From: "petervee" petervee@yahoo.com Date: Mon May 29, 2006 4:53pm(PDT) Subject: Fixes for the IC-7000 I have bought the IC-7000 some time ago and wish the following functions existed (if they are, how?): - DTMF with the microphone (you can't really use echolink nodes with the HM151 microphone - you can only add the node numbers in the 4 DTMF memories); - RTTY in different splits (it only handles 170Hz shift and 45 baud) - it must be easy to offer a setting menu for the bandwidth and rate; - More setting of the colors - sometimes you can't see the screen in bright sunlite - should it not have better display options or options?; - Some color combinations don't view properly on the screen such as the memory listing RED and white text entry that doesnt display well; - PSK31 receive. TX obviously is not possible since there is no keyboard connector (like the 7800). - Many more features that can be implemented using the DSP system but would require firmware updated (firmware is built-in to the processor chip and can not be easily upgraded - except by ICOM and would require repair center). Peter, KC1QF/VE3PPV ================================================================================= From: "kc0rdg" kc0rdg@yahoo.com Date: Mon May 29, 2006 6:50pm(PDT) Subject: Re: Fixes for the IC-7000 I love my IC-7000. That said, I have my own complaints as well: -No PSK receive There is no logical reason why this was not included. If the unit has the ability to decode RTTY, it certainly could do PSK. The 7800 has it. I don't care so much for TX, but if your going to give us RTTY RX, give us PSK! -LCD color options limited I agree. The display is beautiful - crisp and colorful! However, we are only allowed to pick from 3 settings?! In all reality, I believe Icom should make a program for all their LCD display radios (7800, 7k, 756, etc) that allows you to customize the display to your preferences and then upload it to the radio. -Fireware update The 7800 has it, why not the 7000? This should be the same for all the DSP radios. The only reasoning I see for NOT doing this is $$. Now you will be forced to buy a new radio for more funcationality. Upload new firmware via the CAT cable, power off and on the radio and boom, new functionality - being able to RX PSK for example. -Band scope RX functionality I love it, however why not put the band scope on it's own 'circuit'. Currently, when the scope is engaged, the RX suffers. It's not the end of the world, but I see this as a minor annoyance that could have been fixed easily. Maybe I am wrong. -No SWR meter on Ant 2 Another small gripe, but I see it as something that could have been put into the radio and well appreciated. Maybe what I am asking for is too much to provide at this price point? However, if Icom would have included the above, I believe it would not have raised the cost that much and would have made the radio a real killer in the market and I for one, would be much happier than I already am! ================================================================================= From: "n5hvg" movinon@cox.net Date: Mon May 29, 2006 9:48pm(PDT) Subject: Re: Fixes for the IC-7000 I see a lot of reference to the 7800. Just my 2 cents. The 7000 is a MOBILE rig. I use mine on the dash of an 18 wheeler and find the lcd purrfect. I use the white background in daylight and the black background at night. SWR on 2m is a one time setting, borrow a meter. If the mobile ant hits a tree limb and is damaged, no or low po is a hint the swr is off. I previously used the 706 mk11g mobile for many years 18 wheel mobile. I believe the 7000 is about 60% better. No problem with the 706 on transmit just managing noise and qrm. The 7000 runs about 50% cooler than the 706 IMHO. The 706 stayed really hot to the touch all the time especially on the dash. 706 was a great rig but I sold mine and upgraded to the 7000. Glad I did. ================================================================================= From: "Adam Farson" farson@shaw.ca Date: Tue May 30, 2006 1:23am(PDT) Subject: Re: Fixes for the IC-7000 Eli, Peter, The one feature I would like to see incorporated in the IC-7000 is bass/treble TX audio equalisation (as provided in the IC-7800, the IC-756Pro series and the IC-746Pro/IC-7400). As there are already reflectometers in the VHF and UHF TX PA output signal paths, it should not be too difficult to drive the SWR scale from these. A real-time spectrum scope would require the addition of a dedicated analogue spectrum monitor (actually a mini-spectrum analyser module), as fitted to the 756 series - or an additional DSP subsystem (as in the IC-7800). This would impact both cost and internal real estate. Even if this feature were fitted, the tiny display would still severely limit the usefulness of the spectrum scope. Firewire...I presume you mean Ethernet, as you mentioned a CAT cable (probably CAT5). The other features, especially firmware upgradeability, would probably push the IC-7000 up into the next price class. We need to remember that Icom designed the IC-7000 primarily as a compact, mid-priced mobile radio. It is doing really well in this category - I understand that North American sales average several hundred units per month. Any decision regarding additional features will doubtless be the result of a calculation based on potential additional sales vs. R&D cost and selling-price impact. Best 73, Adam, VA7OJ/AB4OJ Owner, Yahoo! ic7000 Group ================================================================================= Date: Wed May 31, 2006 11:28 pm (PDT) From: "Richard Rosenberger" richard@pdatechcenter.nl Subject: Re: autotune ats? Myles, Try this: http://www.qsl.net/g3vgr/706tune.html It works