Is ICOM IC-R71E a good buy? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: cemelec
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 07:18:18 am
content: I have always had an interest in SW (listening only) and have had various receivers over the years.I'm looking at a ICOM IC-R71E , is it still a decent receiver for general purpose all band reception? (I have requisite skills and test equipment to repair / rejuvenate if necessary)Or, suppose I were happy to spend up to around £500 / $750 would I be better with a more modern offering? Suggestions welcomeThanks, Charles

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 07:57:00 am
content: All depends on what you want to do, but honestly I would not invest any money in such an old device.Why not go the SDR route. There are modern radios from premium brands, but you can get very interesting hobby/amateur devices on AliExpress which have pretty good reviews.Regards,Vitor

author: HB9EVI
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 09:48:23 am
content: if you get it for a reasonable low price, why not, but more than a few 10 bucks, I wouldn't spend for it

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 10:05:16 am
content: Well, I think up to 100 bucks would still be reasonable and it will sell for more on eBay. No doubts about that.I was referring to the mentioned budget of 500-750 Pounds!Here are some more interesting options, IMHO (in no particular order):KN990RS978RS918XIEGU G1MXiegu G90Search them at AliExpress and on Youtube (reviews).I think you get more fun out of these than on an old transciever boat anchor.Regards,VitorPS: This more extensive reply was written on a PC (before I was on the mobile phone, hence the lack of examples)

author: HB9EVI
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 01:09:16 pm
content: sure it will sell for more on ebay - but that doesn't mean that it's worth the bucks; no idea why all the world is crazy about old crappy radios for almost any foolish price you can imagineyea 100 bucks would be my personal maximum - if I had need for another radio

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 02:13:16 pm
content: QuoteOld maybe,but it most certainly wasn't considered crappy when released in the mid 80's.

author: HB9EVI
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2021, 02:44:03 pm
content: it's not primarily a matter of age, but also about how well the operator cared about the device; I better spare details about how such radios look coming from the environment of a heavy smokerage can become a problem, when exotic chips start to fail or leaking electrolytic caps cause corrosion on the PCB; ageing is also happening in pure semiconductor devices; often it starts with PLLs not locking a.s.o. sometimes you have in the end a huge to-do pile; some radios are mechanically a disaster like the sandwich-construction of devices like the FT-7x7 series; that's no fun to work on those one

author: n5al
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2021, 09:02:20 pm
content: Quote from: Bicurico on September 22, 2021, 07:57:00 amhttps://www.sdrplay.com/--> it's very popular and designed in the UK.BTW, shortwave listening isn't anything like it used to be back in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Many players, both big and small have left the game. Proportionally, less programming is aimed at the first world countries and more is aimed at developing countries (in their local language). Nowadays, you will find a number of religious broadcasters and the omnipresent Radio China International, as you scan the bands.

author: msuthar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2021, 10:26:16 am
content: Specially for Icom IC-R71 there is a technical issue its parameters are stored in a RAM which is backed by a lithium battery.When this battery fails the rig becomes dead.The PLL s N data and memory data also various mode offset data gets lost.It is very difficult to reprogram the ram.There were some ram cards were available with PAL and Eprom in old times.this linkhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/programming-volatile-memory-boards-in-older-icom-rigs/

author: cemelec
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 03:34:25 am
content: So in the end after much researching and thanks to various responses to my original post, I have ended up with these:- SDRplay RSPdx- ICOM IC-7300 (taking foundation license exam before end of year)Somewhat over my original intended budget, but 100% worth it in every way. Both are fantastic radios, and the steep learning curve of both keeps my brain occupied. I'm retired now, so I was brought up in the analogue age, and I don't think I would ever go back to technology even as recent as the 1990's or 2000's. In the 1980's I worked in the radio comms industry (Racal and Park Air) and the leading edge technology of those days wouldn't be good enough for most of todays amateurs.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 05:09:10 am
content: IC-7300