UPDATE: Well, after even more time on the FTdx-101D, it's selectivity is rather shocking. Three SSB stations lined up end to end with NO space between them...and I am on the middle one- and hear Nothing from the sides. I mean nothing. You can imagine what perfect selectivity is, but when you experience it, it is quantitatively different from previous radios. It is a good thing! Back to the 101D.
Robert Nagy why’d you give up on the Flex Bob? Did you just miss the knobs and buttons? The physical feel of controlling the radio? That’s the one thing and only thing I’m concerned about owning the Flex .
@@LivePDOfficerInterviews Two reasons really. The Maestro is SO high resolution that my eyes have difficulty resolving the details. Second is that the work required to get a good SSB signal out is significant. It Can be done...it is all on the net. Actually there is a third- the maestro's knobs are just not the quality of finish I prefer. And also, no radio will be my last. I review them and get the next new thing. My business permits that.
Bob Nagy Bob, Dog gone it! Well my friend, I hope I’m able to make the SSB work well on my 6300. That’s my favorite part of amateur radio. You couldn’t make the 6300 receive three wide individually and pick up the middle signal? I guess that would be pretty hard if resolution is really strong like that. I’d like to try out the maestro very much. I am trying to save up for that next. I am permanently handicapped so at least I get to use the iPad for now once I get everything hooked up. I’m a little nervous as to hooking it directly to my Mac Instead, I’m having the cable company come to the house and just place my modem up in my ham shack from my living room. My hope here down the road is to get a 101D after the price adjustments, come and they flatten out. Man, that radio is the “bees knees“ to me! Can you put another video out maybe comparing these two rigs after you’ve had them for a while? I mean you’ve learned some more now on both of them and that would be a nice video to see. An “update on your decision” so to speak. I like both of them a lot. The 7610 is beautiful as well. I wouldn’t feel like I got a “consolation prize” with the 7610 at all. The decision update video is just a suggestion… I enjoy your videos very much buddy. And you provided me that I have about 60 videos to upload on my channel. Thanks for the good work buddy. 73 from Oregon.
@@LivePDOfficerInterviews Well, actually no. I listed the 101D on QTH.com classifieds yesterday. Why? I have no money in my ham $$ account and the price on used 7610's has dropped through the floor (cuz of the screen problem). The 101D is clearly the superior radio in many respects, but I would loose almost $2K on the 7610 and half that on the 101D. So we will see if I have any takers. If not, so I own two of the best radios around! I'm just not fiscally that decadent normally...ha!
I've recently purchased a Yaesu FTdx101d, and I've got also an Icom 7610. I've been doing many tests,vand extensive comparisons in very crowded bands in this last CQWW cw. I have not found any signat in the ftdx101d better than in the Icom 7610,veven in very close strong signals over 9+30 or +40db. Nothing different. Moreover, in the Icom 7610 is easier to have good listenings with much less adjustments (with same filters bandwith, is faster to get good results with Icom tha with Yaesu). I find best audio, more bass,and a smooth, delicate, soft, pleasant, and good audio in Icom than Yaesu (wich is crispy). I've decided to get rid of Yaesu because ot does not improve reception in real worl, beyond laboratory tests....
Juan TY for your post. I'm new to ham (2yrs). I'm thinking it's time for a little more radio. I have a IC 7300 and love it. I was looking at the TS-890, 7610 and the FTx101d really don't know which one ..... kinda leaning towards the 7610 because I like my 7300. Tks again Juan.
@@rayhill7613 I had them both, the 7610 and now the 7300. I can tell you for sure that the 7610 is a great radio. In terms of audio quality, its the same of your 7300, in terms of selectivity is also the same as in your 7300 but you will gain a second independent receiver that will allow you to listen two different stations each one in your ears if you use headphones or each one on separate speakers and also you will be able to see in a big monitor the entire display. Go for the 7610 and forget the TS890, Kenwoods are not too good on NR in any model, all them introduce audio distorsion to the received station when NR is enabled.
@@rayhill7613 I was walking down the same road. ;) Also started with a IC7300 (which i still own) and upgraded to the IC7610. Never regret it. Dont know if you are into the digital modes too, but to be able to make RTTY and PSK without computer on the 7610 is just great. The 7300 can RTTY too, but on the 7610 you can use an external keybord which is really fun. The 7300 i now use for pactor IV modem, all the other stuff (SSB, RTTY, PSK....) on the 7610.
*_I'm new to ham radio and studying for my tech ticket. I have learned more from you than any other video producer. Thank you for all the wonderful videos you have made. You cover everything!_*
Thank you for my first smile of the day! I LOVE teaching radio and I do so at National Park College. This is a great hobby and it is great for meeting smart folks who can network you into jobs, projects..etc. Enjoy!
Great video. I’m about to replace “Old Faithful” which is my 20yr old fully loaded FT1000D and this has helped me make my decision. Yes it’s going to be the Yaesu.
You made me smile Robert. I'm sitting here listening to Classic Rock on WRMI Miami 9.395mhz. Dam radio looks & sounds fantastic. I have to sell off one of these...which is going to be very bitter-sweet. I'll give it a few weeks, but then I've got to cut one loose. I'll be eating PB&J's for a year if I keep both.
I am still very happy with my FT1000D but recently have been using SDRconsole with a tv dongle fed by the IF, it does bring some very nice SDR functionality to the old beast.
