Icom M700 Mods -

The Icom M700 was a tank. Built for the brutal salt spray of commercial shipping, its hefty chassis and reassuring click of the big rotary knobs promised a lifetime of reliable service. For most sailors, that was enough. For Eli, it was a starting point.

Step-by-Step Guide (Common Method for early M700 models)

DSC Upgrade

• The standard crystal oscillator can be replaced with a TCXO unit if the frequency stability tolerance is too loose for modern digital modes (like PACTOR or VARA).
• This generally requires removing the original crystal unit and soldering in a compatible TCXO module (referencing the Icom service manual for pin-outs).

In an era of SDRs and $1000 Chinese "all-band, all-mode" rigs, the Icom IC-M700 seems anachronistic. But a fully modified M700 offers something no new radio can: 150 watts of commercial-grade RF output, a front end that won't blow out in a contest, and a level of reliability that has earned it the nickname "The Brick." icom m700 mods