Icom IC-7100 Review And Demonstration, HF/VHF/UHF/DSTAR 

And the knob DOES have an adjustment for click, no click and tension.. Well, I totally missed that.

My first and only radio 4 years in the hobby. Does it all, does it well ;)

Thanks for a well-balanced, informative review of the 7100. You give a real feel of operating this rig.

I bought one as my first base radio (had cheap HT before). I wanted UHF/VHF and something I could grow into on HF when I got my general. I found some of the menus a little complicated. I was disappointed that I didn’t find many good tutorial videos for it on RU-vid about things I wanted to learn. I’m glad you got one and I’m looking forward to more videos about it. It works well on repeaters for me, and I’m enjoying listening on HF. The more I play with it the more comfortable I get with it.

I just set up my NEW IC-7100, linked to a MyGoTo 80-6m antenna. RX is outstanding!! I This is going to be an outstanding mobile radio, a complement to the IC-7300 and the G-90 on my desk.

Just ordered mine yesterday...this should be pretty fun for my first shack rig!!! Thanks for all of the information!

I've had mine for just over a year now, and love it.

Aside from excellent information that I thank you for, I really like the dubstep intro ❤️

I am so glad to see that you bought that radio and Aregoing to start doing videos on it. I am a new ham and this is my first radio and I’m really struggling with figuring things out. Can’t wait to see all your videos! I need and Elmer for this radio.

Great Intro and great radio! Mine is less than a month old and i have set up an openspot 2, 40 meter dipole, Tuner and VHK/UHF antenna. So far it's a great shack in the box. Looking forward to more videos to get into more features and thanks for the information you provide!

Moving from a D74A to the ICOM 7100 is a steep learning curve. Point well taken about staying with one brand. Thanks for the video.

Really glad to see this video series coming up. I just bought a 7100 about a month ago. Have not taken it out of the box yet, because I have to re-do my shelf system in my shack to accommodate another radio.

Just got my General and thought this would make a good starter radio. You walked me through the basics and I appreciate the time you’ve spent making this video. High quality! You move a little fast for this old guy, but hey, that’s what pause is for, right?!?! I have little patience for manuals. This video got me up, running, and UNDERSTANDING, my new iCom 7100! Definitely subscribing. 7-3! KB4MAX/AG

Got my 7100 ordered yesterday! Along with a Th-D74A. I'm a happy guy.

Thanks for the video! I will be picking up one of these in a couple of days!

Excellent review with a few important tips (such as the weather monitoring function that drops out voice). I only use 2m, 1.25m and 70cm at the moment. Living in an HOA environment will make antenna deployment a challenge but will figure it out. Really appreciate your reviews. 😀

Real good review on this radio! I checked HRO on the price and it's real competitive with tons of features. Thanks for this review for use.

Good video. I been eyeing this radio. My First HF radio is a 7300 and I love it, but I don't have DSTART yet. I may pick this one up down the road, but you explained it really well and looks like a nice rig. 73

I want one. I almost pulled the trigger on one just a couple weeks ago. I like it because of D-Star and the numerous I/O ports in the back. It is also very well thought out with the speaker in the control head, the mic connector in the control head........................

This will probably be my next base station. It checks a lot of boxes for the money.

I just picked one up Friday at the Orlando Hamcation brand new from Gigaparts for $812 and I get the $100 mail in rebate making it $712!! No tax either. What a great price. I also bought the MARS TX mod which made it $747 out the door after I get the rebate back. What a deal...

I have just decided to ditch my ft857d for the ic7100, thanks for the in depth look.

WOW, on my wish list after I pass Tech test. AWESOME

Just so everyone knows the tuning knob has an adjustment lever on the right side so it can click, not click and adjustable tension. Plus the noise blanker works very well for mobile installations. Cheers Lance VK6LMK

I left a reply on one of your other videos, about the ic705, I am leaning more towards this radio for a POTA, practice rig i you will. I appreciate all your time you put into this channel. Keep up the great work and I hope you have a blessed weekend. I am looking forward to making a contact with you someday. Dale KI5ARH

am saving for this buddy so thank you for the review subs from me :D

DV Mic Gain Hallelujah !!!!! 20% on DV THANKYOU Your the only person ever that has brought this up. !! Not even Admiral D-Star !

this is the best radio i ever saw

Very interesting as always

Great review, thank you!

i totally love my 7100! ive done alot of researching of simular radios that can accept a semi full mars mod that can acess usable frequencies that dont need licensing for instance marine frequencies and MURS!

I considered this when I was looking to get a HF/VHF/UHF rig a few months ago. The D-Star was a good plus, but having that inclined face caused me problems with how my shack was set up. The front of radios are above my desk and I needed to operate them sitting down with computer screen taking up main part, then keyboard and mouse in slide under computer screen. I couldn’t see a way to use that 7100 in my shack. Still considering, especially with price change, replace my Yaesu 991.