This is a WONDERFUL video! Thanks. On my FTdx3k... with a super weak cw signal buried in the muck - you can do one of two things, and that uncopyable sig will pop right at you. Both accomplish the same. 1) turn on the APF to the narrowest setting - a single click of the button if you're using CW already. Then crank the IF width control all the way down to 50 Hz. The comnination of the two is just ridiculously effective. 2) Just hit the 'narrow' button then crank down the IF width to 50 Hz. Method 1 may be a little better but I don't think so. Both are crazy effective. 73 OM
I just bought myself a 101D and with the latest firmware update from Yaesu the rig is fantastic! They added green for you guys that like green on your scope and the receiver is nothing short of amazing. I never hear side splatter on it, the selectivity is mind blowing. The VC tune is the best thing since sliced bread. The 7610 is a very nice rig, but I have no regrets choosing the Yaesu. The build quality even looks and feels better to me. I always hear the guys running Icoms complaining about splatter off to the side I never hear or know is there unless I see a signal on the scope.
Yup,can Yup, can't beat that selectivity! Indeed the 7610 can get splatter from nearby strong signals. It is close, but no 101D. I did sell mine though and kept the 7610. My ears are bad and I need the top-end in the audio. The bass and treble are filtered out of the 101D audio to help it make those great specs. It is also a great looking radio. Superior in ergonomics for sure. I couldn't deal without progressive tuning either. That huge great VFO knob is impressive, but sow tuning was too slow and fast was 100hz increments. You should try the old DSP firmware..just load it onto your B side DSP..so you can compare. I preferred it over the new DSP firmware. the ALC meter and setting up the TX audio is maddening. Turning UP the AMC level releases it from clamping down on your audio. I found 68 to be good. You have a lot to explore! Go have fun.
Rich B, can you tell me if the new firmware for the 101D allows bandwidth adjustment in AM mode? According to Robert Nagy’s original review his version did not allow it. Thanks! I am leaning hard on buying a 101D but I do enjoy SWL and AM dx’ing
Hi Bob- I just spoke with you on 145.575 MHz repeater in Austin, Texas. You were driving in the rain between Little Rock and Hot Springs. I was on top of a 19 story building in Austin, and told you that I had just received my call sign yesterday. I looked up your call sign when I got back to my computer and gave myself a nice laugh when I saw who you were. I exclaimed to myself: I KNOW WHO THAT GUY IS. Your RU-vid channel was one of the first things that popped up in the search, and was also one of the first channels I subscribed to regarding Ham Radio. I have watched quite a few videos of yours in the last month or so, while I was studying up to get my technician's license. In fact, your review of the TH-D74A was one of the reasons I purchased it. Anyways- thanks for speaking with me, I appreciate all the information you shared then, and on your channel. I look forward to talking to you again. -KI5HHK
Lance- Greetings! Well, there you go. I retired from UT Biosci and moved up here an hour past Texarkana. Ran the 442.15 repeater at UT (which is still there under another call). I sent Paul and Lance (N5EAD) 4 AllStar simplex nodes to cover Austin- and have them linked to my Mt. top link here in Hot Springs. Remember, they are simplex links...no repeater offset. just wait till the squelch tail drops to talk back. Also, you may not hear another station who is on the same link... if they are not in simplex range. Links are 145.65, 446.225 and 145.575. the 446 one is linked to a larger system. Come in any time. Glad I could be an inspiration for you! That's my thang!
Hey co-producer! Everyone has their slant on Ham video production here. I teach this stuff at National Park College, so I lean towards slipping in some heavy tech. My vids are long...probably too long. Keep crankin' them out!
The K4 will almost certainly annihilate either of these radios if the performance of the K3 and K3S vs. similar radios from the big three are any indication.
Just came across this. Thanks for the great comparison! FYI, "Triblade" is the net control callsign for Civil Air Patrol's national HF net. We run them several times a week in addition to more localized daily VHF nets.
Great review Bob. Thanks for taking the time to do it. I already own a 7610 and have been very pleased with its performance. I was curious about the FTDX101D after seeing the Sherwood numbers for it. Have a great day! 73, George K2WO
Really, they are both great rigs. You got a wonderful radio there. Hey, check out the Factory set mode (videos) to raise the max power to 120 watts or so. The finals are running very conservatively. This might bump up the average SSB power by 20 watts. Just a thought...maybe not worth doing,
Thanks Ray. I'm not a prolific reviewer, but I try to keep them coming! My goal is to to make the most of the viewer's time. I keep it information-dense and organized.
Excellent, unbiased comparisons of functions with explanations. This helped explain differences from both a technical and operating perspective. Thank you!
Can't believe i sat through this entire review without knowing I could never afford one of these radios. I have the FTDX1200 and would love to have one of these newer models with integrated sound card, external monitor options and all of the cool SDR features! This was a great video though. Thank you.
What a great presentation of two outstanding radios. Personally I love Icom gear and the display on the IC-7610 looks better than the Yaesu FTdx-101D. I have an IC-r8600 and am on the verge of buying an IC-7300 to keep it company since the IC-7610 would be overkill for me, but thanks for this great video.
I would like to thank you very much for this review/comparison Robert. In fact I did made my decision to buy the FTdx101D because of this stupendous shootout. I'm simply loving it and as you described, the selectivity on this rig is just outstanding. I hope Yaesu will be releasing sooner than later an update on the firmware having listening pretty much to all the suggestions you give to them and above all implementing the "averaging" on the rainfall scope and making this radio closer to perfection. I am constantly keeping one eye on the comments for this video and the Yaesu's website for that. Best 73 to you from VA2VG!
Thank you! Yes, I too hope they release a firmware update. It has been 8 months since the last update. I check every day! Enjoy the radio....try the DNR...level 6-7..on SSB.. amazing.
