Name: Icom IC-735
Brand: Icom

160m – 10m

Bands

100 W

Output

1985

Introduced

Frequency	TX: 160–10 m (incl WARC), RX: 0.1–30 MHz general coverage
Bands	160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m
TX power	100 W (100W SSB/CW/FM. 40W AM.)
Modes	USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM
Weight	5 kg (11 lb) - 11 lbs (5.0 kg). Dimensions: 9.5×3.7×9.4 inches (241×94×239 mm). Compact.
Connector	SO-239
Year	1985

Connectors

antenna	SO-239
mic	8-pin round (HM-12 hand mic included)
key	key jack
acc	accessory connector
afsk	AFSK terminals (rear, for RTTY)
civ	CI-V (computer control)
ext spkr	external speaker jack
dc in	DC 13.8V 20A
power req	DC 13.8V 20A max. External PSU required.

the compact classic, Icom's beloved mid-80s HF transceiver, still a recommended first HF rig 100W all HF bands 160m-10m + WARC (IC-730 successor; adds 160m, FM, general coverage!) general coverage receiver: 100 kHz - 30 MHz continuous (shortwave listening!) triple-conversion up-conversion receiver with 70.4515 MHz first IF 105 dB dynamic range Icom DFM (Direct Feed Mixer), feeds signals directly to high-level first mixer two quality crystal filters at first IF (virtually eliminates spurious responses) passband tuning (continuous center frequency adjustment of IF passband) IF notch filter (sharp, for strong interference) 10 dB preamplifier + 20 dB attenuator (standard) full QSK CW break-in RF speech compressor noise blanker with adjustable level dual digital VFOs (A/B) with 10 Hz digital tuning steps 12 memories RIT (Receiver Incremental Tuning) VOX with adjustable gain and delay AFSK terminals on rear panel for RTTY operation backlit LCD with continuous tracking of tuning control translucent cover over slide controls (NB level, RF gain, RF power, VOX gain, VOX delay) CI-V computer control interface completely solid-state (all circuits including driver and PA) praised for pulling weak signals out of the static; the general-coverage receiver impresses VINTAGE. DISCONTINUED. Replaced by IC-736.

Strengths

A recommended affordable first HF rig: general coverage 100 kHz-30 MHz (SWL and ham), a 105 dB dynamic-range receiver, PBT plus a notch filter, and full QSK. FM is included (the IC-725 needs an optional unit), it is compact at 11 lbs, with CI-V control and AFSK for RTTY. One reviewer said it pulled signals out of the static, $250-450 used.

Weaknesses

Vintage (1985). No DSP. 12 memories. No 6m. No digital modes. No USB interface. Optional IF filters are needed for narrower CW/SSB. The slide controls under a translucent cover can be fiddly. The backlight dims over time. No built-in ATU. Replaced by the IC-736.

Verdict

A compact HF classic. The IC-735 got many hams on the air and many SWLs into shortwave: general-coverage receive, PBT, a notch filter, full QSK, FM, and 100W in an 11-lb package for $250-450 used. It is still a genuinely good first HF radio for simple, reliable, no-DSP operation, and it improved on the IC-730 in every way.

The Icom IC-735 is one of the most beloved compact HF transceivers of the 1980s, small, well-built, and capable enough that many remain on the air decades later. It covers all amateur bands from 160 through 10 meters (including the WARC bands) at 100 watts in SSB, CW, AM, and FM, and its general-coverage receiver tunes continuously from about 100 kHz to 30 MHz, making it a capable shortwave listening set as well.

For its day it was sophisticated: dual digital VFOs, a quiet receiver with strong dynamic range, full break-in CW, RIT, a speech compressor, and a noise blanker, all in a package about nine inches wide and roughly eleven pounds. Its combination of small size, solid receiver, and easy operation made it a standard recommendation for new and traveling operators, and a clean used example is still a practical entry into HF.

It is a discontinued classic. Compare it with the budget-line IC-725 and the earlier IC-730.