I run both of these radios, so this isn’t a spec sheet comparison pulled from a catalog. It’s what actually matters once you’ve had each one on the air for a while. If you want the full rundown on either radio individually, I’ve got complete guides for the Yaesu FTX-1 and the Icom IC-7300 Mark II.
Connectivity: the 7300 Mark II Pulls Ahead
The IC-7300 Mark II has an HDMI port built in, and it’s genuinely useful, not a gimmick. Plug in any HDMI monitor and you get the full waterfall, scope, and menu system blown up on a big screen. If you run a shack with a secondary monitor for logging or digital modes, this is a nice upgrade over squinting at the radio’s 4.3-inch display.
It also has a LAN port, so you can control it directly over your local network with Icom’s RS-BA1 software, no separate computer sitting next to the radio acting as a server. That’s a real convenience if you want to operate from another room or set up remote access without extra hardware.
Icom also has SDR mobile apps for iPhone and iPad that connect over the network and let you control the 7300 Mark II from a tablet or phone. They work well, and it’s a nice way to run the radio from the couch or another room without booting up a computer at all.
The FTX-1 doesn’t have either of these. If HDMI output and native LAN control matter to your setup, that’s a point solidly in Icom’s favor.
Heat: the 7300 Mark II Runs Cooler on FT8
I’ve run both radios doing FT8 at matched power settings, and the IC-7300 Mark II stays noticeably cooler than the FTX-1. FT8 is brutal on a radio because it transmits at nearly 100% duty cycle, and heat is the thing that eventually throttles power or shortens component life. If you’re running long FT8 sessions, the Mark II has the edge here.
The FTX-1’s Big Advantage: It Splits Apart
This is where the FTX-1 wins me back. The FTX-1 is modular. The field head can run completely on its own for portable use, and the SPA-1 amplifier that gets you to 100W can be mounted somewhere else entirely in the shack. The head itself is small, so it doesn’t eat up desk space the way a full transceiver does.
I run mine with the 10-foot extension cables, with the field head up on a Lido mount and the SPA-1 tucked out of the way. It’s a setup the IC-7300 Mark II simply can’t do since it’s a single fixed chassis. If desk space or a clean operating position matters to you, this is a real reason to consider the FTX-1 over the Icom.
VHF/UHF: Only the FTX-1 Has It
The FTX-1 covers 2m and 70cm in addition to HF and 6m. The IC-7300 Mark II is HF and 6m only (plus 5 MHz and 70 MHz on some regional versions). If you want one radio that covers HF all the way up through UHF, the FTX-1 is the only one of these two that gets you there. That’s a meaningful difference if you’re trying to consolidate radios rather than run separate rigs for VHF/UHF.
Other Differences Worth Knowing
- Price and configuration: The FTX-1 Field alone (QRP, no amp) runs cheaper, and the Optima with the SPA-1 amp lands close to the IC-7300 Mark II’s price. You’re paying for flexibility, not just power.
- Receiver performance: The Mark II picked up a real bump in reciprocal mixing dynamic range and lower transmit phase noise over the original 7300, so it holds up better in crowded band conditions.
- USB-C and digital modes: The Mark II uses USB-C with dual virtual COM ports plus audio, so you can run FT8 and logging software off a single cable without a Digirig. The FTX-1’s field head has the same kind of built-in USB digital interface, so neither radio needs external interface hardware.
- CW decoding: The Mark II has a built-in CW decoder. I don’t run CW, so this one’s a non-issue for me, but it’s worth knowing if you do.
- Battery power: The FTX-1 field head runs off its own removable Li-ion battery for true grab-and-go portable use. The IC-7300 Mark II has no internal battery option; it’s shack or 12V power only.
Bottom Line
If you want one radio that does everything from HF through UHF, splits apart for a clean shack setup, and goes portable on its own battery, the FTX-1 Optima is the more versatile radio. If you want the coolest-running FT8 machine with modern connectivity like HDMI and LAN control in a single fixed chassis, the IC-7300 Mark II is the stronger pick. I keep both in the shack for exactly these reasons, and I’d tell most people the choice comes down to whether portability or connectivity matters more to their operating style.