I was recommend this 7100 by a man named Lee Wheelbarger who is an inventor .He's designed ,built may things from Thermal imaging headsets for the US MILITARY and comm radios ,flight simulators and all kinds of machinery for all aspects of the needs from Uncle sam . But I am looking for something that my son can experience for his young life . The only problem that I can see is that he lives in a valley down by a lake and mountains that lay east and west . It would be foolish of me to round up all this equipment only to find out that it was a big waste of time and money. I just don't have enough experience to be able to decide what would be best . But now I know a little bit more about the Icom7100 . What I don't know is how much does this unit cost completely turn key . Well the beat goes on. Thanks again for your video.

Had one previously I should have never sold. Getting down to retirement time in the next couple of years so this rig will be awesome when downsizing. May be at a desk or table in an RV. I can slide the main unit down under the table out of the way and only have the display unit visible. Ordering another soon with the $200 off sales are still good.

After 20yrs away from the hobby and running the ic 756pro. It's time to retire the 706 and get the 7100 for the big rig. Tnx for the video...

Very nice demo.

Erick we missing person for review you the best Erick numero uno

My favorite feature is the remote head that can basically be placed anywhere - N5LL

I think it would make nice little base station. I could be happy with it.

Whenever this radio reaches end of life I’m probably gonna buy one. There’s no other shack in a box mobiles I know of. This would be a lot cleaner than multiple radios and multiple mics hanging.

Great Radio, and Video!.im planning on getting one of those 7100'sI like it because its versatile, base or mobile use, seems pretty easy to learn. I already have the big ol monster icom 765,which I like to use from time to time& get that "BIG" radio feel ,also have the 891,which I keep on the base for now till I go mobile with it, when I get the 7100, ill probably leave on the base, .it seems it would be fun to operate as base. The D STAR is a cool addition for me, so I can use as 2 meters and 440,and to have SSB on the vhf/uhf mode is awesome.(ill give my 241A a break....) True and tried for years now, as you said ,a great edition to the shack! Nice features, cant wait to get her in the shack.Keep up the Great videos!!!

I use mine all the time, it replaced my FT-857D for my truck. I took it to the park today and had fun with it using a 12Ah battery.

Going to Gigaparts in Huntsville next week to buy the 7100 and 7300 and some other goodies!

The noice blanker on my 7410 works great !!!! I'll try it on my 7100 ... I just installed it into the Comander 7100 by hardened products. .. I love it .. a little bit for adding wires for the back of radio but otherwise working great. I've had it about a week and decided to order their unit for the 857D ,,,,, with I will get my own batteries... common size for lifepop4

Any chance you can have a video of your radio grounding connections on the radios/equipment and antennas. Love your videos and reviews. 73 N1YLO

Hi Eric, great video again The noise reductiont is amazing in the car, you do need a ext speaker for the 7100. The rig does everything, you could do a whole video on the way it interfaces for digital modes, whole video on D-Star as you said I have two of these, one mobile ( Best Ive ever had in 38 years )and one in the shack Keep up the good work Pete VK3TQ

Eric, Dont forget... You can import and Export Excel files to Program 5100 to 4100 to 7100 to 51A Amazing

thank you for this video !!!

I'm just getting into Ham. (Taking my Technician test next month) I have a VX-150 handheld right now, but looking for something to put in my truck. I like the looks of the FT-857D, but they're discontinued and only available on EBay. But this one has way more updated features and I might get this. My goal is to have something that will do all I need for years to come. Once I'm more familiar with Ham and a radio I'll be upgrading to my General, so I want something that I can grow into. Thanks for going through the features on this, it really helps.

I got one of these on the shelf in the shack ready to be put in my mobile. I will be making a major change in the mobile setup, I have the 706 now in the Dodge truck. I will be changing the location of the tuning head with the 7100 and adding an IPad just in front of it for repeater locations, D-Star location and a few other things. The antenna system is also going to be changed at well for the HF/6 meter. I have a Tarheel 400A antenna that I will mount close to the rear bumper. I am still looking at what tuner system to use with the antenna, I know some with interface with the Icom system.. Places I go hunting has no communication like cell phones, UHF or VHF so the HF has a real place in the mobile for emergency communication. I will defiantly have GPS connected to this rig..

Hi Eric thank you for getting a ic 7100 I just got one myself. I would like a video on how to program it for d-star on a hot spot (mmdvm) and pi-star. Thank you N4QXU :)

Thank you for the excellent review. One question, can the display be changed from the default setting?