Thanks for the comparison. I've been thinking about getting a new Icom 7610, and the comparison between the two was nice. But like you said about the flex dev team there is a lot of feedback and collaboration between users and company for better performance leading to more sales. Thanks again and 73 de AC8GF
Thanks for the review Robert. Having had my 101D for several months now, I must say, still love it! While my Icom 7300 is a neat little rig, with many cool features, the 101D is just such a step up (I know, the 7300 is not a 7610... but it's still an Icom, with Icom's "logic"). Yes, there are some operating peculiarities that are different than the Icom's scheme, but once you're accustomed to them, it's not a big deal. I bought mine very soon after they became available at my US supplier, and well before Sherwood had released their test results. For me, the test data only confirmed what my ears had already been telling me: The receiver is very good! I, too, ran in to the same situation recently: Multiple fairly strong SSB stations, all lined up together on 40m, with minimal seperation between them. I was able to tune to each frequency and station, with minimal interference from the adjacent frequency. When I switched to the 7300, I had a bit of difficulty pulling out some of the weaker ones. Again, there are some peculiarities that one must get used to (perhaps "differences" might be a better description). And yes, there are some changes that I (and many others, I'm sure) hope Yaesu will make to "fine-tune" the operations of the rig, via Firmware updates. But overall, I'm really, REALLY happy with it! Lastly, I don't think you could go wrong with either rig; they are both great in their own respects. You just gotta pick your pony and ride it! 73's, Alan, KV6ARM
On the DNR, the 7610 does work, but it's more of a slight reduction, whereas the 101 has almost eliminated noise, but at the expense of a little digital artifacts. Common it seems in all Yaesu for the last 15 years or so.
I really appreciate your thoughtful, well-prepared and detailed comparison. I was close to buying the FTDX101 MP but think I'll wait. I would be interested in your reviewing the Elecraft K4 when it is released in a couple of months. Thank you.
Thank you so much Robert for this excellent comparison. I own a FTdx-101D and I bought it because it's cheaper than the 7610 in the UK, does 70Mhz and does have a lovely user interface - However I miss my IC-7300 which was having difficulty hearing through all of the qrm in my QTH. I felt that the software in the 7300 was more honed and sophisticated but the 101 makes up for it's short comings by being such a good transiever. Thanks again for such a through walkthrough
Exactly. The 101D literally has a better receiver. And that is what we are paying for here. Operationally, the Icoms are a little more "worked out" than the 101D, but we have not even had the first firmware update- and there will be many. Enjoy! (I am)
Excellent review, thank you. The DNR on the Yaesu sold it for me. It's astounding. Both great radios but we usually can't have everything we want in life!
FTdx101D the receiver on this rig is absolutely amazing, great selectivity, noise reduction and sensitivity. You don't even have to use the Dynamic Noise Reduction to get rid of a lot of QRN/QRM. Just using the contour, notch, shift, bandwidth and RF gain is usually good enough. This is a fab rig by any standards, when you learn to use it to it's maximum potential.
Great review and I have watched many on the FTDX101D, having owned a 7300 and 7600, I chose the FTDX101D as my next rig, the receiver makes all the difference, Yaesu wins.
Great job, thanks. I bought the FT dx 101D Max with all the filters. Decided that the dynamic range was a real value and filter flexibility was excellent.
Yeah, it is the selectivity King. It is so easy to get used to perfect selectivity. It is sort of like 'Well wasn't it always like this?". No it wasn't. It has been the holy grail since the beginning of Ham radio.
Sir, it is because of your sense of both radios, and their ease (or not) of use, that I’ve had to change my mind, and my selection for my first HF radio… I’m going deaf, and will soon be only able to go digital or, maybe, with CW as well. Thank-you for your time and kind consideration, in your delving into the qualities, strengths, and foibles of both radios. Tomorrow, I’ll be shopping for a new IC-7610…
I have to admit, I with great reticence condemn the Yaesu to the losers' corner. It is the result of a lot of hours of engineering and effort. It could have been a great radio. I sent a list of 22 modifications directly to Yaesu- which if implemented - would have taken the 101D to the top slot. It is certainly beautiful to look at I so wished I'd love operating it. In the end, I lost $1K buying it, doing the review and selling it off. I am glad that many Hams will make the right choice after watching my review. The 7610 is a joy to operate. I don't miss a single feature of the 101D. Please email me if you have any questions after receiving yours. Bob
Nice Job of reviewing these radios. I did not understand for sure if the Icom did or did not have a 3rd receive only input. I love that on my FTDX 3000
This is a really helpful video, Bob. Thanks. If you do something like this again, please remove the protective plastic for the video--it would really help us see the displays better. Keep up the good work! 1k thumbs up with 52.8k views (as of Jan 2, 2021) is a huge percentage!
Thankd Russ- I go for quality, not flash. I landed up selling the 101D because it has so many design errors. I imagine they will pull it and re-release it like the FT-991. HNY!
The 101D looks nice. Too many buttons though better to have less and menu driven. The killer is it doesn't record QSO's and only has 20 second record TX keyer. The 7610 I've had for over a year I am very happy with as it does more than the 101D. I was always a Yaesu radio user but their radios look outdated now. I prefer Icom. The 7300 was my first Icom. Still have it for the car.
