Although we have two 7700s, for this outing we wanted to compare our IC-7800 and the new IC-7700 alongside each other in contest conditions. It’s all well and good reading up on stats and what radio has the best performance numbers but at the end of the day this means little if you can’t use the thing in the heat of battle. Ergonomics and reliability are just as important. It’s no good having the best IMD figures at this and that point so many KHz up or down when the rig next door fires up and crashes it!

WPX CW was our first outing with the 7700. We ran it constantly for 48hrs without any problems and the op’s liked the layout and feel of the radio. Comments like “a proper radio” and “isn’t it big with nice knobs” were among some expressed by the op’s. The clear frequency and filter read out was much appreciated. The very high build quality was also noticed and if comparisons have to be made then the rig it replaced (Orion) it is very clear that Icom are streets ahead with this one.

The performance was certainly up to the IC-7800 if not slightly better but difficult to say for sure at this time. I have not tried it on SSB yet so looking forward to that!

So to sum it up, the IC-7700 is a very competent performer, the op’s liked it and found it easy to use.

It did not lock up, crash or have any operational issues at all so seems to be a stable platform in a high RF contest enviorment.

I will put it through its paces for sure, but even at this early stage in our relationship we like it a lot.

73 Paul G6PZ