![ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter](https://www.qsl.net/bg7nr/radio/icom/IC-746Pro/ic746lag.jpg)
I do believe that a MFR could probably make any radio "stupid proof"(if you know what I mean) at the compromise of general performance/and or cost. So far I don't see the 7700 as a delicate radio. Those experienced with the with the the PROIII and the new 7700 will understand.
![ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter](https://i0.wp.com/swling.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Icom-IC-756-Pro.jpeg)
The 7700's display is better than that on the PROIII. I'll probably hang on to it for an indefinite amount of time. Wonderful mic, great unsolicited audio reports. At first I was using a HM36 electret hand mic (the same one that came with my PROIII). I'm very mindful of the xmit eq'ing, taking away just a bit of low end, and adding just a bit of upper end. For voice modes, I was particularly careful with drive, and mic gain settings. When I first bought mine, I was extremely careful on set up. I had read some folks experienced premature failures in this mode. I will say, in PSK and RTTY, I've run this radio hard for as long as I could stand to sit with it, which for me is 2.5-3hrs at a time. I'm wondering if other folks that are having the problems have the same model? Oh well. Way to go, Icom!Īn assessment of general technical operating skills and knowledge may be required before purchasing any radio. If the 756 Pro III isn't quite enough, and the 7800 is a little too much, then this rig is for you. If I wanted dual receive, I would have bought the 7800. I have no problem with the single receiver. The standard 200 watt output power is more than adequate for most HF activities. A quality set of headphones with good connections is all that's required. I used the monitor function to set my audio and have no complaints about low monitor volume or hiss. The 7700 has an EQ setup menu that allows for many settings for various audio situations. On the transmit side, my Heil PR-40 works great. With all the various filters and audio settings, you can really pull out those weak signals, even in heavy QRM. This rig has the most incredible receive audio right out of the box, that I have ever heard. All controls and settings are right at your fingertips. The controls and menues are very intuitive and easy to navigate. The Icom experience just keeps getting better and better! The 7700 is basically set up the same as the 756 Pro III. In the past 4 years I have moved from Yaesu to an Icom 746 then to a 756 Pro III and now to the 7700. I have been a General Class operator for twenty years and have owned MANY radios. The best amateur radio I have ever owned! Why then not making it smaller? Or at least why not having a speaker larger than the very small one they have used? there is quite some empty space in the transceiver. I still have to figure out how they really work the behaviour of the adjustment potentiometers (called “potentiometer / switch” by F6EFM) is rather strange. Plenty of screws, back panel to be completely removed, wires too short, a large flat cable glued to the module (!), no manouver room, risk of damaging the adjacent tuner whose components are not protected by a shield removing the 200W amplifier module is a real headache.
![ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter ic 756 pro ii shurwood filter](https://i2.wp.com/swling.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg)
the final FETs idling current can only be adjusted by completely removing the 200W amplifier module (why not through a hole in the module?) While doing that work, I noted a few shortcomings, some of which had also been pointed out by F6EFM: In then end the problem was found to be partly due to the idling current itself (which had been set too high at the factory) and partly due to the incorrect meter reading (about 20% more than real, as checked against two different meters). Having found the idling current (Id) considerably higher than it should be, I had to open the radio for adjusting the final FETs idling current. The reason of my 4 mark is just to draw your attention to a problem I had. Not much else to tell after so many reviews I am pleased with the performnce of this radio, although there is still room for improvement (for instance too short CW, RTTY & PSK memories, too short voice recording time).