J- That's about where I am with the two radios. The 101D is on deck and I'm taking a good look at it...but I'm not a contester and it's premium selectivity is not a top consideration for me. The Scope is WAY more sensitive than the 7610, but you can see most signals on the 7610 also. The 20 second record limit is totally addressable via a firmware update..as well as probably two dozen small issues which could be optimized on the 101D. I'm waiting! One issue that is not addressable with firmware (I believe) is that the 101D rolls off the bass and treble in RX audio no matter what the settings. Listen to the RX audios in the video. With my older ears, I need the treble for clarity....and the bass is just nice for fidelity. Pet peeve on the 7610 is having to press the screen 3 times to change from VFO to memory.. Ridiculous. Really, no rig is perfect. My list is: Premium band scope with averaging and fill, Easy turn on and talk SSB operation, easy digital USB interface, nice aesthetics, Over 3Khz TX and RX, enough buttons vs. menus, clean TX, Excellent DNR..that's about it! Truthfully, there isn't a radio that offers this in one box yet.
Excellent comparison review, just what I was looking for, trying to decide between these two specific radios. I like some things on one, other things on the other. Can't ever have it all.
Eddie- The safer bet is the 7610. Why? Because the 101D is Yaesu's first attempt at an SDR. It is full of small and not so small design problems. I see it having a very short shelf life as Yaesu will want to totally re-design the hardware after this first "experiment". Yes, the RX numbers are good, but that is maybe 20% of the equation when you judge the joy you get out of a radio. In total, the user experience is better on the Icom...plus you will save $500.
Bob, you are my favorite youtuber, your comparison or reviewing videos are fully professionals, been a radiotech for 50 years I know exactly what you are talking about and you do it very detailing touching the right spot of technical description of a radio.
Thanks! I don't try to get a jump on the new radio releases, I try to do a quality review and I don't hold back if there are issues. Again- Thanks for the kudos!
Great review!! You missed the VC is an add on for second receiver. Also additional filters need to be bought for both receivers I believe. A fully spec'd 101 is another $1500 or so. Making it over $5k. Also it has to be sent in if not purchased upfront. I bought the 7610 and love it so far. Also bought the 890S and love it as well. Plan to maybe add the 101D or MP. May sell one or keep all three when the time comes :-) Need a SS amp first though. I believe one must have atleast a backup rig so will at least keep two. Both radios reviewed are great choices. You really can't go wrong with either the 7610, 101, or the 890 IMHO.
Totally agree. Both superb radios. I did mention about the single VC Tune VS both Digi-Sel units provided. Yeah, no upgrades on the 7610. That said, I will never get a 1.2khz SSB filter..or even the 300hz CW filter. It is just fine without them. The 890 has the slower refresh rate display and that's why I sold my 990 at Dayton. Gotta be FAST. This hobby is Fun ehh?
Nice review. I have just got a 2nd hand (4 months old) IC-7610 and am very happy with it, I've noticed a lot of FT-101d's come up for sale quickly after purchased in the UK now I have seen your video I think I see why. I think the IC-7610 is so much easier to use to setup and operate for average users (especially coming from an IC-7300). I suppose the FT-101d might be slightly better on paper but it's to the point where I suppose I'll never notice the difference in use most times, and I'll operate more efficiently the rest of the time. One thing I noticed that some of the 7610 knobs seem a little cheap after the 7300, I wasn't expecting that. I expected it to be at least the same level as the 7300, but seems like it was "cost reduced"... By the way just FYI your audio on this video was a bit over-driven in many places fair bit of popping except when your outside.
Great video Bob - thanks! At the level of complexity for either of these, it is a wonder that any customer would be happy with the way everything on their radio works. Old timer me says I prefer FTDX101 receive audio on SSB and that is worth very many ergo functions where Icom has a major advantage. In the end, I want a radio that is the best of both for that kind of money! I am disappointed in 2019 that the digital audio features all still sound muddy and ineffective to me. One day the high end transceiver will allow an external antenna and will have a phase noise cancelling device built in. These days my spectrum scope is just an ugly mess from all the neighborhood electronic junk before I activate the external noise canceler, and none of the DSP features in the world are effective at that level. So why would I pay $4000 for a high end transceiver and need to set an MFJ-1026 on top the very first day - hihi...
Don- QSL on all. Yeah, I was out on an island and couldn't believe the noise floor compared to in-town. I've got spurs of all kinds all day across the screen. The outboard phase canceller is a good thing. And indeed, you'd think that 32 bit processing with FFT would result in cleaner DNR. Well, what can I say? We all land up talking to the same bunch of people on the bands with whatever radio we have. For me, If I get ANY pleasure from a radio..for ANY reason, at this age, I'm going to try to get it. I want to bounce that last check!
Well.... I've been a Yaesu fan for many years, but based on this video, IC-7610 wins, hands down. Icom's receiver sounds much better. Noise reduction is also more pleasant on the Icom. NB (noise blanker) filter performance was awful on the Yaesu. This alone can be a deal breaker for me. Thanks for the review, Robert!
I totally concur. I sold off the 101D and lost $1K in 4 months of ownership. It is not ready for prime time. Because of the internet hype on the screen issue with the 7610, you can get a 7610 at a far reduced price. I love mine and even though I own a Anan 7000DLE II (probably the best amateur radio made), I use the 7610 90% of the time. Add a three way PC speaker system and a
Robert awesome video pulling the trigger on a 101d the shack got hit by lighting labour day weekend and insurance is gunna help me along on my upgrade from a 1000mp really looking forward to the new tech your video helped thanks from Canada Bill
Thanks for the review Robert, helped me to decide which way to go:) I hope Yaesu updates the firmware soon in order to get a quieter waterfall display (averaging) and also more color options (greenish:)) 73 Pascal - Belgium
Thank's Robert for a very good video on the difference of these two radios. Maybe I'm old school has the 3D thing does not float my boat. to me it is some form of mod toy that has nothing to do with radio communication. It would be great to see this on a 40 channel audio mixer in a studio. But for Ham radio , no thank you. 73 de G0WXU.
