IC-718

[W3WN]

Anyone have or had an ICOM IC-718? Be willing to talk about it?

KB3ERQ (no longer /AG) was asking me some questions this morning about the radio, and I'm simply not familiar with it.

Reading the spec sheet from ICOM, or a catalog description online, is one thing. Hearing about real-world experiences is another...

[KJ3N]

It's the very bottom of the Icom line. Not a lot of frills. Filter options are expensive and you only get to put in one filter, so decide if you're going to be an SSB or CW operator up front.

It's an OK radio for the casual SSB ragchewer on 40m and above. CW ops should get the 500Hz filter up front. For semi-crowded bands like the General portion of 75m, it's going to start to have problems. If there's an SSB contest on, just shut it off and go do something else.

If your budget is minimal, this is the radio you buy. There are better choices, if you can spend more.

[NQ6U]

I've used one and agree with Jim. It's a decent but very basic rig, adequate for a beginner or causal user but there's a reason you see so many used ones for sale. Once you get more interested in serious DX or contest work, it's not going to cut it. It does have a DSP unit built in, though, as well as Icom's twin passband tuning, both of which are kind of nice.

BTW, the fact that used 718 can be had relatively cheaply has made it a popular choice among the PSK-31 crowd—a lot of them pick up a used unit off eBay or QRZ and dedicate it to digital work, where the rig's shortcomings are not so much of an issue.

[N8YX]

Talk to me about slaving a 718 to an R75 and controlling a remote antenna tuner...anyone done this?

[WØTKX]

I have had some face time with it. It's an OK radio.

For the money, I'd buy a better radio from the used market. IC-7000, Ten Tec, maybe a used FT-450? Lots of choices, better value. Just like a decent used car.

[K7SGJ]

I have had some face time with it. It's an OK radio.

For the money, I'd buy a better radio from the used market. IC-7000, Ten Tec, maybe a used FT-450? Lots of choices, better value. Just like a decent used car.

Just a little harder to change the oil.

[WØTKX]

Oh, I dunno, it depends.

A fairly recent model is likely to be surface mount technology, but new and reliable.

An older rig with discrete components from a good home is probably already fixed.

You can change the oil yourself. ;)

[KB3LAZ]

I used one for awhile and it worked well for ragchew. No frills, bells, or whistles but if the point is to chew on ye old rag, it works just fine. As others have noted, for anything else, there's master card.

[K7SGJ]

I used one for awhile and it worked well for ragchew. No frills, bells, or whistles but if the point is to chew on ye old rag, it works just fine. As others have noted, for anything else, there's master card.

And would you care to share that number with your buddies? Don't forget the expiration date, and the three digit thingy on the back.

[KG4CGC]

I agree with anyone who says that on the used market, between the IC-718 and the FT-450, the 450 would be a better buy. More bang for the buck as well as more options. Built in, that is.