for me using the IC7k on a SGC230 Richard pa7fa At 00:30 01-06-06, you wrote: hi , does anyone know who might make a 'gizmo' adapter thingey that will allow me to connect the 7000 to a ats100 or 120? and have it auto tune at press of a button my second choice would be semi auto tune thanks v much myles n2ehg ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data ports ca Posted by: "Michael Aust" ava622@verizon.net mikeatthebeach1 Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:35 am (PDT) Dear Fellow IC-7000 Users, Compared to the IC-706MKIIG vesus the IC-7000, Icom apparently goofed on the EMI supresstion into the radio with Rf that can couple into the DC cabling and Data Ports of the radio. So I decided to check this out, the service manuals between the two radio has much more EMI filtering in the IC-706MKIIG than the IC-7000. I ran an experiment (sort of dangerous) but wanted comparing the IC-706MKIIG and the IC-7000 for EMI rejection and came across a common theme to the problems posed here on the forum with the strange IC-7000 failures in PAs and their Data Ports interface circitry being blown up after EMI/RF exposure to DC power cables and Data interface cables. I took both radio on VHF and ran the RF output Power down to low power with an anteena near the back of the radio (1/2 wave whip) mounted to a Bird 43 wattmeter with a VSWR 1.5:1 at 144MHz. Increasing the output power slowing from 1 to 30watts, in 1 watt increments on theIC-706MKIIG, I noticed that the radio started to act strangely about 23watts out! The display dimmed and got worse with 25watts out the ALC loop went crasy, out of control and the radio put out full power. Acted like the Power control output circuitry went nuts and the PA driver was driving at max power to get full saturated output power! I gather if I went futher, some dame could occur. Next I did this with the IC-7000, and the theshold of interducing RF EMI interference was much worse!!! At 3 watts output power the Power control went out of control and I had a spike of 70watts out, the radio display dimmed, s-meter disply went all the way over! You may ask if I damaged the radio, the answer is yes! The PA device and driver device is bad(dead)! Alot of hams on VHF may place a whip on their back of the IC-7000 as I use to do on my Icom 706MKIIG with the power set to 5-10watts out or a nearby anteena to the radio and exposure t the DC and Data cables. In Icoms infinite wisdom to make the IC-7000 smaller than its IC-706MKIIG older brother, going from a 6 pin connector to 4pin Dc interface, cramming in more circuitry into a smaller box and pushing out the extensive ferrite EMI filtering that the IC-706MKIIG had left the IC-7000 in harms way from EMI RF exposure. Icom blew this big time, not sure how they will solve this, make the radio longer in the next version like the Icom-706MKIIG !! So the moral of the story, be very careful, this radio is waiting for an accident to happen with EMI/RF exposure! Still, I am happy with the radio, and yes it can be fixed!, but Icom is going to feel it big time in the repairs as time goes on for an enginneering goof by taking out EMI filtering to save space anfd moving to a less rugged PA. Maybe Icom expected hams to operate this radio into a 50ohm dummy load with no possiblities of any RF/EMI exposure. You can still enjoy the IC-7000, its great receiver performance dances circles aring the IC-706MKIIG with the improved DSP and noise blanker! Just be careful, use a good Antenna Tuner (AT-180) than has memory position so that bad VSWRs do not get reflected into the unit. I work for an outfit that designs MOSFET Solid State RF Power amplifers here in California and been doing it for 25 years.The MOSFET transistor devices, are protected by a VSWR protection circuit. If you get RF coupled back into the radio, the output spikes to max or beyond maximum power, and if you have power VSWRs > 2:1 and the VSWR protection circuit gets EMI/RF interference into it, the protection circuitry will fail to pull down the RF output power down to protect the finals, the outcome will be that PA transistors MOSFETS drain to gate RF voltages will be near breakdown or at destructive breakdown and devices will reach alvalache and destroy the PA or PA driver devices. How do I known this, I design MOSFET RF PAs for a living and in our military hi-rel PA's. We put diode clamps to prevent this across the devices along with our VSWR protection circuitry. Anyway, bottom line, keep a RF clean shack and your IC-7000 should last a long time. Like to get Icom to get MOSFET PA devices with higher breakdown voltages.The lower breakdown part have more Gain, you need fewer stages, but the downside is that the PA and Driver PA may not be as rugged and careful attention to always having low VSWR on your anenna's and no RF feedback fed back into the internal parts of the radio via cables is imperative if you want to keep the IC-7000 happy! 