The Ftdx101D has only 50dB Scope Dynamic Range! And FTdx101D has no possibility to average the FFT-Signals! These are strong failours. See my test report in Funkamateur 05-2021. Werner, DC4KU
I agree. This is the #1 reason this radio is a failure. I am sure they will discontinue it and re-issue it with all the problems fixed. Strangely, the FTdx-10 also has no averaging..
Hey Robert, Andrew, KD5FHW in Houston here..... I sat down with the 7610 for almost an hour at HRO in Plano and fell in love with the radio, but it was just out of reach budget-wise. My friend had just purchased a used Flex 5000A so I took a look at it and liked it quite a bit, but PowerSDR wasn’t as sharp and modern as the impressive SmartSDR which I had a little experience with at Ham-Com. I decided to save some cash and got myself a 5000A VU and I will have a hard time parting with this one. I came from a 7300, which I loved, but I replaced it for the dual SCU capability. After using the Flex I don’t think I’ll ever go back to knobs unless I’m portable. If I were in the market for one of these radios and had new radio money, I’d have to go with the Flex 6600. One overlooked item that I’ve been enjoying with my Flex is extended transmit and receive bandwidth. I’m not sure how far Yaesu limits you, but the Icom is limited to 3.6KHz RX and 2.8KHz TX. I usually RX 4.5KHz wide and TX 5KHz wide when rag chewing on 75M and 40M if there’s nothing in the passband. It’s so much nicer listening to fuller audio. Of course, I keep a standard 0HZ-3KHz TX profile for the other bands as well as a DX profile, but I really enjoy 75M now.
The comment on Flex is not quite true. Yes there is a more direct line to the company but they don’t add features very often. Elecraft on the other hand puts their ear to the customer more than Flex. I wanted to point out that the Kenwood TS-890S has the same type of VFO tuning speed and sensitivity like the Icom. Did you get the numbers from the Sherwood list or QST? Otherwise well laid out review and comparison. Thank you!
Well, I just meant to say that Flex is more responsive than the Japanese companies. Wasn't aware of Elecraft's responses. I should have mentioned Elecraft more...as we need to keep our US companies going! Great on the Kenwood, but with a scope that has a 4-6 FPS refresh rate..that's a kill shot for me. Sold my 990s because of it.
I did not show the Sherwood numbers... just the manufacturers. Really, SDR's fail in different ways than Superhets and the radio testing methods must evolve to these changes. For example, IP3 is really meaningless on a SDR. Adam Farson AB7OJ is leading the way on testing revision. Sherwood is doing well on this too. Because of today's noise environment, ultimate MDS doesn't matter anymore. I might like the fact that a car has 500 HP, but then you get in the competing model with 457 HP and something else grabs you. You just LOVE that car. There are so many factors. Side story: Had a guy stop by with a Tesla 100D (with Ludicrous mode). He insisted I drive it. 800 HP with full torque at zero RPM.. I heard my brain hit the inside of my skull when I floored it. Everyone in the car screamed. 0-60 in 2.5 sec. I'll buy the car with the lesser spec!
Around 16 minutes the sync is apparently LC/LC coupled, a little overshoot is expected... Least it's not delayed due to deficient clock speeds in the processor. Nature of the Beast. AOK...
Bob, as per usual you do an awesome job. I wish I had one tenth of your knowledge, but you have that rare way of simplifying radio functions so that the average operator's understand clearly what you mean, and that is a talent in itself. Mate, you are one clever individual.👨🎓 I bow at your feet my man.😂
B- Ha! Well, generally Ham commentators have effervescent personalities and really thin technical knowledge (don't forget flashy graphics!) - or the ultra-dry techies who assume you have an EE degree and if not- too bad. Being able to boil-down the new digital technology into digestible concepts - is my goal. We have to literally battle the PC interface stuff now - so it is important to remember - this is supposed to be fun! To that end, I try my best. Thank you so much for the Kudos.
Thank you thank you thank you is all I can say, Fantastic video. I really appreciate the time and effort you put in to this it helped me decide what radio to buy. I ended up with the 7610. I got to play with the ftdx101mp in person today as well. Yet to unbox the 7610 subscribed 73 thanks again
@@Yavor54 can you elaborate please on the issues you had with the 101D that led you to sending a letter to Yaesu? I am up in the air between the IC-7610 and the 101MP.
Yeah, no matter people's complaints about company responsiveness, Flex and the other domestic makers are more responsive to user's needs. I took a risk characterizing Japanese culture, but through the years, a pattern emerges. Since SDR is so changable via firmware, this can be a great advantage to these radios if a manufacturer listens and responds. I'll send my list of over 20 firmware changes I think would help on the 101D. I don't expect them to actually listen. One can hope though!
I think Yaesu has put a lot of their R&D money into this radio and will wait and see if SDR takes over fully before committing to make a much more expensive model. Icom will be first with an over $10K SDR radio.
@@robertnagy2163 Thank you. I'm not sure how I feel about the surge of SDR; I look at rigs like the Yaesu 9000 and 5000 series with a touch of nostalgia. They represent the end of an era to me; similar to a famous ship or train being retired.
@@johnratcliffe6438 Well, it is the main descriptor of life. The environment changes and those who adapt-survive. Nostalgia is good if you are remembering loved ones, but in technology it is deadly. Soon people will say "Want to see my horse and gasoline car out in the shed..it makes a loud noise like a dinosaur and smoke comes out the back!" (and the other one whinnies).
