Also known as: IC-7610, 7610
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The Icom IC-7610 is the step-up radio for people who outgrew watching one frequency at a time: two fully independent direct-sampling SDR receivers, each behind its own DIGI-SEL preselector, driving a 7-inch touchscreen with a dual-band scope and waterfall.1 It transmits 100 W on 160–6 m, tunes itself, and carries the station-integration extras the IC-7300 lacks — two antenna jacks plus RX in/out, dual USB, DVI display out, and a built-in LAN remote server — for around $3,500.
Key takeaways The serious-operator upgrade. True dual watch from two independent direct-sampling receivers (~100 dB RMDR class) makes split pileups and SO2V contesting native, not a workaround. 7-inch dual-band scope, RX antenna in/out, LAN remote built in. The costs: ~$3,500, an audible fan in a quiet shack, and no VHF/UHF. Still in production. Transmitting takes a Part 97 license; listening takes none. Where it ranks: best ham radio base stations.
Overview
The IC-7610 is what happens when the IC-7300’s recipe gets built for contest weekends instead of first stations. Since 2017 it has been the default “step-up-from-7300” answer, and in 2026 it’s still a current Icom product — widely regarded as the best value in its price bracket for serious HF work.
The headline is true dual receive: two independent RF direct-sampling receivers, not a main-plus-glimpse sub. You listen to the DX on one and your own transmit frequency on the other, watch both on the dual-band scope, and work the split like the big guns do. DIGI-SEL preselectors on both receivers keep strong adjacent signals from folding the band over — the contest-environment weakness the 7300 is known for is exactly what this radio fixes, with roughly 100 dB-class close-in dynamic range.
Ergonomics are classic Icom — a big touchscreen plus real knobs — though the menu tree runs deeper than the 7300’s, and early units went through a firmware maturation period. The one recurring community gripe is mundane: the fan runs frequently and audibly in a quiet shack — a persistent eHam theme worth knowing if your operating position doubles as a quiet office. Reliability is otherwise regarded as good.
On price: R&L had it at $3,499.95 in August 2026, with historical list prices reaching ~$3,900 before Icom’s rolling rebates — so shop the rebate cycle rather than the sticker. The used market runs $2,600–3,000, and a clean used 7610 is one of the better ways into flagship-class HF: unlike vintage iron, it’s a current-production radio with ongoing firmware support, so a used unit gives up nothing but the warranty.
Bands, modes & power
- TX: 160–6 m, 100 W, SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31, AM, FM. No VHF/UHF.
- Receivers: 2× independent direct-sampling SDR, DIGI-SEL preselection on both, true dual watch.
- Antennas: 2× SO-239 plus dedicated RX in/out — Beverages, loops, and external preamps welcome (a port the FTDX10 and IC-7300 both lack).
- I/O: dual USB, LAN with built-in RS-BA1 remote server, DVI external display, SD card slot. 13.8 V DC.
- Tuner: built-in ATU.
Operating & station integration
This is the most connectable radio in its class. The LAN port runs Icom’s remote server natively — operate the station from the house, or the other coast — without a shack PC in the loop. The DVI output mirrors the scope onto a monitor, and SO2V contesters get the two receivers plus two USB audio paths that loggers like N1MM expect. If your operating is 90% casual, all of this is capability you’re paying for and not using; that’s the honest case for staying with a 7300.
License note: transmitting here needs an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum — realistically General, since this radio lives on HF). Listening needs no license at all.
Programming & software
CI-V CAT plus the built-in RS-BA1 server give it full third-party support — WSJT-X, N1MM, fldigi, Win4Icom, logging suites. CHIRP isn’t a target here (no confirmed support, and nothing about an HF contest radio needs it). Firmware updates continue and have meaningfully improved the radio since launch.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk cannot transmit, so nothing here replaces an IC-7610 — but it’s the right first spend. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk shows you what’s actually on the air near you — repeaters, digital voice, band activity — and records and logs it all, before you commit flagship money or even a license fee. It’s also the honest answer for the family member who “just wants to listen”: full receive, zero cost beyond the dongle. Hardware guidance lives at best SDR for GopherTrunk and best HF SDR.
Who it’s for
- Buy the IC-7610 if you work split pileups, contest SO2V, run RX antennas, or operate remotely — the dual receivers and station I/O are worth every dollar to that operator. View on Amazon →
- Buy the IC-7300 if that paragraph didn’t describe you — same DNA, under a third of the price.
- Consider the FTDX10 for flagship-class dynamic range on a single receiver at half the money. Full rankings: best ham radio base stations.
Sources
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Icom IC-7610 product page — Icom America, on the dual independent direct-sampling receivers, DIGI-SEL preselectors, 7-inch dual-band scope, antenna/RX-in-out complement, LAN remote server, and built-in ATU. ↩
Frequently asked questions
What does the IC-7610 add over the IC-7300?
A second, fully independent direct-sampling receiver (true dual watch for split pileups and SO2V contesting), DIGI-SEL preselectors on both receivers, a 7-inch screen with dual-band scope, two antenna jacks plus RX in/out, dual USB, an external display output, and a built-in LAN remote server. It’s the same recipe, scaled up for serious operating.
Is the IC-7610 worth $3,500?
If you work split pileups, contest SO2V, or need RX antenna switching and remote operation, yes — it’s widely regarded as the best value in its bracket for serious HF work. If you mostly ragchew and chase casual DX, an IC-7300 at less than a third of the price does 90% of it.
Does the IC-7610 cover VHF/UHF?
No — it’s HF plus 6 meters only, at 100 W. For 2 m/70 cm in one box look at the Yaesu FT-991A, or monitor VHF/UHF for free with an RTL-SDR running GopherTrunk.
Is the IC-7610 still in production?
Yes. Introduced in 2017, it remains a current Icom America lineup product in 2026, with street price around $3,500 and Icom rebates moving it around.
Do I need a license to operate the IC-7610?
Transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97 — Technician at minimum, General for most HF privileges). Listening requires none, and its general-coverage receive works out of the box.