Are you happy with your IC-7000? (tuning a screwdriver antenna) Posted by: "Richard Evans" riche@spawglass.com kd5zzl Date: Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:40 am (PDT) I tune my Screwdriver by using the SWR graph function. I couldn't be happier using this method. I first tune by ear for hottest reception, then switch to the SWR graph. It only takes 5 quick key clicks and I know approximately how far to move the antenna and which direction it needs to go. Usually by the second or third time, I am right on the center. This method is quicker, more accurate and less disruptive than any other method I know about. Automatic tuning in my experience requires long keydowns while the tuner searches and overshoots and comes back. It is also less accurate because it cannot center as accurately as a human can when viewing an SWR graph. It is only looking for a acceptable SWR. If your antenna setpoint isn't centered very well and you run an amplifier and it has a protection circuit, it likely will trip into protection mode often as you move down the road and the SWR fluctuates from passing trucks or the effect of the airstream on making the stinger lay back more. It helps to be able see if you are centered well and the SWR graph does this. To me, the tune button as it relates to manual tuning is a non-issue. However, don't take me wrong, I do agree with those though who feel ICOM has taken the lazy way out in not making the SWR display work with the tune button like it does on the 706, and also with those who feel ICOM just doesn't "get it" when they didn't make the SWR display function in UHF/VHF mode. Richard Evans 73 de KD5ZZL =========================================================================== Tune Control for 7000 Posted by: "jamesvanputten" jamesvanputten@yahoo.com jamesvanputten Date: Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:44 am (PDT) BetterRF now offers a TUNE Control for the 7000 that displays the SWR while tuning at low power or pulsed mode. It also can be activated by the motor voltage for a screwdriver antenna motor. =========================================================================== Tuner Connector Warning Posted by: "wb0m" wb0m@Flashdog.us wb0m Date: Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:11 pm (PDT) There is an article on eHam.net, http://www.eham.net/articles/14553, about the 7000 and connecting to tuners. The author is AA4PB. Here's snip below. Don't know much about it though, just FYI. - Jeff/wb0m "IC-7000 & Tuner Warning! I have had to make a change to my Icom/SGC tuner interface circuit to make it function properly with the new IC-7000 radio. It appears that Icom internally shares one of the tuner connections with its temperature sensor circuit on this radio. You must be very careful what you connect to the IC-7000 tuner connector. Some of the little circuits that we are used to plugging into the Icom tuner connector in order to make the TUNE button work can upset the temperature sensor circuit. In some cases this may prevent the fan and over temperature warning from coming on, resulting in "cooking" the finals in the radio!!! The relevant tuner connection is pin-1 (TKEY). This pin can be pulled to ground via an open collector circuit during tune operations (this is what the Icom AH-4 tuner does). You must not have any applied external voltage or load on this pin during normal radio operation or you risk damage to the radio. Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== =========================================================================== ===========================================================================