Yup...but nobody is giving me radios. I have to figure out a way to snag one without too much $$ damage. This is why I have ads on this video- to cover my losses in selling one of these two radios used.
Thanks Bob, That was an excellent review in my opinion. I have seen a few of your reviews and you report them without bias and a whole lot of unrelated chatting. 73 , Stay Safe & Stay Well
That's my goal Doug. I'm not in this for maximum "clicks". All the flashy graphics and hyped-up attitudes do nothing to convey what everyone really wants to know. Thanks for the Kudos...
I kept the 7610. Why? The 7851 is old technology. It's receiver and transmitter don't sound as good as the 7610. It's 80 lbs... very hard to ship. AND it's $10,000 more!
These radios are so close that, in my opinion, it comes down to what I have now. I have an Icom 5100, 7100, 7300, 705, and 9700, so I will choose the 7610 because I will be able to eliminate the steep learning curve and different menu structure that I would experience in switching to the 101D and Yaesu's way of doing things. If I were already a Yaesu guy, I would go with the 101D. That's the advice I give my club members too. Decide on a brand for your first radio based on your research and what your Elmers have (since they will be able to help you a lot more if they know your radio). After that, stick with the brand unless there is a really compelling reason to make the switch.
Well Bob... you’ve done it again. Best shootout and review of these two radios I have seen.. I have an Anan 8000DLE, which I found even exceeded the Icom 7851 on very low signals due to NR2, But would like to upgrade my old TS-950SDX, so may well go the 101 route . Best wishes and 73 from UK
Thank you! I'm not shooting to be the most popular reviewer. I'm trying to be the best one. I don't post often because these take a lot of effort to make. Next will be the Xiegu GSOC & G90 SDR combo.
Note During the on Air TX test, the older Rig Trashed both of them modulation wise. He would be to frightened to Compare the Modulation power out on those Radio's against my old Valve Kenwood TS530. You dont have to whistle like a Farmer out with his Collie Dog to get Power showing on the Power Meter
Ben- they are completely different animals. OK, they are both 16 bit SDR's, but the Flex if for people that like to work with details...interfaces...expanding capabilities. The 7610 is for folks who like boxes with knobs. Yes, the Maestro and M models give this, but the 7610 is mainly a box with knobs radio.. and the Flex are mainly pc interface radios. Performance is very similar. I like them both!
Great job, Robert. The comparison was both fair and objective. Both are fantastic radios, so in IMHO, it boils down to what factors matter most and what foibles and idiosyncrasies can you best live with. I have decided to go with the IC-7610 to replace my beloved IC-7300. Control layout and menus on the '7610 are more to my liking. The Yaesu seems a bit too crowded for me. Plus, I don't think that the higher price of the FTDX-101 is justified. Good Luck & Good DX, Al K3ZE
Bob, very nice shoot out comparing the features of both rigs. I would like to see you display the IF filter bandwidth on the Yaesu when reporting the CW signals and I would like to see the NR level on the Icom reported out under the same conditions. Have you considered trying a 250 Hz BW for either? Second - the VRC on the Yaesu is designed for in-band rejection while the Digi-Sel on the Icom is designed for rejecting noise/signals that are 1 MHz or more away from the primary frequency, so one would expect different results with them. Finally, it would be nice if you could show the APF adjustments - how much gain (0-6 dB) did you have on and was it wide, medium or narrow? Thanks again.
Hi Scott- Sorry about that. The APF's have width adjustments and I just went with the radio's default settings. The NR level on the 101D has numbers but the 7610 is just linearly adjustable from nothing up to full with the knob. I set it at half way. BW on both on CW was 500hz. The roofing filter on the Yaesu was 600hz. The net observation is that the Icom has a crispier sound on CW once you get the BW set and APF on. It just sounds like the rise times are faster to your ears. The S/N+N ratio is slightly higher on the Icom in that setup. On the Yaesu, you can actually adjust the rise time of the TX CW waveform in ms. Default is 4ms. Unusual that Icom would give you center adjustment on the Digi-Sel if it is only attenuating over 1mhz out. No wonder it does nothing in-band. The 101D does show weak CW sognals better on the scope than the 7610. I was eager to get this out, so I could not cover every last thing...it would have been 2 hours long! Hope this helps. Either radio would be a slick CW operator.
Oh I bet. Each rig has so very much on it! Isn’t it amazing how much more you can talk about with the rigs of today my friend? My goodness… Have things improved.
Thanks for your analysis. I have the IC 7610 and am considering adding the FTDX 101D to the shack. I would like to read/hear more on how the Ham radio Delux and the WSJTX programs interact with the Yaesu. On the IC 7610 they were easy to setup and a joy to operate. Thanks for the information.
You do a nice job with these videos. You mentioned running Olivia in one and your call sign sounds familiar, I think we may have worked before as I'm a big fan of a good old digital mode rag chew and Olivia and Contestia work nicely on the low bands for that. Getting back into radio again after a few years lapse and catching up on what's out. It is getting to be a really hard choice to make now, the IC-7300 outperforms anything I was using (TS-2000 with a QS1R on a Dow Key relay to switch TX/RX) just a few years ago for $1k, I think the 890 is winning just due to ESSB capability for TX and RX and I know Kenwood can stand up to high duty cycle well, even at just 10-25W, rigs get really hot on a long digi QSO session.
Good comparo, Bob. Was going to sell the TS-2000 and get the 7610, talked with many who had the TS and 7300, and decided to keep the TS for VHF/UHF multimode, and bite the bullet with the 7300, as I'm only a casual DXer. I don't know what I'm missing with no 7610 on the desk but after your review, I now see. If I were a betting man, I'd bet you will keep the Icom. Time will tell.
