New icom 7800 at $11,000

[K5YY]

I certainly hope that Icom recognizes that $11,000 for a new transceiver deserves to have minimal to no problems and, if so, the warranty should be longer than one year. Anyone who spends that much money on a transceiver expects that enough R and D has been done and that the rig won't have to be sent back anytime soon for major glitches. If Icom expects THIS kind of pricing, then the warranty should be at least 3 years, maybe five, and that would be parts and labor and shipping back to them at their cost. Beware if warranty is only 12 months because this rig will be heafty on repair costs. $11,000 would buy 3 Orions, 5 FT1000 MP Mark Vs and 4 nice 781s. I am still floored about the pricing, almost as much as the Signal One 1030CI at $12,600 when it came out. After 47 years in this hobby, I wonder if ANY rig is worth even $5000, much less $11,000. Most recent transceivers get the job done ultimately in making those needed QSOs, whether it be DXing, contesting or just rag chewing, and I doubt an $11,000 rig will get you there any faster 99.9 % of the time. Just an opinion - your mileage may vary! 73 San K5YY http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

First of all, everything is getting pretty expensive these days, not just radios... I'm unhappy about it too, but in this case, there is a reason: the volume of top-end ham rigs produced is low, and so the R & D costs cannot be divided among a lot of people, like they can with more mass-produced items. So, I guess the bottom line is that if we want companies like Icom to develope a new high-end radio, we must expect to pay a high price for it. The fact that they did it shows that they believe they will sell enough of them to make a few bucks, so perhaps that's an encouraging sign.

One of my main complaints about the ham radio industry is that they don't have a nice selection of low-end basic radios on the market. There's so much talk about making it easier for people to get a license, well how about making it more affordable to buy a rig ? That seems like a more important issue to me...

[ka5s]

It's a Ferrari. Eventually, a lot of the things that go into it will end up coming over the counter in more accessible equipment.

And after all, how many of us could have afforded a new Signal One?


Cortland

[n7wsb]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (w2fgv @ Dec. 13 2003,23:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">One of my main complaints about the ham radio industry is that they don't have a nice selection of low-end basic radios on the market. There's so much talk about making it easier for people to get a license, well how about making it more affordable to buy a rig ? That seems like a more important issue to me...[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
For one thing the 7800 is top of the line state of the art - its gonna be expensive. You get their next greatest radio for around 2200$ (the 756). 7800 is pretty cool though - it can do all the digital modes inside the radio, has usb, ethernet, cf card ports - even has a vga plug so you can connect it to a bigger screen.

However for everyone here - here's a list of radios Icom sells that I consider basic and cheap http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif.

IC-746 - 1319$ from hro
IC-706 - 729$ from hro - this one does 70cm through 160m.
IC-703 - 609$ from hro
IC-718 - 489$ from hro

[w9ass]

Don't forget the Icom IC-910: The Cadillac of 2 meter/440 dual-band rigs. At nearly 1100$, It does everything the 207 does, and just a little more. When you are no-code, you might as well look good being one...

73,

KC9DGM

[N0ZB]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (medicineman @ Dec. 14 2003,00:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">$11,000 would buy 3 Orions, 5 FT1000 MP Mark Vs and 4 nice 781s.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'll take 6 more Omni VIs, an Orion, a 10000ft roll of speaker wire and an assortment of old keys and bugs.

[WA2ZDY]

DGM, you need to do something about that avatar. #Put a slash through it or something. #Maybe just get rid of it? #Some folks here might find it objectionable. I know I do.

Anyway.

The problem I see with ham equipment these days is most of the new rigs have features - probably expensive ones - most of us will never use. #Those things cost all of us who buy the rigs money. #Most of the rigs do the basic things - receive and transmit - fairly equally. #Sure throw in some filters, we all need them. # #But then the stuff starts getting deep.

I had a TS440. #It had 99 memories. #Guess how many of them I used. #None. #HF and memory channels didn't seem to go together to me. #Now with the 60m channels, it makes some sense, but how many memories do rigs have today?

My brother has some kind of VHF/UHF rig with 512 memories. #For what???? #The next generation of that rig will be an &quot;improved version&quot; with 1024 memories for $100 more. #Why? #

This new $11,000 Icom has a VGA output. #So what? #I want my next HF rig to have an audio output. #I need to HEAR my rig, not see it. #I have a vga monitor on my computer - where it is needed.

To keep the prices up and up and up, they throw more bells and whistles at us. #That's where the competition is. #Comparing bells and whistles. #Think about it, when was the last time most of you used most of the bells and whistles you paid for in your rig? #I'm sure some of you do, but most? #I doubt it. #But you HAD to have the latest and greatest.

