter channels available to US operators, and it transmits only when one of those channels is precisely dialed in. The receiver covers 30 kHz to 200 MHz and 400 to 470 MHz. Modes include SSB, CW, AM, FM and RTTY. The receiver has WFM for listening to FM broadcast stations and TV audio. DSP features include selectable IF filters, adjustable AGC, noise blanker and noise reduction, passband tuning, an automatic notch filter and a two point manual notch 1The
original IC-706 review appeared in March 1996 QST. The IC-706MkII was reviewed in March 1998, the ’706MkIIG in July 1999 and the ’756PROIII in March 2005. Reviews are available for download from the Members Only section of the ARRL Web site, www.arrl.org/ members-only/prodrev/.
filter. In addition, the ’7000 offers a CW memory keyer, RTTY demodulator and digital voice keyer. FM features include scanning, automatic repeater offset, subaudible tones, DTMF memories and other familiar features. Gadget junkies will love this radio.
Hooking it Up The package is compact and feels quite solid. It’s the same height and width as the IC-706 but not quite as deep. There’s a folding bale on the bottom for desktop use, and the speaker and small fan are both on top. The front panel detaches and ICOM offers several different brackets and separation cables for mobile use. The radio needs about 22 A at 13.8 V dc. The supplied HM-151 mic plugs into one of two modular jacks — one on the bottom edge of the front panel, the other on the back of the main unit. (You can’t use two microphones simultaneously, though.) A PHONES jack on the right edge of the front panel works with stereo or mono headphones or an external speaker thanks to a SPEAKER/PHONES switch behind the front panel. The rear panel will be familiar to IC-706 users. There are two antenna jacks, one for 160 to 6 meters and the other for 2 meters and 70 cm. There’s a 1⁄4 inch stereo phone
Mark J. Wilson, K1RO 64 May 2006
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Product Review Editor 
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jack for connecting a CW paddle or external keyer. Several 1⁄8 inch phone jacks handle ICOM’s CI-V computer interface (sorry, no USB jack), external speaker and RTTY (FSK keying and PTT). The VIDEO jack is new (more on this later). The 13-pin ACC jack provides control, band data and audio signals and is used for digital modes, amplifier connections, external tuners or antenna switches. A matching plug is wired with short pigtails — no soldering to minuscule pins! The 6-pin DATA jack can also be used for connecting a TNC or sound card for digital modes. Note that the IC-7000 can handle amplifier key lines up to 16 V dc at 200 mA. Some amplifiers will require a separate keying interface with higher ratings to avoid relay damage.
That Colorful Display Everyone who used the review radio raved about the ’7000’s color TFT display screen. It measures 2.5 inches diagonally, and is about 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches tall. Before the radio hit the streets there was some trepidation about the readability of such a small, busy display. Let’s face it — many hams (including me) are at the age where things look a little fuzzy and we need to break out the reading glasses when QST arrives.
[email protected]
Those fears were completely unfounded. The incredible resolution, bright colors and excellent contrast make the display easy to read under a variety of lighting conditions and viewing angles. The characters are crisp and clear, and everyone who used the radio could easily see and use the screen labels and graphics. Sure, in a mobile environment or outdoors on a bright day it’s occasionally difficult to see the display, but I found it perfectly readable under most conditions. One of the menus allows you to change display characteristics such as brightness and contrast. Most photos show the default black background with white lettering, but you can change it to a bright blue background with white letters or a white background with blue letters. The rear panel VIDEO jack mentioned earlier is an analog video output. For grins I plugged it into the composite video input on my TV, and the IC-7000’s display immediately filled the screen. While this might be useful for a presentation, you’re more likely to hook up one of those small video screens made for portable DVD players or automobile entertainment systems. Note that the composite video output isn’t as crisp as the internal display.