I really don't know right now. Now I can just play with the Yaesu and see what I feel personally in a week or so. I won't wait, so if the 101D goes, someone here can get a good deal!
thanks for your comparison. I own theyaesu Ftdx 3000 and a icom 7300 , also pretty comparable, but have you also tried the contour filter in the positive setting on the yaesu ? On my ftdx3000 can make signals understandable, which i cannot make on my icom 7300.
Glad you asked. The Contour filters on all previous Yaesu's were superb. I forgot to mention that they changed the way they implemented the Contour on the 101D. Instead of boosting certain frequencies, it just attenuates the opposite frequencies. The net effect is that instead of that punchy boost that clarifies SSB, it just doesn't do that. It sounds narrow and thin. It is on my things to fix list for Yaesu.
Thanks for a great presentation. So 2+ years after the review came out - which is better for the average operator who works all modes, whenever possible?
Hey Bob! That was a great review I was looking for! 😉👍Thanks a lot! I have a 7610 and after this video I think I will stay with it for now 😊 What is your personal oppinion? Do you like more 7610 or 101d? Which one did you keep if you should decide for just one of them? Thanks for your great work and 73 from Slovakia! Paul, OM0ET
Paul- Well, now I can just spend time with the 101D...give it a week or two. I was never really super happy with the 7610, but now I like it more after watching my own video! The 101D is superior on Selectivity, DNR, I/O and display flexibility. The 7610 is simpler in many ways. I like the RX/TX audio better on the 7610, but my ears are old. The display on the 101D is more sensitive...that is good. Three antenna connectors on the 101D is very good. If I want to keep both radios, I'll have to make more $$...ha! Most likely, I will sell on in about a month.
I've started contesting for fun, learn new softwares, handle pileups on both ends, sharpen my ears to tough and crowded conditions but recently, I've been trying RTTY contest and with my 7300, I noticed that when there are strong adjacent staions, the ALC quickly clamp down the receive. I was trying to copy a S7-9 signal when that strong station come close by and I lost the station I was trying to get in contact with while that strong station was transmitting. I did not hear that station splattering, I had set the filter really tight but I was so surprised to see how much the reception whent down on the 7300. Now I know this is a video about the 7610 but I do think that those two radios (7300/7610) would suffer with the same "issue" in those loud conditions. On the other end, I think the 101 roofing filters would greatly improve on that particular situation, things that only really expensive 7700 or 7851 would be able to handle better. I don't like the colors of the yeasu, neither their button layout but I must admit that those yeasu are way better quality in reception and build quality of their buttons for example. As you said, do those number would matter for regular use, probably not. But under crowded contest conditions, it might just be a no brainer to get the 101 against any icom products... but that is my opinion, a newbie contester...
I agree completely! IF you are a RTTY or CW contester, the Yaesu is better. Most Hams are not contesters though. This issue is less on SSB signals too. To enjoy this improvement on AGC pumping with LOUD signals close to you (buying Yaesu), you will have to live with a terrible menu system, a stroboscopic spectrum display, no progressive tuning rate, a AMC system that must be defeated on SSB, An ALC meter that is unreliable and SSB TX audio that is not as good as the Icom. I could not live with these issues.
@@Yavor54 that is what prevent me to buy one... contesting is new to me and I don't think I will continue, like I said it was just to learn and try new stuff... but I am happy I saw what flaw a "cheaper" radio has... for every day use, it's probably fine for the 7300 and overkill for the 7610 but then I don't think the 7610 will be up at challenging contest trafic either... The 7300 has options that the 7610 does not have (like remaping button functions, global preset settings or direct acces to notch filers just to name those) so I guess I'll stay with my "people radio" !
Great style of review, friendly, relaxed but detailed too. One thing I was intrigued by is the comment at the beginning re excluding the 890s, can you expand on your rationale please? I appreciate it’s not SDR but thought that in itself might make an interesting comparison. 73
Jon- You know, it is ALL about cutting-edge technology. SDR will totally replace superhet designs in 5 years. The Kenwood is incapable of giving the super-fast display refresh rate- and that is a kill-shot for me. Sold my 990s at Dayton because of it. The 890 has rock solid RX specs and Kenwood TX audio...and no big warts I'm sure. It is personal preference..and they are all great rigs.
Robert, many thanks for the quick reply. Let’s hope the every reducing kenwood range is not a precursor to them abandoning amateur radio and they come up with a cracking SDR radio in the near future to give Yaesu and Icom a run for their money.
Hello Bob. I have really learned alot by watching your vids. And for that I thank you. Best regards. Ron z. The north American shortwave radio and toy robot museum.
Excellent review - my compliments. I have been basically dormant on radio for a decade and now have the bug again. I have on the bench an FT1000Mp Mk-V, Orion-II, and my trusty old Omni 6+. In tinkering around the past few days (thinking strongly about a new radio, esp the 101D) I tripped over a problem. There is not a signal (weak, noisy, DX cw - not much of a phone guy but I do get on) that I cannot get on all 3 receivers. Yes the two newer radios have better selectivity and better NR. Now, I really really like dual receive and waterfall displays. The only annoying thing is these new premium radios have all that, but do not have true diversity receive (phase locked LO signal) I think that I remember the K3 as offering that (true?) So, leaning to the FTdx-101MP - but jeez, the screen looks like a pinball machine. I'll stop babbling now. Cheers, k8do - denny
Hey Bob, I know it’s dated, but what about a review on a Yaesu FTDX 5000? It’s amazing that basically a 10-year-old receiver has such a high price over these SDR‘s!
