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Ftdx 1200,3000 991a , IC7300
- Thread starter 2la547
- Start date
Ftdx 3000's being sold on eBay in the $900-$1000 range. It's a no brainier imo. Both the 1200, and 3000 sound equally excellent! That's with the stock hand mic, but better with a studio mic. Any of the
pr model heil mic's sould sweet (from what I've heard with my own esrs.) I heard a 3000 with a $100 Shure sm58 and it also sounded superb. If I'm correct one could operate the 1200 @ 4khz wide just by holding 2 menu buttons in simultaneously. Operating @ 4khz wide is very important if you decide to use some rack gear (along with a studio mic,) but assume the three band parametric equalizer that's built into the radio, and a studio mic will suffice. Both the FTDX 1200, and 3000 look more like a base station rig (in size) than the smaller (almost mobile like 7300.) I really like the 3000. The 1200 is selling for a mere $600-$700 in brand new like condition, and the 3000 $900-$1000. I've seen them offered with the FTT board, and without for the same price. So if you're buying used don't rush, and wait for one with the FTT board. I'm not sure if the 3000 operates at 4khz from the factor, but will assume that if it doesn't it has the same two button depression option so that like the 1200 allows it to can operate @ 4khz. The 4khz wide option is important if you plan on using an outboard eq/mixer, and studio mic. Both the 1200 and 3000 have the same 3 band parametric EQ built in. If you don't want to break the bank to 1200 is a great choice. The 3000 is obviously one step about the 1200, and not much more in price. If you decide to get one used getting one with its original boxes, inserts, and all pamphlets is always a plus. Those boxes, pamphlets, and inserts shows (imo) that it comes from someone who keeps order, and that to me means (usually) the owner takes care of his equipment. But that's just me. Either way good luck.
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1st off do your homework (research) on all available reviews on all of the radios you are interested in.
I have the IC 7300, and I totally enjoy using it. I use it everyday for hours, and still can't get enough of it. It's totally changed the way I radio.
I have no personnel experience on any of your radio choices except the 7300.
Listening to the operators on the band's using the 7300's, I've never heard a bad report from the operator on the other side of the 7300. I hear a lot of folks asking a lot of curious questions about the 7300 on the air. Some people don't want a SDR Radio or touch screens. I find the 7300 totally easy to use, and a total joy. I'd buy it again over any of the radios you have listed. Especially now, since I know how well it works for me. Honestly I've never heard of conversations about the other 2 radios your interested in over the air, but I hear a whole lot about the 7300.
I'm not an electronics guy, just an old retired mechanic, so I can't elaborate on all of the inner workings of the radio like some on this forum can, but I'm having more fun now than ever.
I was looking at all the radios you ate currently lookingt also. I ruled out the 991a, because of the reports I read about the screen/waterfall, and I don't personally like Yaesu menus. I did like the fact that it had 2m, and 2m SSB. I already have four 2 meter rigs, so I didn't need that. However I think that 991a is a nice radio. I've heard it on the air, and it sounded just fine.
The Ftdx 1200 , is the radio that almost won me over, but it was a bit more $$, and I just didn't find enough positives about the radio to change my mind. In all fairness I didn't give the Ftdx 1200 a good shake. I liked its size, but I thought it was old tech compared to the 7300, or the 991a. If I didn't have 2 meter rigs everywhere, I think the 991a would be sitting in the shack instead of the 7300.
73
I have the IC 7300, and I totally enjoy using it. I use it everyday for hours, and still can't get enough of it. It's totally changed the way I radio.
I have no personnel experience on any of your radio choices except the 7300.
Listening to the operators on the band's using the 7300's, I've never heard a bad report from the operator on the other side of the 7300. I hear a lot of folks asking a lot of curious questions about the 7300 on the air. Some people don't want a SDR Radio or touch screens. I find the 7300 totally easy to use, and a total joy. I'd buy it again over any of the radios you have listed. Especially now, since I know how well it works for me. Honestly I've never heard of conversations about the other 2 radios your interested in over the air, but I hear a whole lot about the 7300.
I'm not an electronics guy, just an old retired mechanic, so I can't elaborate on all of the inner workings of the radio like some on this forum can, but I'm having more fun now than ever.
I was looking at all the radios you ate currently lookingt also. I ruled out the 991a, because of the reports I read about the screen/waterfall, and I don't personally like Yaesu menus. I did like the fact that it had 2m, and 2m SSB. I already have four 2 meter rigs, so I didn't need that. However I think that 991a is a nice radio. I've heard it on the air, and it sounded just fine.
The Ftdx 1200 , is the radio that almost won me over, but it was a bit more $$, and I just didn't find enough positives about the radio to change my mind. In all fairness I didn't give the Ftdx 1200 a good shake. I liked its size, but I thought it was old tech compared to the 7300, or the 991a. If I didn't have 2 meter rigs everywhere, I think the 991a would be sitting in the shack instead of the 7300.
