Why I still love the ICOM 7000

You should know, I'm involved in a love affair; not with another woman, but with a radio. 
Lemme explain.
Back in the mid 90's ICOM brought several "flavors" of the IC-706 transceiver to the marketplace; what has been called one of the best-selling radios of all time.  Around that time, Icom also released several versions of the Icom 756 PRO.  The 706 radio was intended for mobile/portable operation, whereas the 756-PRO is a rather large base station transceiver.

What if we could have the best of both worlds?  In 2005, Icom released the IC-7000, a radio that takes the 706 to the next level while offering the most essential features of the 756-PRO in a unit approximately the same physical size as the IC-706.

While the radio itself is rather compact, the operating features are easily on par with the considerably more expensive Icom 756-PRO models.  The DSP capabilities (DNR, DNF & Dual-PBT) are top notch.  The Dsp-filtering is so complete that I rarely find value in running the radio thru external
filters.  The built-in DVR & CWR features eliminate the need for expensive external units.

In 2007, while I ran a fully loaded Kenwood TS-450s as the main radio (later replaced with Yaesu FT-900 and FT-920 transceivers) for base station operations, the IC-7000 became an excellent mobile rig, portable rig and a perfect candidate for Field Day operations.  The addition of a Sharper Image 7" external display turns the 7000 into a near-desktop installation as can be seen from some of the above pictures.

During an incorrect equipment hookup during the 2014 Field Day exercise, internal diodes in the 7000 were burned out, putting the radio on the shelf for several years.  For last years Field Day exercise with K6QLF, Tom (WB6RUC) told me his IC-7000 had a non-working control head.  Swapping in the control head from my 7000 gave us a working unit.  We eventually sent my unit with his control head to Icom service.

Because the control head is detachable, the unit itself can be hidden under a car seat or even mounted in the trunk.  In preparation for last years Field Day exercise, we ran the IC-7000 with
the radio in the compartment beneath a seat cushion and only the control head visible.  However
to make the radio installation more visitor friendly, during FD itself, the 7000 was setup on the galley table and fed into Autek QF-1A and MFJ-752 external audio filters, altho they were probably not necessary.

Back from Icom Service in Arizona the IC-7000 is now configured as a backup radio for my portable installation @W7AYT.  For now, the radio is being run w/o the Sharper Image external monitor; altho after its 2nd sailboat Field Day in Alameda's Aeolian yacht harbor in 2 weeks, the 7" monitor will be added to the Concord setup.

My BIGGEST BeeF with the Icom 7000 is that it runs VERY HoT.  Unlike the onsite FT-1000mp which can run 100w full-duty RTTY, at best, the 7000 should run only 50 watts; for more power an external amplifier should be utilized.  Instead, with its AWEsome DSP and over 500 memories the 7000 has been currently reassigned as an excellent SWL receiver in Concord.

While it is a shame the Icom 7000 is no longer manufactured, the radio can easily be found for sale online.  The Icom radio is so feature-packed, make sure your purchase includes the extremely well-written equipment operation manual.  Purchasing a NIFTY Quick Reference guide is also a good investment.

My love affair with the Icom 7000 is nearly 13 years and still going strong.

Do YOU own an Icom 7000?
Are YOU having an affair?