ICOM IC-7300
2020-05-22 I've really enjoyed the ICOM IC-7300. It's an excellent rig. I don't think I've found anything that I really dislike about it. The few things that I thought initially I didn't like cleared up as i gained experienced and understood more settings, etc. I guess that is one of the things I've noticed is that it has a lot of settings and customization. They aren't particularly difficult and allow you to make it "your" rig.
I've now logged 47 QSOs with the rig using a variety of wire antennas. So far the only issue I've found is that the built-in tuner won't tune my 40-10 meter EFHW Inverted Vee on 30 meters. It will tune a very similar one that is set up as a sloper! I've mated the rig with my LDG Z-11 Pro II which will tune anything!
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After making my DIY speaker reflector from thin plywood and shown in the photo, I came across a more sophisticated one in the IC-7300 Facebook group. It is printed on a 3-D printer.
My friend, KD9KHI has a printer so I sent the link to him and a couple days later he sent me one! It is also pictured. It works very well and I recommend it.
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2020-05-13 Got my IC-7300 yesterday from HRO. Came around 11:00AM. Spent most of the day rearranging my desk, figuring the rig out and getting it set up. This morning a friend helped me get the digital interface going with HRD.
I've had a dozen SSB, digital and CW QSOs (with straight key and paddle) with it using my QRPGuys EFHW Inverted Vee, DIY 1/4 wave 20 meter vertical with loading coil for 30 and 40 meters and my MFJ EFHW sloper. Only need the tuner for 30 meters on the EFHW antennas. It will tune the MFJ one but not the QRPGuys inv vee.
Still a lot to learn but I'm impressed. The internal speaker is great but it shoots out the top. So I made a little reflector out of some thin plywood from my RC plane building hobby. Makes a noticeable difference. It just sits on top of the radio. May add a couple small magnets to keep it in place. All that to say, it's a quality rig.