73's Mike WB6DJI ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data port Posted by: "Ken Arck" ah6le@ah6le.net ah6le Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:45 am (PDT) At 07:35 AM 7/21/2006 -0700, you wrote: I took both radio on VHF and ran the RF output Power down to low power with an anteena near the back of the radio <---Pardon me but this is hardly a fair test. The radio(s) are in a major RF field and it is not at all indicative of how most people would run their setup. You also say: "Alot of hams on VHF may place a whip on their back of the IC-7000 as I used to do....." I'm glad that you "used to do" this. This is BAD ENGINEERING PRACTICE not to mention RF exposure issues, etc, etc. Sorry but I don't share your emotion of panic about this. You have made many assumptions as to how/why/mechanism of RF entering the radio. Fact is, you really don't know exactly what is happening, other than observing the symptoms of your particular setup. Which again I say is *A*typical of how most experienced hams would do it. Ken ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data por Posted by: "Adam Farson" farson@shaw.ca va7oj Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:00 am (PDT) Hi Jerry, If you compare the EMC filtering and decoupling behind the CI-V jack in the IC-7000 with that of the IC-756Pro3, you will see that the Pro3 has much more decoupling in this area than the 7000. Cheers for now, 73, Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data por Posted by: "Leanne" leanne@islc.net boatgirl29902 Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:00 pm (PDT) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger N" To: Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [IC-7000] Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data ports can destroy Radio! > Would it be prudent to build a small "dongle" for the IC-7000's CI-V > jack that contained extra decoupling? If so, perhaps someone with the > appropriate IC-756Pro3 schematic might post some suggested component > values. If excess RF is a possibility, this dongle might save the radio. Aren't we reinventing the wheel here??? This rig was designed as a mobile rig and not to replace the 75xd.78x or 77x on the desk in the shack, where you have computers and what all tied to the rig. I figure that it is ok to use the port for programming, but in the vehicle, I don't have room for all of the other stuff. Just my thought on this..... Leanne W1WXS ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data por Posted by: "Lnk3d Lnk3d" lnk3d@yahoo.com lnk3d Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:35 pm (PDT) Imho, being aware of RFI/EMI on certain ports or any part of any radio, is important information to know. Wether it be in the shack, or in the vehicle as mobile. Some of us do use the 7000 as a base instead of a mobile for a number of various reasons, power supply demands, space, location in the shack, and considering what the 7K will do compared to other radios I see it as a fine option for any shack, not just a 'mobile' Some shacks are completely mobile ( and belive you me Ive seen some really coooooooool setups for mobiles, including laptops in vehicles. custom brackets, mounting, etc ) Either way, I think the issue at hand here is the information that is being provided and that looking out for any stray RF, or EMI interference around these DC Inputs, or Data Ports is good information to know. ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data port Posted by: "Scott Schoemann" sschoemann@wi.rr.com n9tgw Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:37 pm (PDT) Jerry, you may have seen hams putting a mag mount antenna on a radio's case, as have I, BUT a responsible, educated ham would know better and would inform the owner/control op of said equipment of the issue. This setup does not allow for a proper ground plane for correct operation of the capacitively coupled antenna, causing unpredictable angles of radiation, not to mention risking picking up RF through the mic cable or power line, a long time, well known issue. Secondly, it puts the operator AND any one else close by at risk of unnecessarily high levels of RF radiation should the radio accidentally be set to a higher power. It is easy enough to simply put the antenna on a cake sheet or a metal garbage can lid placed at a safer location such as on top of the canopy the radio is under. With a bit of ingenuity other was can be found as well. WE are ham radio operators, the idea is not to forget what we learned to pass our tests, and sadly we all have seen examples of this. Scott N9TGW ================================================================================= Warning! IC-7000 Owners be careful! RF leaks in DC and Data por Posted by: "Scott Schoemann" sschoemann@wi.rr.com n9tgw Date: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:46 pm (PDT) I don't know about anyone else but ALL extraneous cables that connect to my rigs have ferrites added to them to HELP in this matter, I also use shielded cables, no plastic plugs, only metal shells to maintain the shielded connection. These were very basic things I learned in college years gone by, to prevent stray RF issues. Those of you using Laptops with quality power supplies will notice the ferrite on your power cord, for the same reason. Scott N9TGW ================================================================================= Difficulties with my IC-7000 Posted by: "Scott Schoemann" sschoemann@wi.rr.com n9tgw Date: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:08 am (PDT) Power level SHOULD NOT alter the SWR of an antenna as the SWR is the measure of energy reflected back by the antenna expressed as a ratio comparing it against the amount of energy originally sent to the antenna. Yes, your set point will change but the ratio should stay the same. If your meter does vary first check it against good dummy load using a good double shielded jumper cable at the different power levels, remembering to reset the meter each time first. If the readings come up different each time even though you reset the meter each time, you have a problem with the dummy load, providing you haven't over heated it while testing (keep your key times to a few seconds at most). If the SWR readings stay consistent then you can trust that meter providing it was designed for use at that frequency. Now after establishing the reliability of the meter try on the antenna. If