[ICOM] Icom 746 Pro

[flearl at msn.com]

Hello All:
           I've read a number of resources that discuss the 746 Pro, seems like a lot of radio for the money but also has some common issues with IC151 failing resulting in TX output failure.  Icom has reportedly "fixed" the problem after s/n 3351 then read I another site where a fellow had the same failure with a rig in the 35XX range.  Not good. Doesn't seem that everyone agrees what the problem is, static discharge, heat, or power applied to a component (IC 151?) at all times causing the failure.  Icom says heat is not the problem. At least one local fellow had a mystery TX output failure in his 756 Pro 3 which was attributed to static discharge, everything was fine one day and then no power output next power up.  No storms, no winds, no events seem to support that theory.  My question is...Has Icom fixed the problem with the 746 Pro or is it to be avoided?  How immune to overload on RX is the 746 Pro?  Are the 6m and 2m sections as good as the HF section of the rig? How does a 746 Pro compare to a 756 Pro 3 on receive? 
73
Warren NØWF