I enjoy your videos and am a subscriber. Also saw your review of the FT 991. Would you still buy the 7100 over the FT 991 given that choice today?

You have great voice.

Very much appreciated review for a fresh person like me. I basically learned the radio in the 30 minutes with you. I have the general license and have played with Baofengs, but I want something to put on top of my desk with an antenna on top of my house on a 6-foot PVC pole. What specific antenna would you recommend to go with this radio? I want 100w of output in total out of the set. Would Comet Original GP-1 work for me? Will I be able to get everything from 1.8Mhz to 420Mhz with this antenna or is it only 146/446 like Amazon says? If not, what antenna would you recommend to get the entire spectrum of available frequencies? If the radio has it, I want to antenna to match it. A direct link to Amazon for the item would be awesome. Thanks boss!

Hello, Could you do a video on setting up the 7100 for digital modes? Specifically power output and getting the alc under control. I have been having a hard time getting those two issues right. Thanks

Great video. Just got my 7100. Question, is it possible to program specific HF frequencies and scan them on this radio? I am using RT Systems software to program with. Thanks for all you do.

It seems to me, this is the radio with the highest power in AM. For example, IC-7300, just 25 watts, and most newer ones. Last AM rally made me test my IC-7300, but when looking at the IC-9700, saw the IC-7100 seems to be a better option, with less features, but more power in AM plus VHF/UHF.

New to the Ham world. Thanks for the review. Looking for an ICOM rig for my RV once I am licensed. I am local to you, VB, so we may meet at a gathering locally.

Hi Eric. I am a new Ham, just got Tech, General, and Extra this past month. I have narrowed my first HF radio down to either the 7300 or 7100. I would like to know if the 7100 can be hooked up to your PC and show the Spectrum Scope with the default software or does it require a third party, like Win4IcomSuite? Or will the RS-BA1 show the scope with the 7100? Do you have any experience with either? If the scope works on the PC for the 7100, I'm pretty sure I'll get that since it covers all bands and D Star and I can run it in my vehicle for 2m and 70cm. Thank you - Mark

My first and so far only HF radio. I like it a lot, and since I am only doing voice and CW so far there is a lot more that I can expand into. One thing I found is that time should be spent to figure out the mic gain and the amount of compression used. It makes a big difference in getting power out SSB.

Wow this would be great in my truck, ive never had hf, i have a general license. I was thinking about the kenwood ts5 but i like the separate head unit.

It loock like a clock radio to have in the bedroom :-)

Hi Eric, I have had a 7100 for awhile and love the radio, but am having a heck of a time with Dstar and a jumbospot. I have seen your video with pi-star and the jumbospot with the 5100 and still cannot seem to get the unit to talk to ref 30c. I hear the reflector just fine. I have the rts system software but no help.

I love the ability to be able to put the controller anywhere on the desk, even put in my lap if need be. Sometimes I'm at the computer and I just pull it over to me, no problem. Has anyone noticed lower power output than selected on SSB?

Apparently this is a very polarizing radio. People either love it or hate it. A few guys at my club complain about the lack of buttons and knobs compared to a full size rig. I think most of them haven't spent any time with the 7100 though. Once you get used to the power of that touch screen to move about (to me) it becomes easier/quicker to use than many other rigs. You can skip many button presses with the touch. For example the meters can be scrolled through by just tapping on them or a long press. Filters etc are the same. I also enjoy running it remote with the RS-BA1 software. The SWR graph feature is great when tuning a new antenna. Looking forward to your advance video on the IC-7100. 73

I have a 7100 and pleased with it. please let me know when you do a 100% DSTAR video. having problems connecting with nearest dstar repeater because of mountains between my location and the repeater. Any suggestions! Anxious to learn more. 73

Nice review Eric. I was an early purchaser that had the dreaded low output power on HF. Updated to the latest firmware which didn’t help. Although many people suffered with the same low power Icom never did anything about resolving the issue. Guuur! I have been a huge fan of Icom but this really soured me on the company. I eventually sold the radio at a HUGE loss and went back to my tried and true IC-706 which I love. Lesson learned.

This looks a lot like the 706mkII, just with easier menus and some new tricks.

This may be the route I take, I love the flexibility. It looks good sitting there on the desk. I imagine you can power this radio down to QRP levels, so that an external battery can run it for a time. How is the weight? I would be carrying it on foot. Thanks for the video! You do a great job explaining the details.

Great video. I'm about to take Tech, and if I pass then in same session, test for General. At least that's my plan. Probably it'll be next month provided pandemic lockdown doesn't hinder. Saying that to get to the question: would you choose the Icom 7100 or 5100 to start out? I like mobiles, used to use CB in car and 18 wheeler. Intrigued with DSTAR for some reason BTW. 73s y'all

nice video

Looks like a clock radio. ICOM needs to release the IC-7900 already. Now THAT would look good next to my IC-7300.

