I really want an IC-746PRO. AES recently dropped the price of this radio to $1300, and for that price, I think it’s the best deal on the market.
At least it would be if not for that nagging IC151 problem.
There actually seems to be two problems with IC151. Both cause the rig to quit transmitting.
The first problem seems to be a thermal problem. Some IC-746PRO owners say that IC151 gets hot, causing it to fail prematurely. If you read the IC-746PRO reviews on eHam, it looks as though quite a high percentage of the units fail, and many fail more than once.
What’s even more confusing, or dismaying, is that the IC-756PRO uses this same IC in the same application, but IC-756PRO owners don’t report anywhere near the number of failures that owners of the IC-746PRO do. Many hams point to the difference in the two circuits. OZ2M, an electrical engineer by training with five years of experience with Motorola as a Senior RF Design Engineer, points out on his IC-746PRO web page that in the IC-756PRO, the VCC line is switched on and off, with the IC only being powered when the rig is transmitting. This will, of course, keep the part much cooler. OZ2M also shows on this page various heatsinks that some hams have designed and installed in attempts to keep the chip cooler.
K5LXP also experimented with heatsinks, but he took his fix a step further. In addition to adding a heatsink to IC151, he also found a way to switch the VCC to the chip. What he did was find an 8 VDC line that was switched on only during transmit and used that to power IC151. He suggests that perhaps you don’t need the heatsink with the VCC fix, as this modified circuit is similar to the circuit in the IC-756PRO, which does not seem to have an IC151 problem.
The second problem is an ESD problem, and Icom claims that if there is a problem it is an ESD problem, not a thermal problem. The Icom America website has a page titled, IC-746PRO – IC-151 Protection Diode Fix states,
There are rumors on the Internet that the circuit around IC-151 is incorrectly designed causing overheating of this part and that the protection diode fix is an attempt to mislead customers by ICOM. Nothing could be further from the truth. Measurements show that the surface temperature of IC-151 is low, even after 4 hours of continuous operation. Our service technicians do not see any discoloration of the circuit board or the deformation of parts that are the symptoms of overheating. As stated above, protection diodes have been shown to resolve the issue and no heating calculations are needed. ICOM America service records show that the failure rate of this part has been reduced to 1/10th of the previous value.
Note that they don’t say that the fix eliminates the problem completely. It is OZ2M’s opinion that the fix may indeed prevent some units from failing, but that the fix does nothing to prevent thermal failures.
It also appears that there’s more to this ESD problem than meets the eye. As one message to the IC-746PRO mailling list mentions, Burghardt Amateur Center is preparing a more comprehensive ESD fix. The message quotes someone at Burghardt, who says,
“Most of the cases when we see IC151 bad is due to static discharge. Not only will IC151 of the RF unit be bad but also D21,D22,D24, and Q25 of the Tuner control unit. Theses other components will cause the receiver to be noisy. Changing the supply line to IC151 will have no effect on this since the surge is coming down the receiver line and damaging the outputs in IC151. This will occur whether the IC151 is powered or not. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about what is the main cause of this failure. We are currently in the process of having a surge suppression board built for the IC-746,746PRO,756,756PRO, and 756PROII. It is installed on the tuner control board and will help protect all receiver components from static and excessive RF fields. It will be available 8/1/04 and sells for $69.95. If you have any questions please E-mail me at kaØjdn@d… or call 605-886-7314 and ask for David.”
All this is very troubling for me. I’d really like to buy this radio, but I’m afraid it will be just one hassle after another if I do. It’s especially troubling because I really like my IC-735, and have never had any trouble with it in the almost 20 years that I’ve owned it.
I swapped a few e-mails with K5LXP about this, and he was very kind to give me his take on the situation. He noted that hams have a long tradition of modifying gear, and while modern rigs are certainly more complicated than the older stuff, these modifications are not impossible to do. He also reminded me that at $1300, the IC-746PRO is a really great deal, and the cost of the modifications is very small.
In the end, I have the feeling that I’m going to bite the bullet and buy the IC-746PRO. Current production units already have the ESD protection diodes installed, and if IC151 does fail, I’ll apply K5LXP’s VCC fix.I really want an IC-746PRO. AES recently dropped the price of this radio to $1300, and for that price, I think it’s the best deal on the market.
Larry says
Hi Dan. Just wondering what you think of the ‘746 now. I’m thinking of getting one, but I need reliability. I use a TS-480SAT right now to calibrate the LP-100s. It’s very stable as far as power output goes, and covers 6m. Not a great DX radio though ;-) Who has the lowest price now? At what serial number did ICOM start doing the IC151 fix?