Controls and Menus Although the ’7000 takes some getting used to, ICOM did a good job with the human interface despite a minimum of buttons and panel space to work with. Most buttons have multiple functions, and some menus and controls change according to mode of operation. For the most part I was able to figure out the functions, but I kept the manual close during initial operation. The main tuning knob has a nice feel. The BAND up and down switches are at the righthand corners. Pressing one or the other will bring you to the last-used frequency on each band. I like to chase DX on various bands and modes and have grown fond of the band stacking registers on my desktop radio. Repeatedly pressing a band button on the keypad jumps me from SSB to CW to RTTY subbands with filter selection and other settings ready to go. ICOM has added this convenience to the IC7000 through the HM-151 microphone. The mic’s keypad resembles the keypad found on the front panel of larger radios and works the same way. There’s a button for each band, and repeated pressing steps you through three band stacking registers. The keypad also works for direct frequency entry. Other HM151 buttons control common functions. As mentioned before, there are two mic jacks but you shouldn’t plug in two microphones at the same time. For home station operation with a desk mic or headset it would be nice to plug in a keypad with the HM-151 functions, or else be able to disable the HM151 mic element and use it as a keypad.
Key Measurements Summary 0.16
111 DR
112
20 70
140
20 kHz Blocking Dynamic Range (dB)
111
0.16
SINAD 0.25
86
DR
[email protected] MHz† 112
DR 140 20 70 20 kHz 86 Blocking Dynamic Range (dB) 140 2 70 2 kHz Blocking dynamic range (dB)
86
I3
20 kHz 3rd-order dynamic 89 range (dB)
[email protected] kHz*
I3
2 kHz 60 3rd-order dynamic range (dB)
+ 6.5
[email protected] kHz*† 70
Rx 40
60 I3 I3 89 110 20 50 20 kHz63 3rd-order dynamic range110 (dB) 50 2
I3
Receive 3rd-order dynamic range (dB)
70 75
ChRej 50
90
Adjacent Channel Rejection (dB)
95
63
110 2 50 2 kHz 3rd-order dynamic (dB) + 6 range +35 20 −40 20 kHz 3rd-order intercept + 6.5 (dBm)
− 31
I3 I3 +6 +35 20 −40 20−27 kHz 3rd-order intercept (dBm) +35 2 −40 2−kHz 31 3rd-order intercept (dBm)
I3 −27 2 −40
T-R
90
Receive 3rd-order dynamic range (dB)
I3 86 140 2 70 2 kHz Blocking dynamic 89 range (dB) 50 110 20
I3
[email protected] MHz
Rx 60
89
DR
0.1
Receiver Sensitivity (12 dB SINAD, µV)
29† IF 60
135
IF Rejection (dB)
110 62 Img 60
120 Image Rejection (dB)
+35
2 kHz 3rd-order intercept (dBm) 12 10 50 Tx-Rx Turnaround Time (ms)
I3
12 − 33 10 TX − 20 Tx-Rx Turnaround Time (ms)− 35
T-R 50
Transmit 3rd-order IMD (dB)
I3 I9
− 33 TX − 20 − 35 − 58 TX −20 Transmit 3rd-order IMD (dB) − 70
Snd 1
2.1
4
Audio Output (W)
pr010
70 cm
Key:
* Noise limited at value shown. † Off Scale 2M Receiver measurements with pre-amp on
Transmit 9th-order IMD (dB)
Bottom Line
pr009 I9
80 M Key: − 58 *TX Noise−20 limited at value shown.
− 70
Transmit 9th-order IMD (dB) Dynamic range and intercept values 20 M pr009 with pre-amp off.
80 M
Key:
* Noise limited at value shown. Dynamic range and intercept values 20 M with pre-amp off.
The IC-7000 puts compact radio performance and features in a new package. It builds on the IC-706 line, while adding IF DSP features from ICOM’s PRO series. It has what you need to enjoy operating on 13 amateur bands with many of the conveniences found in the full-size boxes.
A Note about the Key Measurements Summary The Key Measurements Summary shows a specific product’s performance relative to other radios we’ve tested. It’s important to remember that the comparison is to all radios, not just those in the same class as the one tested for this month’s column. Numbers in the “red zone” for a given radio do not mean that performance is “bad” or “unacceptable.” Radios can be expected to fall anywhere in the range, and more expensive radios often score better. See January 2006 QST, page 69, for more details.
