wmartin@brl-vgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (05/09/84)
There seems to be some hang-up somewhere on the chain between the net.ham-radio newsgroup on USENET and the ARPA mailing list INFO-HAMS@SIMTEL20. For example, I submitted this response to the ICOM R71 inquiry several weeks ago from my SIMTEL20 account to the Info-Hams list, but I never saw it appear on net.ham-radio here at brl-vgr, where I read USENET newsgroups. In case it never got promulgated over net.ham-radio, I am resubmitting it as a newsgroup posting. This receiver has been reviewed and discussed in the SWL press and on the DX programs of major shortwave broadcasters, like Radio Nederland's "Media Network" and Radio Canada International's "SWL Digest". The general consensus has been that it, like the preceeding R70, is a great receiver for the money, but that ICOM came out with this new model with a great flurry of bells & whistles, but left out basic features like an RIT, which will impact RTTY use. Most of the problems reported with the R70 came from Europe, where there were a number of models with VERY poor performance -- seemed to be a quality control problem. I had put out an inquiry about this on USENET's net.ham-radio some months ago, asking if ICOM had shown similiar model-to-model quality variations on other products, but saw no replies or comments. (As an SWL, I see those ham products that are receiver-oriented, and the R70 was about the first ICOM product that got wide coverage in the SWL press, so I was not aware of much data on the preceeding ICOM product range, like their 2m gear.) For those who are interested in the computer-controlled features of the R71A, a warning -- all the ads and reviews I have seen have MENTIONED the computer-interface unit, along with the voice frequency readout and other accessories, but NOBODY has yet seen them, used them, or PRICED them! This usually means a "paper product" -- not yet built. I wouldn't count on one being available any time soon. A Swiss firm had announced a multi-channel memory unit for the R70, which I believe had some computer-controlled capabilities. I don't know if it became a viable product; ICOM announced the R71, with its built-in memories, just after that item had some publicity, which probably killed it off by pulling the rug out from under its market. (What a mix of metaphors!) However, it also was designed to work on at least one other popular model of shortwave receiver, so it might still be viable. Haven't seen any ads in the last few months, though. Has anybody seen any closeout bargain deals on ICOM R70's since the R71 was announced? Best price I had seen for the R70 was $574; surely somebody is dumping the remaining stock for less, unless they are all gone by now... Will Martin