[Icom] IC 718 and AGC

[Rick]

I had a 718 last year and the AGC issue drove me to sell the radio.  It HAS
AGC but as far as I understand it is always in a fast recovery mode.  Is
that what you are experiencing, AGC recovering so fast that you hear noise
in between syllables?

I studied the schematic a bit, and saw there is an IC that looks to me as if
it is supposed to select different agc components.  But I couldn't
understand how it got its commands, so never experimented in trying to see
if it was stuck in one mode only.

Several others have noticed this as well, and it was also pointed out in the
QST review of the 718.  In my case, since I listen a lot on 75 m where
signals are strong, it was enough of a nuisance that I sold the rig.  I now
use the FT-100 in its place and it is perfection.

On a related subject - If I am correct in my assumptions in how rigs are
constructed (see below) this would explain why a problem like this goes
unresolved, until a major revision, if ever, comes along.

Rick  K2XT


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My assumption regarding how rigs are produced:
Major circuit boards are designed and then mass produced, due to the expense
of setting up surface mount machines for a production run.  Once the machine
is running the incremental cost per board is extremely low.  Enough boards
are produced to supply more than the expected number of rigs to be built.
The rigs themselves might also be assembled and warehoused for the life of
the rig.  But more likely they are assembled from the stockpile of boards as
needed, since assembly is labor intensive.  But to make a small change (such
as an AGC mod) is just not feasible.
For example lets make up some numbers -
10,000 sets of boards are produced.  50 rigs are produced a week (2500 a
year), and the stockpile is then good for 4 years.