Ham Nation’s George Thomas Explores the Radio Possibilities with the IC-7000

 

Ham Nation is over 20,000 strong on YouTube. For those looking for the latest and greatest in ham radio operations, the Nation’s covered it with over four hundred videos, including plenty of details on Icom’s IC-7000. And for Ham radio enthusiasts looking for even more community, Ham Nation’s YouTube page features the popular TWiT Tech Podcast Network and Ham Radio Crash Course channels that boast over 250,000 subscribers.

Amateur radio may sound niche, but it’s growing in popularity, and Ham Nation co-host George Thomas can relate to the enthusiasm. He’s been “hamming it up” for over thirty years, and lately, his go-to radio is the Icom IC-7000.

George’s Story

“Back in 1991, as a new ham, I bought my first Icom rig, really my first handy talkie altogether. That was the Icom IC24AT, a great little compact handtail, much smaller than anything else on the market at the time and about the size of the smaller radios today. Compact had many great features; it was a dual-band rig, and I used it to cross-band repeat and talk to all my friends; great times. But then I didn’t have any Icom radios for several years. Our local ham radio dealer didn’t sell Icom radios, so we mostly had another brand.

About 12 years ago, I had lunch with Ray Novak. When we finished eating, he walked by my truck, looked in, and noticed that I had two other brands of radios in there but no Icom. And he asked me, ‘George, do you even own any Icom radios?’ and said, no, I don’t. I have had one before, but I told him I didn’t have any now, and it had been years since I’d used an Icom rig.

Well, I ended up getting an IC-7000, and boy, let me say, that really changed my opinion. Not that I had any negative opinion of Icom before, but after using that rig and comparing it to the other two brands that I had, there was no comparison. The IC-7000 outdid the other radios, and since then, I’ve been exclusively Icom. With my HF, dual bands, mobiles, and hand-helds, Icom always seems to lead the field. Icom radios have become an essential part of my ham radio story. Why not write a new chapter in yours?”

Article by James Kent

Recent Episodes

In an era where digital communication happens at the speed of light, it’s easy to overlook the enduring charm and ingenuity of amateur radio. Yet, events like the Ham Radio fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, remind us that radio isn’t just a relic—it’s a thriving, inventive community built on experimentation and exploration. One striking example is…

Healthcare systems are under immense pressure to enhance patient experiences, improve outcomes, streamline operations, and address significant staffing shortages. The strain on the workforce is undeniable — the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that hospital employment dropped by nearly 100,000 between February 2020 and September 2021. In fact, nearly one-third of healthcare professionals considered leaving…

The 2024 Pacific Marine Expo served as a platform for exploring how advanced radio technologies are supporting specialized industries. Secure and far-reaching communication remains a critical need for the commercial fishing sector. Rick Waedekin, the President of Coast Marine Marketing and Icom’s West Coast Sales Rep, spoke with Harold Whittlesy of Satellite Technical Services…