Your reviews to me are the most informative that I can find on RU-vid. As per this review wow was it Great or not wow. It was fantastic. But down to what I wanted to say. Personally I like less QRM and I like CW Decode. I love Icom’s. Most all of my radios are Icom’s. However I really really dislike QRM and I would really like to have Radio that can decode CW. Since the yaesu is a better QRM fighter and has CW decode Sorry Icom but I’m gonna have to slip away on the side and buy one of these yaesu’s. But don’t worry Icom I still have one of your wonderful 7300s that I truly love as a backup. Actually with my IC-7300 and my external west mountain radio DSP noise reducer that really takes all that shhhhhhh noise out of the background and the my Ham Radio Deluxe that can decode CW The Icom IC-7300 and I have been getting along really pretty good and I really don’t need the Yaesu but wow it’s quite a rig and i’m going to get one. 😁
Maybe I missed it but...did you ever mention anything about the dual waterfall of the 7610?? Does the 101D have that as well? I am only asking. I am not trying to start a brand fight.
Yes and yes. Both can display both band scopes at the same time. The 101D is much more versatile in the combinations it lets you do. Plus, one big thing is the ability to go single band and fill the display with dual meters etc. on the Yaesu.
Hey Bob, Nice Vid! I had the IC7610 on my desk and have four questions and one mention: 1. The IC7610 disables the backside speaker jack when a headphone ist plugged into the front. I found no parameter to change that behavior. 2. The IC7610 allows to allocate easily TX and RX antenna just by setting it for Main and Sub VFO tuned on same frequency whereas my FTDX-3000 needs to bei set up for separate rx antenna in the menu and only 3rd connector is allowed for that. 3. The IC7610 does not Interrupt automatic calling (automatic TX voice messages "parrot") when switch on PTT during transmission. You have to wait until message is over or hit the menu button which is more complicated especially in the contest. 4. In the IC7610 you have the tx voice menu (for the recorded voice messages) in the front if you want to use the parrot. This means your waterfall is very small. Allows the yaesu e.g. to Start the parrot again via separate button? Questions 1 to 4: what's the behavior on the yaesu? Mention: In the center mode both transceivers smear the waterfall during tuning (i tried this at ham radio in FN), so it is difficult to tune for signals on the waterfall, it is possible only having a look to the scope. Kenwood has a better approach by freezing the waterfall and hold it against to the VfO during tuning. I whish yaesu and icom would take this over. 73 from Swabian Alb (southern Germany), Joachim DK4JA
OK, a lot of questions...Yes, the Icom mutes the rear connector so that you cannot have two connected at the same time. On the Yaesu, the current firmware allows you to make the third antenna connector RX/TX or only RX. I really personally think this is a great advantage. The 7610- record/play memories are more extensive and versatile than the Yaesu's. The Yaesu has 5 memories 20 seconds long and the display for the recorder covers the upper part of the spectrum display only, you can still see the waterfall. The 7610's cover it all. Using the remote control on either radio will fix this issue. Yes, the Kenwood scope hold is better for QSY. I do not find this to be a significant issue.
Kept the 7610. No quams about it. It's just a more polished radio... so many less flaws. Just recently I finally replaced the 7610 with an Elecraft K4D. That's my next video. (comparing the two) The 7610 is still a great choice today.
Thx Bob we dont see enough from you,., 😀 great vid and lots of info. I'm a Yaesu fanboy, but cannot get my head around the display colours just feel its not comfortable to view. I have operated on the 7610, great radio, but really want to stick with my Yaesu Kit,.. really a toss up. Thinking of going bk to my roots, first Radio Kenwood, 890 or 990. I have 5 HF rigs now, the XYL can count, so maybe selling 1 or 2. As for the comparison, well done Bob, cheers n very informative. 73s LZ/AE1TP A92GW thx again
Tom- I hear you. The 101D has better selectivity, a more versatile display, better QRM fighting stuff, more I/O and looks snazzier. Icom is cheaper, easier to operate, easier on the eyes display, is a fast operator and have to say- has less design errors overall. Both are a pleasure to operate. Today I just get to play with the 101D....!!
That is the question of the hour. I own both now. Really, one must go. Today, I feel like I want to see what Yaesu does with Firmware updates in about a month. I've compiled a long list of requests for them. I want everyone's input too. Then we shall see who is king!
7610 and that's coming from someone who owns an ft897d, ftdx3000, and more. I bought my first Icom the 7100 and things work so much easier plugging into computers, and changing things so much faster. Icom will be my radio of choice from now on. The 3d view looks hokey and more of a toy than a real scope.
Quite a good review. Not numbers but facts. Nice.There is any choice of making same job with any of both radios but against Kenwood 890S ? Will bring a lot of light on many subjects.
Best radio comparison I have ever seen on here. Yaesu sadly has the advantage. Both are around $3200 as of now. Might be bringing a Yaesu home from Dayton this year. Thanks . VE3WF
Thank you! I don't waste time with flashy graphics- I just try to get to the core of the issues. I don't get the most views, but that is not my goal. I want to help hams make the right decision. 73's Bob
Mike, K1FNX here.......... excellent video...... thinking abt ab upgrade from my 7300 and am really confused Bob, every time I watch you vid and read the comments I change my mind......... apparently you kept the 7610 and sold the 101d?......... the K4 is just a little too pricy.........looking for crowded band selectivity and maybe diversity Rx........ what do you recommend? tnx & 73 Mike, K1FNX near Boston
