[K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Sat Jan 31 11:38:31 EST 2009

Definitely start work on your antenna - and see how far the coax you have reaches.

Generally at a hamfest there is no opportunity to power up a rig, unless seller brought a battery and mobile antenna.  Your best opportunity is likely a sale 'from a home.'  But you never know!  

I do like the way older rigs have their controls laid out - plus

The controls on a rig age more than the electronics -- its the only minor maladies my TS-140 has!  That is why I wonder if other 20-year old rigs have the same issue.  My power supply model is Astron RS-20A (since i can see it from here!)  - its an old fashioned linear supply - black box with switch on front, fuse in back along with terminals.  After 20 years it powers my modern rig.  

(i did buy a little 7amp astron at a hamfest -- when i plugged it in it smoked!  the overvoltage protection thingey was what smoked.  i cut it out, and the think works ... i use it only on the test bench since 7 amps doesn't power anything above say 20 watts!  

I don't have broadband at home, but if you need QST reviews of particular rigs I can download them and email at work.  

--- On Sat, 1/31/09, ARC <comulada at verizon.net> wrote:

From: ARC <comulada at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...
To: "'Carroll County Amateur Radio Club'" <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks for the reply Curt, that’s what I was leaning towards. I am still looking though and he just mentioned it to me after I said I needed to get a HF rig now that I have my General ticket but, I am going to try out as many Rigs as I can before settling on anything specific. I really want to wait till the Timonium fest to see what’s going to be there. Don’t want to rush into anything before I go over every possibility. I’ve generally been the impulse purchase guy and I’m trying to change that so I’m not disappointed and frustrated with something I didn’t put much thought into. Still have put something up antenna-wise and probably need some more coax too. So much to consider...

73

Anthony 

From: k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Curt Milton
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:39 AM
To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...

Anthony

let's see if I can give you a little info.  when i bought my first 'modern' rig in 1989 the IC735 was a nice rig beyond my financial reach (so i bought a TS-140 and had lot's of fun).  

i can email you the arrl review on the IC-735 if you wish.  

my own guess at pricing --

a 20 amp power supply i presume ? new a bit over $100.  used still worth $ 60-70 (and a bit more if it is an Icom brand which doesn't matter that much - i use a generic Astron)

dummy load -- i don't know exactly - maybe $30 or more.  

rig - if it is useable shape - i would say $300.  so it looks like a fair price at a quick glance.  

definitely you should operate the rig, and check out the controls.  arrange for someone to give you a signal report.  try the rig on at least a couple bands.  

i am trying to remember if this rig has a battery memory issue ?  i thought there is a malady where this rig loses its operating system - and may require being fixed at Icom?  likely there is a fix here 'before it happens - and possibly/maybe likely it is taken care of.  i can't remember if its redundant batteries or how it works.  

the oldness of the rig does give me a creepy feeling not to put too much into it.  likely the power supply could be used with a new rig.  as i shared i know my old TS-140 has a couple annoyances.  at $300 it might be a 'good deal' -- hint.  then if it is used for just a few years, you have a power supply for your next rig!  

and it doesn't hurt to ask some one on the new about the seller, off the net of course!  very likely indeed a ham has a good rig at a fair market price -- but do a little more homework with help from others!  

73, curt

PS - the cheapest new rigs are around $600-700.  its getting a power supply that stretches things a bit

--- On Sat, 1/31/09, ARC <comulada at verizon.net> wrote:

From: ARC <comulada at verizon.net>
Subject: [K3PZN-List] Icom 735 opinions...
To: ke3fl at yahoo.com , "' Carroll County Amateur Radio Club '" <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 8:54 AM

Was on a net this morning and one of the guys has an Icom 735 he's looking
to sell. I've looked at the reviews on eham and they look pretty positive.
It looks like a nice rig and not a lot of complicated menus to fight with.
He says it's in mint condition and it comes with mic, p/s, dummy load and
manual, if I remember correctly. He said he paid about $800 for it when it
was new and he said he's looking for about $400 for it. Any thoughts on the
Rig, Good/Bad deal? 

73,

Anthony
KB3RJH

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