[ICOM] Info needed please

[Renee]

Hello John and everyone,
Thank you so much for the info. No, I have not found any of the radios 
mentioned. Have not really started looking yet. Just trying to gather 
some info first. Right now I have an Icom 775DSP loaded with filters and 
all. I am thinking of selling it. I bought it a year ago and just have 
not gotten to use it much at all. Even tho a rig like that has a 
fantastic reputation and all, I can not really see letting such an 
expensive radio just sit there and not be used. I would like to maybe 
replace it with something not so expensive but something that is 
reliable and would hold it's own during contesting etc. Any other 
suggestions or recommendations would be great appreciated. I would like 
to stick with Icom but would consider other makes too.
Also, I would need to sell my 775 first, but does anyone have any of the 
above radios for sale? Especially the 751A with all the needed 
mods/repairs for the RAM and trimmer caps? If not, where does one get 
the ROM board and needed repairs from?
73,
Renee


John wrote:
> Hi Renee,
> 
> The 751A series has a problem where the plastic trimmer capacitors go bad and have to be replaced.  I do not think the other models you list suffer from this problem.  Also, the 751A has a RAM which requires a battery and when the battery fails the rig quits working until Icom replaces the battery and reprograms the RAM. However, you can buy an aftermarket ROM board that completely eliminates this problem.  
> 
> Of the models you list, the 751A has the best receiver and reputation.  They seem to go for $500 or so, depending on how they are filtered and whether the caps have been replaced.  Also whether they have the internal PS or not.
> 
> The 736 is a pretty good rig since it also includes 6 meters.  Very high reviews on eham.net. It comes with an internal keyer, internal tuner, and internal PS.  However, the stock SSB filters are not as good as the ones in the 751A.  Same for the SSB filtes in the 737 and 738.  The 736 is still considered a very good radio, and goes for $600 or more. You can add optional CW filters, but not SSB filters.
> 
> The 738 is a 736 without 6 meters and the internal PS.  It is about $550 or so.
> 
> The 737A came out previous to the 738.  Similar in many ways but not as refined.  It does for $500 or so.
> 
> The 735 came out slightly after the 751 did-around 1986 or so.  Was produced for a very long time.  Limited to a CW filter in 1 IF, but it also had passband tuning and a manual IF notch.  Pretty advanced for a rig in its class. Also has an internal keyer option. They go for around $350.  One of the first radios with a LCD display.
> 
> 73s John AA5JG
>