[ICOM] Icom 7800 Problem ?

Wed May 2 22:13:51 EDT 2007

I may have misspoke a little in implying one is better than the other. For 
all practical purposes working DX on cw and SSB, I can find no significant 
difference in either noise floor, sensitivity on weak signals or rejection 
of unwanted interference. Clearly not an empirical or scientific response 
but then this is only a hobby and I'm not too interested in advertising data 
or specs; only performance apparent to me.

Both sit adjacent on the desk separated only by a "temporary" A/B coax 
switch with which I compare receivers. As an example, have had other hams in 
the shack who I asked to turn their back to the desk while I switched 
radios. Of the 4 who have, all choose the 781 as the better listening to 
weak signals on both modes - not a statistically valid study but it got me 
thinking...
I'm sure others would disagree and don't have any bias for either radio - 
just telling what I hear.
Don
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Ramsey" <sramsey at nmsu.edu>
To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: [ICOM] Icom 7800 Problem ?

> Interesting.  In what ways was/is the 781 superior to the 7800?  What 
> would one expect to pay for a mint 781??  And of equal importance, does 
> anyone have one for sale??
> Tnx
> Scott, WN5DX
>
> At 05:19 PM 5/2/2007, you wrote:
>>Your post was a little difficult to follow Phil but if it helps, I have a 
>>7800 of the 600 series serial numbers and it has performed flawlessly thus 
>>far - through an MB5A tuner as well if that matters.
>>Have had a 781 since they first came out and actually prefer that over the 
>>7800. I think if I had your problems, I would not hesitate to get rid of 
>>it and all the frustrations.
>>73. Don
>>----- Original Message ----- From: <KG4LRU at aol.com>
>>To: <icom at mailman.qth.net>
>>Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 6:54 PM
>>Subject: [ICOM] Icom 7800 Problem ?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>Too the list
>>>I been an owner of 7800 since January this year , In fact 3 one used and 
>>>two
>>>new ones. A group of us all bought 7800 at the same time a few serial
>>>numbers apart.
>>>
>>>The first radio was used upgraded Roofing Filter radio was just returned
>>>from Icom with the upgrade purchased from Burghardts in SD from Jim The 
>>>screen
>>>would disappear I was able to reinstall the display cable that was not 
>>>fully
>>>seated and all was well . I really enjoyed the radio everything worked 
>>>Just
>>>Fine  except the screen problem. I liked so much that Bought a new one 
>>>and
>>>shipped the  radio who in turn resold the radio T a Buddy of mine in BC 
>>>Harry  Ve7JH
>>>in  BC . HE received it and all was well for two weeks Then one day 
>>>screen
>>>Flashed  bright white  and radio tripped the rear circuit breaker after
>>>resetting  the radio did power back up and worked but no power output. 
>>>The radio was
>>>returned Burghardts for repair and tradded for a new 7800. ( Harry and I 
>>>have
>>>run 781 since the radio was first built) Harry had decided that owning a 
>>>new
>>>one  since he owned the 781 so long that he would prefered to own a new 
>>>unit
>>>as I did  . Burghardts shipped him a new one . Used one had lost its 
>>>finals .
>>>
>>>In the mean time My new 7800 had Two weeks of run Time on it and it Died
>>>same fate as Harry Used one . Now Harry had  new one  and my new one  was 
>>>in
>>>transit back too Burghardts .
>>>
>>>WE also had a buddy in KC MO KB0VSL who runs a new 7800 Bought from
>>>different dealer But had serial number very close to ours  his 590, mine 
>>>604 Harry's
>>>616.  WE all used the same antenna s and use out board antenna  Tuners . 
>>>With
>>>talking with Jim at Burghardts and Dan Miles at Icom it was  suggest that
>>>because we had out board Tuner this caused the problem ,  Understand 
>>>that both
>>>Harry Ve7jh has over 50 years  Naval Radio  Officer and I was first Lic 
>>>in
>>>1969. And never had a problem with our 781 or any  other radios in the 
>>>Shack .
>>>
>>>Dan Miles ran  a short Test at Icom on a 7800 It was thought the  radio 
>>>was
>>>going into oscillations  causing the finals to go away or  the on board 
>>>Tuner
>>>was be left on causing the problem. Need less to say the 7800  passed not
>>>showing any problems whats so ever.
>>>
>>>Burghardts replaced the Both of our radios with new ones . I have had My 
>>>new
>>>7800 now just shy of two weeks with very little run Time since I travel
>>>weekdays for work. Harry on the other hand  has been operating his 
>>>everyday  . I
>>>just received  email from him That his new 7800 ,ser 645 failed . 
>>>Bottom Line
>>>he was in the shack got a call from the XYL to run too the store .  He 
>>>left
>>>the radio on his return the radio was off But the red light was not lit. 
>>>he
>>>reset the main switch on the back panel . The radio did come on and 
>>>received
>>>But No power  output  .
>>>
>>>
>>>Now my radio is still working  . But it got me thinking what could  cause
>>>this failure without transmitting .
>>>Now I have heard of other 7800 having failures of the same sort. But was
>>>never been able to confirm if they had been the same type of failure .
>>>
>>>I am guessing here  Voltage spikes from the power Lines ? Cant  really
>>>believe that we could have three failures on the 7800.  I live in KY 
>>>were our
>>>power company has power  spikes I can here them on my apcs not  sure how 
>>>big of
>>>spike . Also my 781 and Harrys 781 have never had a failure  , Only 
>>>difference I
>>>can see is the 7800 has switching supply and the 781 has  Linear supply .
>>>
>>>Has anyone out 7800 land experience this type failure .   I   was 
>>>thinking
>>>maybe losing neutral ground could be the problem.  I did a  quick check 
>>>but I am
>>>not seeing an unbalanced line.
>>>
>>>I know that 200 watt radios have had more final problems than the 100 
>>>watts
>>>ones regardless of Brand ,this was confirmed By Jim  at Burghardts  .
>>>
>>>I am thinking Heavy Duty surge protection . Please If you have had  this 
>>>type
>>>failure Let me Know.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Phil Zavagli AI4DQ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>************************************** See what's free at 
>>>http://www.aol.com.
>>>----
>>>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>>>Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>>>Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>>
>>----
>>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>>Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>>Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> 