New Icom HF Radio?

Hi

Icom website "news" suggests it was released in late 2011...so no....its not new.

Cheers
Greg

Very nice looking piece of equipment,

This will take you direct to the PDF FILE

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This radio has been out for about 18 months and is a redesigned and updated version on the 7000 with more user friendly features designed for ease of use .

The biggest difference is the 8100 can be controlled fully from the microphone like the current Codan and Barrett...... or from the remote head.

The 8100 has 500 channels and the 7000 has 400 channels.

The 8100 has a few more optional accessories.

The 8100 is narrower then the 7000 by about 65mm but longer by 20mm.

The 8100 is more water and dust proof and a bit more shock resistant.

I'm sure there would be improvements inside.



The 7000 was Icoms first land HF radio and the 8100 is just an evolution of the 7000.

We have the IC-F7000 on the VKS network and it works well..... I prefer the 7000 over the 8100, the 7000 controls are easier to use and read and are not as cluttered.

The only thing I would do is don't use the Moonraker antenna Icon supplies...... use the Codan 9350 or 3040 with an Icom converter box.

There must be quite few radios that would be perfect for outback mobile use. The Vertex 1700 (Yaesu) was released in 2005. It needs to be programmed with a PC. It has Selcall built in.
It can plug straight into a tapped whip, or use a FC 40 to tune anything from a barb wire fence to dinner fork.
I just acquired one on eBay for $520 (including FC40 and Fc30). Will I hold my breath waiting for VKS 737 to approve it?