Need opinions on my first HF rig

[W4KVW]

The IC-718 I believe was introduced in 2000 and is still in production today making it one of the longest running radios in production. It’s a great radio no doubt. If buying new the IC-718 would be almost $400 less than the IC-7300 and almost $800 less than the FT-3000. You can never go wrong with a good antenna, unfortunately some locations don’t yield themselves to high gain antennas and dipoles or verticals are the only option.

No 6 meters on the 718 & the difference in what you get in these two radios is daylight & dark. You also don't get any FM for 10 meter FM on the 718 nor a built in tuner as I recall with the 718 & no spectrum scope. I hate any touch screen radios but if you like them the 7300 blows away the 718 in every respect & try buying a 6 meter all mode with those specs for the price difference.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[w9cll]

You also don't get any FM for 10 meter FM on the 718

Barely ever would be used, 10 FM is dead 99% of the time.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

I thought it would be easy to pick out my first rig but i am wrong. I would like to keep the cost for a radio at around a grand or used and less. Im newly licensed and really dont know squat. I almost pulled the trigger on a used Yaesu 1200. $650. Leaving some room for antennas, tuners and such. Which i know will be more. Also i like the Yaesu 3000. All the rave is for the IC7300. That i would buy new. And im pushing the edge with looking at used IC 7600. But isnt the 7600 getting a bit old? We have no stores around here to check radios out. All i have is you guys to kind of steer me away from a mistake. So, just some opinions, all will be welcomed.

A friend of mine just picked up an Icom 7300 from Gigaparts on sale for 900 bucks. I doubt it's still on sale though.
Might have been a rebate.
Total cost $900.00

 

[6meter]

You have a pretty good budget for jumping in. As several others have mentioned the antenna is a very important part of a total radio system. It's also valid to get a lower end radio so that you have more dollars to put into the antenna.

However I've got a another perspective to consider. If you start with a radio that offers less features or performance then you will more quickly be faced with the need / want to upgrade or replace that first radio. So my suggestion is to get the best possible radio you can get now. You can build some good performing antennas for very little dollars that will allow you to more slowly ramp up your antenna systems.

Honestly with the tower you have you are way ahead of what most hams have for antennas. If you put the A99 vertical on top of the tower you would be very solid on 10 meters. Then as others have suggested make your own dipole. for example hang a 40 and 20 meter fan dipole from near the top of the tower and you would be in great shape on 3 bands. 20 and 40 meters will have the majority of activity for the next few years, plus those dipoles will easily let you listen to the other bands to gauge your interest.

Not that the Alinco, Icom 718 or Yaesu 1200 aren't very capable radios, if you can swing it I would suggest starting with either the FT3000, IC7300 or Kenwood 590SG. Those 3 are all very good performing radios. Plus the 3000 and 590 offer a larger more "base" type layout and nice connection options like several coax inputs.

If you start with the A99 and a 40/20 meter fan dipole the internal tuner in any of the radios will take care of any tuning needs. I would focus on trying to build or buy antennas that don't really require an external tuner.

As also as has been mentioned I would steer clear of the miracle "super" antennas that cover a bunch of bands. They will generally be tremendously compromised

Have fun!

 

[6meter]

A friend of mine just picked up an Icom 7300 from Gigaparts on sale for 900 bucks. I doubt it's still on sale though.
Might have been a rebate.
Total cost $900.00

I saw that $900 IC7300 special around the Xenia / Dayton hamvention. What a killer deal.

 

[W4KVW]

Barely ever would be used, 10 FM is dead 99% of the time.

No option if you ever want to use the mode and that is just Stupid on the part of ICOM.You can’t even buy an FM board at extra cost? Then there is the other things that the 718 lacks that you did not mention? LOL The 718 is like having training wheels on a Monster Truck.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[543_Dallas]

The 718 doesn't even have 6 meters. If I were a new ham it would be a hard choice between the IC 7300 and an ftdx 3000. If that was out of my budget I'd buy a used ftdx1200 in a second. The waterfall on the 1200 is a joke so just pretend it doesn't have one. I was also disappointed to find out that it had buttons and lights for dual receivers but only has one receiver. Whatever you decide to buy I recommend that you download and read the manual from front to back before pulling the trigger.

