New version Icom IC-7300 MK2

[Justme]

I also have the FT 991 A had the FT 847 all mode radio the 847 was ahead of it's time in 1999 when i bought it neew with Collins SSB filters.
Both can't hold a candle to the 9700 which is bodnerised GPSDO, For VHF/UHF and 23 cm the 9700 is now the king till the next one comes up as usual..
I run mostly SSB or digital modes, for FM only it is overkill.

 

[Eldorado828]

Here's a demo of it

 

[Mudfoot]

Saw that it was tuned up on the International tuning frequency. Looks great.

 

[Crawdad]

They're just trying to catch up with Yaesu:

 

[fourstringburn]

They're just trying to catch up with Yaesu:
View attachment 74565

Yet Icom is still relying on all direct sampling RX where Yaesu uses a hybrid with a super-het front end in front of direct sampling on the FT101 and FT10. Elecraft is still working on the KX4 HD Hybrid. The hybrid is better on a crowded band where an all SDR will be subject to front end overload.

 

[sp5it]

all SDR will be subject to front end overload.

Only if you do not know how to use direct sampling SDR
Mike

 

[fourstringburn]

Ok, so how do you control front end overlaoverload on a crowded band like 20m on a contest weekend?

This is the known pitfalls of direct sampling receivers and not a problem with superhet.

 

[sp5it]

Frankly speaking (IC-7610) only OVF issues I had sporadically with OTH radar transmitting on nearby frequency, or while listening BC band with huge, over +40dB signals. In that case 6dB att does the trick.
But first: https://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/ic7610/gainmgmt.html

I run high gain, narrow bandwidth directional antennas if that matters. Except 30/40/80m where I use 1/4GP antennas.

Mike

 

[Crawdad]

I've been using one for a couple years+ now and have no issues. On it nearly every day during jammed band openings, contests, you name it. No issues. Working DX on 6 bands, no issues. Just a great, low-noise rig with no issues. Did I mention no issues?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Ok, so how do you control front end overlaoverload on a crowded band like 20m on a contest weekend?

This is the known pitfalls of direct sampling receivers and not a problem with superhet.

Don't run the RF gain wide open. Switch in some attenuation. As long as the signal is above the noise floor. Cutting back on the gain will not affect signal quality but will reduce overload and IMD. At times I switch in 10dB of attenuation and see IMD disappear or greatly reduced, much more than what the 10dB attenuator would have you think.

 

[Crawdad]

Don't run the RF gain wide open. Switch in some attenuation. As long as the signal is above the noise floor. Cutting back on the gain will not affect signal quality but will reduce overload and IMD. At times I switch in 10dB of attenuation and see IMD disappear or greatly reduced, much more than what the 10dB attenuator would have you think.

I generally run with the RF Gain @ 80 or 90%, with weak signal situations like 6m where I usually have a Pre-amp or two on. Removes noise and can actually copy weak signals better, but especially on a packed band. Use 6 or 12dB attenuation quite a bit also.

 

[Justme]

Still love my Yaesu FT dx 10, here in Europe we get flooded with big signals reason i picked it never run amplifier rx below 50 MHz, 6 and 4 might get amp 1 on if needed.
Lower bands even with my good receiver, i run lower RF gain and or attenuater on.
Give it a try don't look at your S meter listen and lower the gain or switch in Attenuater and get best signal to noise setting.
Most of our radio's have enough amplification in front, reason our older radio's sounded less noisy was lower amplification before the mixer and a bit more in the MF section where the signal was already filtered.

Lower AGC by reducing gain or use attenuator makes the signal less "jumpy" and better to listen to.
I never look at the S meter i adjust gain so the recieve sound is the best to my ears.

 

[fourstringburn]

Don't run the RF gain wide open. Switch in some attenuation. As long as the signal is above the noise floor. Cutting back on the gain will not affect signal quality but will reduce overload and IMD. At times I switch in 10dB of attenuation and see IMD disappear or greatly reduced, much more than what the 10dB attenuator would have you think.

I generally run with the RF Gain @ 80 or 90%, with weak signal situations like 6m where I usually have a Pre-amp or two on. Removes noise and can actually copy weak signals better, but especially on a packed band. Use 6 or 12dB attenuation quite a bit also.

So this proves what I read about having an all SDR receiver. I once played around with an SDRPlay and had some overload issues. From what I understand about SDR receivers is a single FPGA is sampling an entire band and the more signals on that band especially on a contest weekend like the one coming up can lead to front end overload leaving the user having to cut back to compensate.

Sherwoods reviews on these Icom SDR can be somewhat misleading because he generally test the receiver with 1 signal on a band therefore the results can be favorable but not always a real world test like how the receiever will hold up with a very busy band.

Radio manufactures like ICOM seem to benefit with the lower cost SDR using a single FPGA chip over the more complex superhet design or SDR/Superhet hybrid. I believe Yaesu combined the best of both worlds with a superhet front end followed by the SDR with the FTDX10 and FTDX101 models.

Icom seems to be sticking with all SDR since the 7610 came out as another all SDR and their latest model the 7760 is an SDR too.

Interesting that Icom's flagship model 7851 is still a superhet.

 

[sp5it]

Interesting that Icom's flagship model 7851 is still a superhet.

No longer manufactured. And they started with 7851 before SDR era.
Mike

 

[SuperLid]

So this proves what I read about having an all SDR receiver. I once played around with an SDRPlay and had some overload issues. From what I understand about SDR receivers is a single FPGA is sampling an entire band and the more signals on that band especially on a contest weekend like the one coming up can lead to front end overload leaving the user having to cut back to compensate.

Sherwoods reviews on these Icom SDR can be somewhat misleading because he generally test the receiver with 1 signal on a band therefore the results can be favorable but not always a real world test like how the receiever will hold up with a very busy band.

Radio manufactures like ICOM seem to benefit with the lower cost SDR using a single FPGA chip over the more complex superhet design or SDR/Superhet hybrid. I believe Yaesu combined the best of both worlds with a superhet front end followed by the SDR with the FTDX10 and FTDX101 models.

Icom seems to be sticking with all SDR since the 7610 came out as another all SDR and their latest model the 7760 is an SDR too.

Interesting that Icom's flagship model 7851 is still a superhet.

The higher end Icom direct sampled SDR's, incorporate roofing filters to deal with signal overload. You should also ask Rob Sherwood, if he would use a Yaesu in his own station. I already know the answer to that.