Icom IC-7300 & IC-9700 Clock Battery Modification — A Permanent Fix for a Common Frustration

If you own an Icom IC-7300 or IC-9700, there’s a good chance you’ve come across one of the most common niggles with these otherwise excellent radios — the internal clock losing its time when the radio has been powered off.

The Problem — Why Does the Clock Keep Resetting?

Inside both the IC-7300 and IC-9700 is a small internal rechargeable battery that keeps the real-time clock (RTC) running when the radio is powered down. Over time, this battery degrades and eventually fails — especially if the radio is left unpowered for extended periods.

When this happens, the radio forgets the date and time every time it’s switched off. That might sound minor, but it quickly becomes frustrating — particularly if you use features like recordings, logging, or simply want accurate timestamps on your QSOs.

The ML&S Solution — A Proper, Long-Term Fix

Rather than repeatedly resetting the clock or relying on workarounds, our professional modification replaces the original soldered battery with a much more practical solution.

We carefully remove the original internal battery and install a high-quality battery holder designed to accept a standard CR2032 coin cell.

This transforms the design into something far more user-friendly — allowing you to replace the battery yourself in the future without specialist tools or soldering.

Why This Upgrade Makes Sense

No more resetting the clock every time the radio is powered down
User-replaceable battery — quick and simple when needed
Widely available CR2032 cells — inexpensive and easy to source
Professional installation carried out by experienced technicians
Long-term reliability compared to the original design

A Small Upgrade That Makes a Big Difference

The IC-7300 and IC-9700 are among the most popular radios in the hobby — and for good reason. But this small design limitation can take the shine off daily use.

This modification is a simple, cost-effective way to bring your radio up to a more practical standard, eliminating an annoyance that many operators just “live with”.