May 2006 65
Table 1 ICOM IC-7000, serial number 0501552 Manufacturer’s Specifications
Measured in ARRL Lab
Frequency coverage: Receive, 0.03-199, 400- Receive, as specified (sensitivity 470 MHz; transmit, 1.8-2, 3.5-4, 5.3305, degrades below 500 kHz); 5.3465, 5.3665, 5.3715, 5.4035, 7-7.3, 10.1- transmit, as specified. 10.15, 14-14.35, 18.068-18.168, 21-21.45, 24.89-24.99, 28-29.7, 50-54, 144-148, 430 450 MHz. Power requirement: Receive, 1.6 A (max audio); Receive, 1.5 A; transmit, 19 A. transmit, 22 A (max). Tested at 13.8 V. Figure 1 — The IC-7000 display screen is small, but the incredible resolution and use of color make it easy to see and use.
Modes of operation: SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY (AFSK, FSK), WFM (receive only).
As specified.
Receiver Receiver Dynamic Testing SSB/CW sensitivity, bandwidth not specified, Noise Floor (MDS), 500 Hz filter: 10 dB S/N: 1.8-30 MHz, 0.15 µV; 50- Preamp off Preamp on 54 MHz, 0.12 µV; 144-148, 430-450 MHz, 1.0 MHz –123 dBm –134 dBm 0.11 µV. 3.5 MHz –128 dBm –139 dBm 14 MHz –128 dBm –138 dBm 50 MHz –135 dBm –141 dBm 144 MHz –133 dBm –142 dBm 430 MHz –131 dBm –142 dBm
Figure 2 — Here’s the IC-7000 display with the RTTY decoder screen.
Figure 3 — The display showing the VHF FM repeater screen.
Pressing and holding MODE toggles between USB or LSB, CW or CW-R (reverse sideband), RTTY and RTTY-R, and AM, FM and WFM. Other buttons alongside the display are for preamplifier and fixed 12 dB attenuator, optional autotuner control, menu navigation, noise blanker, noise reduction, manual notch filter and automatic notch filter. The ’7000 retains the ’706’s M (menu), S (submenu) and G (graphic menu) labels to help you find things. The arrangement is a bit simpler than the IC-706, but there are still nine menus. The M1 to M3 menus control functions like filter selection, split operation and memories. Menus S1 to S3 include metering, scanning, memory settings and other secondary items. S1 and M3 functions change with mode. Graphic menus G1-3 are for the band scope, multifunction meter and SWR meter. There’s also an extensive SET MODE menu for adjusting 51 radio parameters. The 66 May 2006
AM sensitivity, 10 dB S/N: 0.5-1.8 MHz, 10 dB (S+N)/N, 1-kHz tone, 30% mod: 13 µV; 1.8-30 MHz, 2 µV; 50-54, 144- Preamp off Preamp on 148, 430-450 MHz, 1 µV. 1.0 MHz 4.1 µV 1.0 µV 3.8 MHz 2.4 µV 0.61 µV 50 MHz 1.0 µV 0.48 µV 144 MHz 1.4 µV 0.45 µV 430 MHz 1.6 µV 0.5 µV FM sensitivity, 12 dB SINAD: 28-30 MHz, For 12 dB SINAD: 0.5 µV; 50-54 MHz, 0.25 µV; 144-148, Preamp off 430-450 MHz, 0.18 µV. 29 MHz 0.94 µV 52 MHz 0.39 µV 146 MHz 0.52 µV 440 MHz 0.57 µV
Preamp on 0.26 µV 0.17 µV 0.16 µV 0.16 µV
WFM sensitivity, 12 dB SINAD: 76-108 MHz, 10 µV. 100 MHz
Preamp on 0.62 µV
Preamp off 1.6 µV
Blocking dynamic range: Not specified. Blocking dynamic range, 500 Hz filter: 20 kHz 5 kHz/2 kHz Preamp off/on Preamp off 3.5 MHz 111/109 dB 88/86 dB 14 MHz 112/109 dB 88/86 dB 50 MHz 112/107 dB 88/84 dB 144 MHz 113/109 dB 89/85 dB 430 MHz 112/103 dB 88/84 dB Two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range: Two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic Not specified. range, 500 Hz filter: 20 kHz 5 kHz/2 kHz Preamp off/on Preamp off 3.5 MHz 89/88 dB 78/60 dB 14 MHz 89/88 dB 79/63 dB 50 MHz 90/87 dB 77/62 dB 144 MHz 88/90 dB 78/63 dB 430 MHz 83/80 dB 73/63 dB Third-order intercept: Not specified. 20 kHz 5/2 kHz Preamp off/on Preamp off 3.5 MHz +6.5/–8.0 dBm –11/–31 dBm 14 MHz +6.0/–6.5 dBm –12/–27 dBm 50 MHz 0.0/–12 dBm –16/–36 dBm 144 MHz –2/–9 dBm –16/–35 dBm 430 MHz 0/–13 dBm –12/–33 dBm Second-order intercept: Not specified. Preamp off/on, +57/+57 dBm. FM adjacent channel rejection: Not specified. 20 kHz offset, preamp on: 29 MHz, 78 dB; 52 MHz, 79 dB; 146 MHz, 75 dB; 440 MHz, 70 dB.