I'll bet plenty of folks will buy that new Icom. #Just as plenty of folks bought Signal Ones back in the 70's and plenty of folks bought Collins in the late 40's and early 50's. (A 75A-1 was $775 in 1948. #How much money was that in 1948 dollars? #Mind boggling, isn't it? #Plenty were sold though. #No wonder wives have always hated #ham radio.)

Am I suggesting a return to the HQ120 (which was over $300 in 1938 - the depression - #by the way . . .) and HT37 of my youth? #No, but come on, how much crap do we need to buy before we're happy?

I'm off the soapbox now, thanks for tuning in. #We return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

At 5¢/ minute, I can make a lota calls for $11K !!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

TOM K8ERV

[W5HTW]

In 47 years as a ham, most of them active, I doubt I've spent $11,000 on ham radio totally. If I bought an $11,000 radio, I'd expect it to include 4 wheel drive and a 290 HP engine, 6 speed transmission with overdrive, automatic coffee maker, dishwasher and cable-ready TV tuner.

But there are some who will have one of these for each band it covers, with matching towers and LP yagis. They view ham radio as a profession. I view it as a hobby, and I have other places to spend my bucks.

&quot;For the love of boatanchors.&quot;

ed

For that kind of price , I'll keep my old 745 . It has all the bells and whistles that i need and it didn't cost near that much . It has all the band and mode capability that I need and use so i reckon it has a permanent home right here on my desk. When I need more than SSB and CW to enjoy this hobby of ours , it will be time for me to find somthin else to do .

73
Randy ( KI4ATH )

[KC0OFZ]

$11,000, boy, try to explain that bill to the XYL http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

KC0OFZ

[KC5JSR]

I'm sorry, I don't think Iwould spend that much on a radio, I don't try to keep up with the jones.

I run a Ten-Tec Omni D, it came with the secondary VFO and the Ten-Tec 252 MO power supply. What a great rig, I might have paid a little too much http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif considering the rig was a 10, inside and out I was happy to shell out $120.00.
It may not have the WARC bands, and not a whole lot of bells and whistles, but it gets the job done, EVERY time.

Just like my home brew antenna, I paid way too much, about $12.00. I guess having a 756 pro or something like that would be great, be something pretty to look at!

I reckon if someone gave me one I would thank them, I reckon I'm just too much into tinkering, and I can bet, I wouldn't do much tinkering on a rig that cost that much.

In closing, I got into Amateur Radio to tinker, my Pappa was a tinkerer, my Dad was a tinkerer and I tinker too.
Boy'd/Girls, it don't get no better.

73'
John C. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif now i know what i want for CHRISTMAS !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ...wonder when GIGAPARTS is going to give one away ?? ( hint hint )...kd4amg

[WA2ZDY]

$120 for an Omni D? Wow. I remember when that rig was the cat's meow. The only thing it didn't have that others did was the passband tuning/IF shift. The TS820 had that, but the Omni D was solid state, had full QSK, and an outstanding notch filter. Choices choices . . .

Around 1979/1980 I dated a young lady ham whose entire family were all licensed. The Omni D was the father's rig. What a pleasure it was to use that rig. I'll never forget it.

$120? Wow. Great deal!

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif so he did not get to be your father-in-law ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[ki4bgo]

$11,000? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif For that price it better have 4 wheels ,a sunroof, AND room for my family inside it!!! That's ridiculous! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[W0LC]

For $11,000 I could put together a great station with individual components vs. one radio.

I think I will wait until that radio has been fielded for a while, and then if I am interested, will pawn one of my kids! At that price, I can afford to pass on it. My 775DSP works just fine!

Hey guys, I am first in line to buy that rig. Please don't those behind me trample!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

TOM K8ERV

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif let us see...if I trade in my yeasu 840 , how much would I still owe...( about $ 10,900 )...yep they might give me $100 for my yeasu 840 . Amazing that i see in the swap/used/for sale items a Yeasu 840 for sale ( always in mint condition..never been used ) for a nice price. Not much less than a brand new one with a warranty. Some of these SELLERS must think the BUYERS are really really dumb......(not) ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[W0LPQ]

If you are referring to the PowerHam site, it would appear that it is a Romanian Scam.

The Icom site, QTH.com and EHam are aware of it. Some of the Icom guys have pretty much gotten the word from a couple of Romanian hams. Another spin off of one that appeared 2 years ago.

Also not a good idea to offer a radio for sale, with price prior to FCC Acceptance, which will not happen until next year.

73

Bill, WØLPQ

[w9ass]

According to Universal Radio, the 7800's price was not yet determined but was &quot;probably grounds for divorce&quot;...That says a lot right there, anyone out there considering purchasing (financing) this radio when it is approved?

ZDY: The avatar is here due to my sense of humor, and to upset overzealous censors such as yourself. I am offended everyday, but if there is a lesson to be learned, it is to laugh, smile, and keep on rollin. So chill..

