Ask anyone who has operated Icom’s beloved IC-7300 HF Plus 50 MHz Transceiver and they’ll tell you it packs a lot of punch for the moderate investment. A game-changer when it was unleashed on the market in 2015, Icom’s first RF Direct Sampling System entry-level SDR altered the HF transceiver landscape with a highly affordable, high-performance base/portable HF radio.
Still, some users of the IC-7300 saw room for improvement. The folks at Icom listened to customer feedback and went to work, unveiling the new IC-7300MK2 HF/50 MHz Transceiver at the 2025 JARL Ham Fair in Tokyo—about a decade after the original IC-7300 hit the market.
Want the original IC-7300? You’ll find it at DX Engineering.
All the Goodness of the IC-7300 & More
The IC-7300MK2 HF/50 MHz Transceiver introduces a host of advanced features and refinements that elevate the performance and usability of the original model.
Enhancements include:
- An HDMI port that enables connection to an external monitor for displaying frequency, waterfall, scope, and menus, with the option to route audio to the monitor’s speakers. Additionally, the added USB Type-C port supports dual virtual COM ports and audio I/O, enabling simultaneous use of digital modes and logging software with a single USB-C/cable.
- Improved RMDR (Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range) and phase noise performance, delivering 105 dB RMDR (typical at 2 kHz offset) and –139 dBd/Hz transmit phase noise at 1 kHz offset. This ensures cleaner reception and transmission in crowded band conditions. RMDR is a key performance metric that indicates how well a receiver can handle strong signals close to a weak desired signal without introducing noise due to reciprocal mixing. A higher RMDR value means better receiver performance in crowded band conditions, especially during contests or DXing.
- RX antenna IN/OUT connectors (SMA), which enable you to take advantage of antenna characteristics for optimized reception, such as avoiding interference and QRN. External bandpass filters and preamps can also be connected to these connectors. This feature allows operators to configure the receive path independently from the transmit antenna, supporting the use of external filters, preamps, or noise mitigation tools for improved reception.
- Simplified Remote Control via RS-BA1 software enables remote operation, whether from a remote location within your home QTH or from a remote location somewhere around the world. With the addition of an RJ-45 Ethernet jack, a base station computer is not required. You can remotely turn the transceiver ON or OFF from anywhere.
- Built-in CW decoder that allows the operator to decode Morse code without using a PC or other external equipment. The decode filter automatically follows the target signal, and keying speed is automatically adjusted.
Visit DXEngineering.com to check on the availability of the IC-7300MK2 and place your order.