You can change the vfo knob to smooth also

Mic settings are based on your location/transmission style. I have my 5100 set at max mic gain for the repeaters in my area and how I talk into the mic. Do tests, make sure you're not over-modulating with any radio.

Love the control head setup. Im a really big fan of the 2730a....which is my primary 2M 70cm rig in my shack. I put the control plate onto a cell phone holder that sets next to my keyboard. Ive gotten a bit spoiled having it so close and handy. So I think the 7100 would make a great hf addition, especially connected to the sdruno software

I like the radio! I wish it had a color display.

Looks like a great beginner unit , What other radios are good for beginners to the hobby in that price range ?

I have had a couple over the years and I love it. I just wish it came with a better mic. The stock mic that they send with it is terrible.

Have you had any trouble with the low transmit power on SSB that many people are complaining about?

A lot of features in this one.

Hi Eric, Do you think Icom is going to release an updated version of the IC-7100 soon? It seems like they have had this unit out for awhile now and it is being upstaged in some ways by the newer 5100 and 4100. It also has been dropping in price and seems to always be on sale. I would like to see the IC-7100 add the enhanced bluetooth of the 4100A and change the head unit to be more like the 5100. I would also like to see this unit go full SDR with a true waterfall display and more SDR interface features.

Where did you get your intro music? I've heard that on other videos, but can't seem to find it to download anywhere.

Great video, thank you... I'm a one year old HAM and I own an IC-7100. I don't have a mentor to ask questions to, I mostly struggle through and figure things out on my own. This video helped a lot and I am looking forward to future 7100 videos. Michael VA6XMB

I've been thinking of cleaning up my shack. I have a TS-690, R-5000, and an ID-5100. Do you think I'd be happy with replacing all that with a IC-7100? The thought of having 1 radio is kind of exciting.

Recommend an auto tuner for this radio that can benefit from the built in buttons etc? Thanks!

Hi Eric just wondering if you ever checked the PEP out of your 7100 ? I was watch a trx bench vid on Modding the ALC Line to add a 10 picofared electrolytic cap and bridging over a gate. Watch his vid I think you could do it better with SMT cap ??

I miss this intro song!

wouldnt cranking the mic gain all the way make the modulation swing higher like it does with a power mic on SSB CB radio?

nice review.. it would be nice to get an update after 5 years ... I hear they are going back into production of the unit.

It would be cool if a radio does uhf/vhf, hf, dstar and citizens band built into it

Browsed the comments and didn't see any info on this; I can't find any information in the description or manual that indicates that it has a cross band repeater function, like the 5100. Any info on this?

The menu system looks just like my IC-7300. I see why you brought up the subject at 24:15 about the Icom menus make you comfortable and looking at this it is nearly identical to my IC-7300 HF rig. That is one thing that drives me totally batty about my Yaesu FTM-100DR, FTM-400XDR and FT2DR radios. While they should be almost identical mode of operation the menus are different. Come on Yaesu. I have to keep going back to the book to learn which should be identical is almost totally different. This radio is pretty much the IC-9700 but made for mobile use.

Do the 7100 and 7300 have the annoying “instant on” transmit cooling fan thing that the ID-5100 does?

Thanks for the review. Funny though that you're talking about mic gain...and your audio is clipping in a lot of places ;-)

Please details of this rig suitable for which type of antenna on all band hf and vhf uhf

Can you monitor two frequencies in the VHF/UHF bands simultaneously? During severe weather I like monitoring the local Skywarn repeater and the statewide ARES/Skywarn repeater system at the same time.

DX mobile station sounded like he said Cozumel island in Mexico.

Here on 2 meters analog the audio levels are all over the place. Some guys are to low, some are ok, and some blow me out of my chair. You tell them there audio is to hot and they usually say " I have no idea how to adjust that" O my god, really. I know some radios don't adjust ( my kenwood 281 mobile for one ). That and they have no idea how to turn off the European tone burst. " Whats that? How do I turn that off?" I have the weather alert set on my VHF Marine band radio on the boat and holy crap when the tone goes off my radio goes into a fit until I acknowledge it. I am deciding on a new radio. I am looking at the 991a or 7100. Still on the fence, no hurrys as its a backup for my ftdx1200 and tmv71a in the shack. I want a shack in the box that can do either. Also may want to get into ssb 2 meters. I have watched both your 991a and this 7100 videos. Leaning to the yaesu 991a.

Plug a speaker on the control unit then raise volume past 12 o'clock position and see if the radio shuts off. If not find a strong high pitch sound or digital signal and try it again to see if it does shut off. Don't forget try it with just the control head build in speaker.