73,

KC9DGM

What is an avatar, and where is it? I did not see anything unusual.

TOM K8ERV

[w9ass]

Tom K8ERV,

An avatar is the cute little picture that you have next to your posts. Apparently my Osama (he prefers to be called Usama) bin Laden avatar has been deleted at the request of someone who is easily offended, to my disgust.

This world takes all kinds, but I can see the dissolving of the 1st amendment present here on occasion. Oh well, have to keep on truckin'.

73,

KC9DGM
Professional Cogitator

Didn't know I had any cute pix next to my posts. Can I put my Pix there? Might change the world!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

TOM K8ERV

[N0ZB]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC9DGM @ Dec. 17 2003,05:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Apparently my Osama (he prefers to be called Usama) bin Laden avatar has been deleted at the request of someone who is easily offended, to my disgust.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Imagine how offended he'll be when he finds out the ChickenBanders think this site is called queerz.com!

[na6m]

powerham.com was disabled around 16 December. A write up on how this scam works has been put together for educational purposes at

http://www.powerham.net

[W1CAR]

lol.. that is a rich ham's dream, and the poor ham's worst nightmare. I cannot possibly think of features on a radio that could make it worth that much money; to me at least.

My 746 cost me under a grand. I love it, and it transmits on the same frequencies.

Icom 7800 = blah

who cares. anyway there's a nice 4wd pickup down the street for sale for under 10 grand.

I think they priced it at 11G just so Wal-Mart could discount it to $3.95 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

TOM K8ERV

[kd7eze]

ERV---
#Tom, don't feel bad. I've been a member here for a couple of years, and have NEVER seen an avatar next to ANYONES post, under ANY category. I also have never seen any instructions to add an avatar. No great loss, as 99% of them are boring anyway. Guess I'm not a computer geek #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

As for the original topic, I have a modest shack with 3 towers, and enough antennas to work EME and the satellites. I also own and maintain 3 repeater sites, and have WAY LESS than $11,000 invested in it all. IMHO, if you just gotta buy an $11,000 rig, you obviously have more money than sense. Or, as previously stated, you're trying to keep up with the Joneses (sp).

KD7EZE

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif gonna get me a small bit of paper and write FT- 1000 M and scotch tape it on top of the letters on my rig that say yeasu ft - 840... so it can be a &quot; big rig &quot; ... and use cardboard and write FORD on the cardboard, and duct tape it on my CHEVY truck tailgate so it can be a &quot; real pick up truck &quot;.......... and write ZENITH on a sheet of paper and put it over the &quot; sanyo &quot; of my tv set .....and put MARANTZ on a sheet of paper to put over my &quot; pyramid stereo speakers &quot;....did this idea years ago with my &quot; radio shack &quot; CB and made it into a COBRA 2000 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif kd4amg

[G7HEU]

You guys don't know when you are well off!

I think the dollar / pound sterling exchange is roughly 1.5 / 1.

Despite that the dollar prices some have quoted are lower than I would have to pay here in good old pounds.

Also, please send me some cheap gasoline.....

Merry Christmas to all http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Steve
M0HEU / G7HEU

[n0ov]

What do you get when you spend $11,000 for a radio and get hit with a lightning strike..........................

Given my budget think I'll stick with my IC-735 and Yaesu-840 for now.

[n0ov]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (G7HEU @ Dec. 21 2003,12:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You guys don't know when you are well off!

I think the dollar / pound sterling exchange is roughly 1.5 / 1.

Despite that the dollar prices some have quoted are lower than I would have to pay here in good old pounds.

Also, please send me some cheep gasoline.....

Merry Christmas to all #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Steve
M0HEU / G7HEU[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Don't you good folks also have to pay a radio tax also?

Or have they done away with such things? # I'll be polite and pass on the cheap &quot;gas&quot; jokes.

73

[ky5u]

My dream rig:


$11,000 Icom Model 7800
$ #599 #Ameritron Amp.

Hey-o Howdy, I'm a BIG GUN now!!! # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[G7HEU]

Hello KC0LNU

Not sure what you mean by 'radio tax'. We have a sales tax or ' value added tax' of 17.5% on almost everything. That's after the 40% tax on salary that many people have to pay.

Perhaps you were thinking of the 'Television Licsence'. It's around $150 and if you get caught watching a T.V. without one there's a big fine and a criminal record.

Myself, I'm happy to pay it - the BBC, which is funded by the fee, produces some of the best programmes in the world.

What's worse is that many of us are used to having a car as part of our salary. Our taxman has decided that this practise is to be discouraged. He has introduced a series of tax levys based on the vehicle value and it's engine emmissions. My 2.5 Ltr is considered excessive and is costing me a fortune in tax. I need to change it as soon as possible.

Good old England!

Best wishes

Steve
M0HEU / G7HEU.