Larry N8LP
Dan KB6NU says
Not long after posting this, I actually did buy an IC-746PRO. I couldn’t be happier with it.
In the two years since I posted this, the furor over IC151 seems to have died down, and it appears that they’ve either fixed the problem or have been able to reduce the failure rate substantially. In any case, Icom will repair the radio for no charge should this be the cause of failuire.
It’s not an IC-756PROIII, but I still think it’s a great deal.
k4act says
Mine hasn’t given me any problems, nice rig
Roger KF4ZQM says
Why not just buy a nice used IC-756PROII for around $1300?
Dan KB6NU says
Hey, I’d buy one for that price. I think you’ll find that they go for a lot more than that, though.
HAMRADIOSTUFFING says
The 746 original all of the 756 line 756, 756 pro, and proII all use the same drive IC. There is varying degree of discussion why IC151 fails. Regardless since the IC has a high rate of failure in the 746pro. This clearly means the 746pro has design issue that ICOM is not really clear about. I have a 746 original that a got three years now and IC151 has not failed.
ICOM claims that it is a static issue, but I find that hard to believe. It is my understanding that 746 pro drive IC 151 with a high voltage which means it is dissipating more heat. So you guess is as good as mine why this part only fails in the 746 Pro.
Chuck says
Dan.. I just ordered one for dad K8HBI in Florida. You will hear him on 40 meters fists area.
Thanks Chuck K9HBI
Jean says
Well here it is 2010 and Icom 746 Pro IIs are still dying. Mine quit while I was transmitting on 10 meters. Went from 100 WATTS TO 0.1 WATT IN 60 seconds. No chance of it being a static discharge. Just a bad design.
Dan KB6NU says
Jean, I eventually did purchase an IC-746PRO shortly after I posted this, and have made more than 10,000 contacts with the radio. I’d certainly purchase another one should I be in need of one.
John KA2VWW / HP says
I recently upgraded to the 746PRO from a Kenwood TS520S. I had been off-the-air for years and have been happy with this rig. However I had a problem last night and am now finding all these mods to do. While I don’t have the “sudden death syndrome”, I did loose transmit on 30 and 20 meters. Looks like those bands share a component.
I think I will be pro-active and do the mods on the IC151 as well as obtaining a spare.
Sterling, N0SSC says
I don’t know if this will reach you, but firstly thanks for having this post up since 2004! It’s really helpful in my case:
I’ve got a IC-746 (non-pro) that is experiencing the “sudden death” no transmit.
I’ve not probed around to determine whether or not it’s IC-151 but I’m certain it is. I’m worried by this point they’ve ran out of stock!
Dan KB6NU says
My rig never did fail. I think what happens with issues like this is that a certain small percentage of radios fail, either because of marginal design or marginal components, and the issue gets a little blown out of proportion. Having said that, at one point, I thought that one of the relays in the antenna tuner had failed, so I sent the radio to SAR Technical Services, which is an authorized factory service center here in Michigan.
This service center has a great reputation. They didn’t find a problem with the antenna tuner, but they did add all the design changes, and I haven’t had a lick of trouble with the radio since.
Matt says
If I buy a used 746pro will it be repaired in the event of failure or is the warranty limited?
Dan KB6NU says
Good question. I think it’s getting to the point where it might be difficult to find someone to repair it. Hams here in MI use SAR Technical Services in St. Joseph to repair their Icoms. You can email them at [email protected] or phone 269-429-2334 and ask this question.
C Wright W4CEW says
SARTS and Icom America no longer support the 746 pro. Mine has been stuttering and called to see if they could repair it. The email reply back was “sorry 746 pro is no longer supported due to parts availability.
Joseph LoVerde says
How could Icom or its affiliates no longer support the Icom IC-746 PRO. A fine radio with a quark at times. It would seem that they are running the same philosophy as a famous Roman did back in the day when he washed his hands of a problem he had however He did not create the problem like Icom did. It is up to the rest of you what you do with regard to Icom but as for me, I know when to turn on my heal and walk away.
Joseph
KB3RAX
Carl Schultz says
I have an IC-746PRo that has audio noise, but nor signals. I could barely get a broadcast am signal. All the bands switch fine some birdies, but no signals. The VHF (2m) part works fine, good audio, transmits fine also at power.
Anyone have this problem, or any suggestions before I dig in to it? I also have a 746 that works perfectly. Have the Service and Op manuals, just have yet to troubleshoot. Seems it would be a common problem. Thanks & 73
Dan KB6NU says
I never had to dig into mine, but it sounds like some kind of RF amplifier problem.
W4aok says
I have 2 746pro’s and 1 746amateur.
What is the serial number when the problem was fixed? Also is the only option to find a replacement board now?