73
Whatever radio you choose, if you love it once you get it, and if you are that guy that never gets rid of something you bought and plan on keeping it forever, go to the makers parts dept and order a brand new LCD screen and put it away. A bunch of the older icoms are now showing screen burn in and failure, the screens are no longer available. So be ready. .
Excellent advice about a second backup screen. Memories of the icon pro series, and the problems one of those pro models had with it's screen. 73
When the 7300 came out, about 5 locals here in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area purchase them immediately!. I was, and still am impressed with the.7300's SSB audio. Not to mention all the other great features. Most of those screen and menu features, are from my understanding similar to the ones employed on the ftdx 1200 (and 3000.) I would have to disagree with you when you say that the 1200/3000 is "old tech". The technology used on the ftdx 1200 is what's used on most transceivers being produced, marketed, and sold. It's the 7300's SDR that was the game changer for that particular transceiver. And the wow factor! Most modern transceivers use the same technologies used on the ftdx 1200, and the 3000 more show then SDR technology. The technologies used on the ftdx 1200, and 3000 are high-end state-of-the-art, and for all intent and purpose the gold standard. Since the 7300's release it's SDR driven technology hasn't actually caught on with the other two competitors. One being yeasu, and the other Kenwood. Although I don't specifically know the pluses and minuses of an SDR driven transceiver over the technology that drives the ftdx 1200 and transceivers brand new to the market, I am fairly sure that the icom 7300 SDR transceiver, and the technology behind it might be a "one off". A trendy transceiver if you'd like. Or maybe it's a bit to far ahead of it's time. This is taking into account the lac of other companies, and icom itself to follow up, and release other transceivers based on SDR technologies. The 7300 has been around for quite some time now, and is obviously far from being the gold standard when it comes to the technology used when designing, building and then releasing for sale HF transceivers. Is SDR the new face of ham radio? As of now we all know the answer to that question.. I guess a better question for a layman like myself, would be why? There's obviously an answer as to why SDR (sampling) driven transceivers did not take over the world of
radio/amateur communications 73 ps. If you're going the used route it's a good idea, as it's a buyer's market. And prices especially for the FTDX 1200, and 3000 are imo very low. Be patient if buying either Yeasu as some come with the FTT board installed, and other's not. Most of the 1200, and 3000's will sell for about the same price with or without the FTT board installed.
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BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
So far, no one has mentioned the problem with a 7300 and amp, So I will.
The 7300 has an improperly designed switch that makes the rig "hot switch" an amp every time it is keyed.
ICOM knows about the problem and hasn't fixed it todate.
The 7300 has an improperly designed switch that makes the rig "hot switch" an amp every time it is keyed.
ICOM knows about the problem and hasn't fixed it todate.
Im a lil skeptical the touchscreen units . It’s good when they work but when the touchscreen goes out it makes the units useless. Also how readily available will the screens be in the future when newer models replace the older ones .
I’m only saying this because I've had multiple failures with high dollar and top of the line touchscreen devices that are only a few years old and the screens are obsolete already.
I’m only saying this because I've had multiple failures with high dollar and top of the line touchscreen devices that are only a few years old and the screens are obsolete already.
Don't care for a touchscreen? Here you go. I love mine.
https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/ts-590sg/
How's your 7300 setup? What are you using for a mic?
Now a day's it's almost a prerequisite that one immediately go out and purchase a studio mic, and use the supplied hand mic as a backup microphone. In many cases the studio mic is purchased along with the rig or one the owner already owns is immediately put to use without even giving the hand mic a try.
If I had to choose which mic sounds better studio type, or hand, I'd have to say studio.
But the 7300 along with it's supplied hand mic sounds superb. The first local to own a 7300 immediately used his pr40 as opposed to the supplied hand mic. It (the 7300) obviously sounds better with the pr 40, but when I asked him to switch over to the supplied mic I was pleasantly surprised @ how wonderful it sounded.
Imo some HF's like the ftdx 1200 benefited greatly when a studio mic was used, and that didn't seem so much the case with the 7300.
I am only assuming that the 7300's hand mic was specifically engineered, and designed for the 7300. Whereas the supplied stock hand mic that comes along with the ftdx 1200 might just be a generic Yeasu mic that's used on many of their (Yeasu's) transceivers, and, isn't specifically designed for the parameters of any one specific transceiver. It sounds like the 7300's hand mic was designed around the 7300, and meant to be used on that specific transceiver.
I am always in the habit of asking people using HF transceivers on 11 meters (because I'm a chicken bander only) to switch their mic's from their studio's to the mic supplied with the transceiver, in order to see if the rig tremendously benefits from a studio mic, or the hand mic supplied is quite sufficient. In most cases the studio microphone enhances the audio tremendously, but in the case of the 7300 the hand mic sounds terrific. Definitely no need for a studio mic on the 7300. Especially considering the outrageous prices some microphones are selling for. Just curious. 111 NJ. 73
I have read of some type of receiving issue, but haven't read about this transceiver to amplifier issue. My curiosity is piqued. Can you please expand on your reply. What exactly is hot switching, and what are the potential consequences to the amplifier or the transceiver itself?