QS (quick set) menu is mode-sensitive. It
includes things like mic gain on SSB, keyer speed on CW, and shift width on RTTY.
PRO-style DSP Features If you’ve used any of ICOM’s “PRO” radios, the IC-7000’s DSP-based receiver
features will be very familiar. You can program three IF filter bandwidth settings for each mode with bandwidths ranging from 50 Hz to 3.6 kHz on SSB/CW and up to 2.7 kHz on RTTY. AM is 200 Hz to 10 kHz, and FM bandwidths are fixed at 15, 10 and 7 kHz. On SSB and CW you can select
QS0605-PR03
Manufacturer’s Specifications
Measured in ARRL Lab
Receiver (continued) Receiver Dynamic Testing FM two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range: 20 kHz offset, preamp on: Not specified. 29 MHz, 78 dB; 52 MHz, 75 dB; 146 MHz, 75 dB*; 440 MHz, 70 dB*; 10 MHz offset: 52 MHz, 95 dB; 146 MHz, 84 dB; 440 MHz, 95 dB. S-meter sensitivity: Not specified. S9 signal at 14.2 MHz: preamp off, 120 µV; preamp on, 24 µV; 50 MHz, preamp off, 50 µV; preamp on, 15 µV; 144 MHz, preamp off, 58 µV; preamp on, 13 µV; 430 MHz, preamp off, 47 µV; preamp on, 6.9 µV. Squelch sensitivity: SSB, 5.6 µV; At threshold, preamp on: SSB, FM, 0.3 µV. 14 MHz, 1.4 µV; FM, 29 MHz, 0.23 µV; 52 MHz, 0.14 µV; 146 MHz, 0.15 µV; 430 MHz, 0.15 µV.
0
0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08
Figure 4 — CW keying waveform for the IC-7000 showing the first two dits in fullbreak-in (QSK) mode using external keying. Equivalent keying speed is 60 WPM. The upper trace is the actual key closure; the lower trace is the RF envelope. Horizontal divisions are 10 ms. The transceiver was being operated at 100 W output at 14.2 MHz.
Receiver audio output: 2 W into 8 Ω at 10% THD. 2.1 W at 10% THD into 8 Ω. IF/audio response: Not specified. Range at –6dB points, (bandwidth): CW: 339-850 Hz (511 Hz); ** USB: 341-2475 Hz (2134 Hz); LSB: 335-2450 Hz (2115 Hz); AM: 207-3050 Hz (2843 Hz). Spurious and image rejection: HF & 50 MHz, First IF rejection, 14 MHz, 114 dB; (except IF/2 rejection on 50 MHz): 70 dB; 50 MHz, 122 dB; 144 MHz, 29 dB; VHF & UHF, (except IF rejection): 65 dB. 430 MHz, 95 dB; image rejection, 14 MHz, 96 dB; 50 MHz, 103 dB; 144 MHz, 62 dB; 430 MHz, 110 dB. Transmitter Transmitter Dynamic Testing Power output: HF & 50 MHz: SSB, CW, FM, HF: CW, SSB, FM, typically 110 W high, 100 W (high), 2 W (low); AM, 40 W (high),