the SWR changes at different power levels look to the feed line to the antenna. It could be water in the connectors or the foam. Easy way to check but not always 100% reliable (but close) is replace the antenna with the dummy load and check again with the different power levels and remember to reset the meter each time you change power, Does the SWR stay consistent? If yes the matching network on the antenna is at fault. If no replace the coax and start cutting the outside end of this coax back until you find an area clean and dry with no green oxidation on the shield or the conductor. Remember, RF travels on the SURFACE of the metal transmission line , not through it, so any oxide on it will affect it's ability to conduct RF, Higher power levels may push a greater level of RF past the oxide, than lower levels the oxide might dissipate some RF, but meanwhile you WILL get different amounts of RF reflected back to the radio depending on the power level used. The matching network on the antenna can do the same thing, which is why it is necessary to isolate and verify the viability of the coax first. Years back there was a company that sold a mast mounted remotely controlled coax switch with a high power Dummy load built in. It allowed the operator to test the coax as well as require only one run of coax for four or five antenna choices as well. They pulled them off the market because too many operators were feeding them with poorly shielded coax and the dummy load position turned into a nice local only antenna set up at modest power levels. I don't recall if it was a Lafayette product or someone else's as I had seen them and purchased one as a gift for my brother in a Lafayette store in St Joe Mo. Point of INFO: Barring bad matching networks and feed lines, The SWR (PLEASE PEOPLE there is no such thing as swrs it is a ratio and not plural, as a ratio changes but is still the same mathematical model) of an antenna can be affected by placement which will be a constant problem so make sure the antenna is mounted away from walls trees metal and the like. In the case of metal, you can tune the antenna to compensate but the radiating pattern will be affected. Now barring all extraneous affects, the one single thing that will affect the SWR of an antenna is it's frequency of resonance, which on most antennas can be adjusted. You do this by setting your transceiver to the center of the frequencies (or the single frequency) you use the most and adjusting the antenna for the lowest SWR on that frequency. This seems to be something that is becoming a dying art in Ham radio as more and more antennas are coming from the factory pretuned. Most Base type single and dual band antennas come pretuned or with specific instructions as to how long it must be. But for a mobile in my book it must be properly adjusted, as mounting position can affect the SWR. ================================================================================= Difficulties with my IC-7000 Posted by: "denlap99@hotmail.com" denlap99@hotmail.com denlap99 Date: Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:02 am (PDT) I observed this several months ago on mine and contacted ICOM and the IC-7000 user's group. The short answer is your getting RF feedback into either your power supply or the radio itself. Make sure your antenna is far enough from the rig to prevent this. Were you using an antenna in fairly close proximity to the rig? Give us some more details. ================================================================================= No power out Posted by: "Duane Thompson" dst@rmhcn.org kb6cc Date: Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:00 pm (PDT) Good point. However, if the trace to the antenna connector was damaged I would expect to see some problems on transmit. I intend to complain (isn't Icom America in Bellevue,... same place as their repair center?). I will ask for one of the following: 1 - Complete repair/thorough checkout of ALL functions/warranty extension/shipping reimbursement, or 2 - New replacement with new warranty, or 3 - Full refund This is my first Icom rig. Since they are starting with a rather poor track record with me, do I really want an Icom HT? ;-) tnx de Scott, KB6CC On Sun, 23 Jul 2006, Scott Schoemann wrote: > Scott, just for grins, take the covers off the case and see if they > damaged the trace to the antenna connector when they replaced the > finals. Whatever they did, Scream and yell that they we you for all the > inconvenience, the denial of the use of your radio and not only do you > demand it be repaired they need to compensate you for all the problems. > Make sure you send copies of all paperwork and your complaint to Icom > America as well, Lets see their response, just to see if this really is > an isolated failure or a known issue. Might be worth a coffee cup or an > HT, you never know. > > Scott > N9TGW ================================================================================= ICOM IC-7000 SCREEN FLICKERS AND POWER CUTS OFF!!! Posted by: "Matt" kk5dr@earthlink.net kaykay5deerrr Date: Thu Sep 7, 2006 5:41 pm (PDT) The problem is poor contact on the gold contact pads that connect the control head to the main body of the radio, if the contact is opened the radio shuts off, because the control signal is interrupted. I had the "flickering sceen" thing shotly after I got my 7K, but fixed it with simple application of a tiny amount of Pro-Gold on each of the little gold pads. 73 de Matt KK5DR ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ================================================================================= =================================================================================