 

[w9cll]

No option if you ever want to use the mode and that is just Stupid on the part of ICOM.You can’t even buy an FM board at extra cost? Then there is the other things that the 718 lacks that you did not mention? LOL The 718 is like having training wheels on a Monster Truck.

Listen I was merely playing devil's advocate when starting out you don't a rig like the 7300! Hell, you really have no idea what you need. As for 6 meters, I have it here and hardley ever use it. Twenty years ago I used to have four elements for 6 at 65' and I can still count on my fingers the number of contacts I have made on 6. If the OP has the funds and wants to get the 7300 then get it, I merely pointed out a cheaper option that will get him on the air in fine fashion.

 

[6meter]

I get that 6 meters isn't interesting for some folks. But over the course of 7 or 8 years I made thousands of SSB contacts on 6m during the "season". Roughly May to July of each year. The majority of those were made using a 3 element yagi at only about 25 feet. That was all 48 continental states plus a bunch in Canada and Mexico and various Caribbean islands and the Azores.
Now the last few years SSB has dropped way off on 6 meters as a lot of people are dabbling in FT8 type digital. I really prefer SSB but last year I gave digital a try and logged Japan and some European stations on 6 meters. Kind of cool to do that on 50 MHz with a modest station.

 

[sp5it]

7300 in that price tag and performance have no competition.
Mike

 

[old goat 321]

I think w9 through the ic718 into the ring because i am so new and can cut my teeth on hf without spending a lot of money. Although i am a pretty quick learner and will probably be looking to upgrade after i figure out the "knobs". I appreciate his input and looked seriously at the 718. I understand this hobby isnt an all in one event. Even if i could buy top of the line everything, next year i would be looking to change things up. Like 6meter and others were saying, i have a decent start on a antenna system. I guess what im saying is im between the 3000 and the 7300.

 

[w9cll]

I guess what im saying is im between the 3000 and the 7300.

Between the two go with the 7300

 

[6meter]

If you don't mind the smaller form factor of the IC-7300 that is a slick radio with good performance. I hear people on them all of the time so there are a lot of them out there with a good track record. The display with the water fall is visually very nice.

The FT-3000 is known for having a very good receiver as well. I've seen people state that it is the same receiver as Yaesu used in the FTDX-5000. For me the 3000 is appealing with the large front panel layout for access to controls. I like having individual buttons for each band - that makes for one button push to jump to another band. With the Icom it's easy but requires two pushes to change band. Not a big deal or is it if you are in a hurry?

The rear panel of the FT-3000 also shows the versatility. Notice that you can have different antenna coaxes connected and change between them with a front panel button. So you don't have to mess with a coax switch. Stuff like the IF out and Receive antenna may be options you don't use for a while. But those are features that let you grow into a radio not grow out of it.

 

[old goat 321]

If i go with the 7300, i will buy it new. The 3000 would probably be used.

 

[BJ radionut]

Between the two go with the 7300

See I disagree, but just me...noise reduction on receive is the key.
The 7300 in crowded band conditions can't stand up IMHO...front end way to loose!
For an Entry Level HF rig OK due to price...
Ftdx 3000 has better dynamic range by almost 5 db and much better adjacent suppression.

Rob Sherwood Testing IC-7300: Its weak point, however, would be in Field Day* without external bandpass filters. More than one station on a band during FD will also be a problem. Of course a near-by neighbor could have the same issues. The front end isn’t good enough in worst-case scenarios. Rob contends that the IC-7300 might not fair so well in this environment unless you use external band filters.
Again: Not bashing just personal experience...I tested a buddies IC-7300 side by side with my 3000...He sold his 7300 the following week! The 7300 has much better bandscope but that's where it ends.
All the Best
Gary