Icom Ic-7000 Ft8 -

You already own an IC-7000 for SSB/CW and want to dabble in FT8 without buying a second radio. It is a robust, great-sounding receiver.

The Icom IC-7000 is a brilliant "shack-in-a-box" radio. For FT8, it works flawlessly once you understand its quirks . It is not plug-and-play like a modern IC-7300 or a Flex, but for a mobile/portable rig with 100W on tap, it is a surprisingly capable WSJT-X companion. icom ic-7000 ft8

The Jack of All Trades... Master of FT8? A Real-World Review of the Icom IC-7000 for Digital Modes You already own an IC-7000 for SSB/CW and

You are building a dedicated digital station. For the same used price ($500-$700), you can often find a modern SDR like the Icom IC-7300 (for a bit more money) or a cheaper dedicated transceiver with a built-in sound card. For FT8, it works flawlessly once you understand its quirks

Stick a small 12V USB fan on the heatsink blowing into the radio. It drops the operating temperature by 15°C and saves your finals.

Deducted points for external sound card requirement, loud fan, and thermal stress. Added points back for receiver quality and reliable CAT control.

4/5 Stars (with caveats)

This is the original version of Bvckup. It was written for Windows XP, last updated in 2010 and it's now well behind times. Use at your own risk, basically.
It has been superseded by Bvckup 2 - a faster and significantly more refined revision of the same idea. Have a look.
http://www.bvckup2.com