[Icom] On behalf of Jerry - potential PRO user

[Ekki Plicht]

> Is the spectrum scope useful?

Yes, very much so.


> Can you pick out a better frequency to call CQ on during
> a contest, for example?

Yes, that's one of the main benefits during a contest.
During RTTY contests, you see exactly where the stations are, and find
easily a gap or the borders. As a small gun i like to place myself at the
edges of the big mess. It might be less useful in CW or SSB contests.


> How do you use it during a contest for example?

1.) Check if band is open/active or not. I switch momentarily to another
band and see with one glance if the band is active or not. Not necessarily
open, it could well be and still no activity. So i check beacons regularly.

2.) See where the action is. You see strong signals at a glance, after a
while, when searching a band, you know which stn you have already logged and
which might be new. Well, mostly. Right now i am looking at the 40m RTTY
segment during XE-Contest and see that i don't need to bother. No activity.
>From 2m distance.


> Is the spectrum sweep centered on either vfo or only the main?

Main only. You have a separate Tx marker for split operation.


> I assume the Dual Watch is like the Dual function on the FT1000mp.

I don't the FT1000 very well, but to my understanding it is not a true
second receiver as in the FT1000, but is a separate signal path somewhere in
IF stage. No separate AF possible with that design. 2nd receiver must be in
the same band as main.


> But does DSP apply to the sub-band?

AFAI think, yes. You have the same DSP settings active on the sub band as on
main.


> Also it appears that the single tuning knob tunes both vfos.

Yes.


> Is this controlled by the Main/Sub button?

Yes.


> And is it convenient? Or do you turn the wrong vfo in the heat of battle?

Convenient - well, you get used to it. Worked some DX today (H44, V51, tried
VP8GEO) and after a while i can do this pretty fast. I leave main on the DXs
TX freq, turn on split (and perhaps dual watch) and tune to a gap in the
spectrum, where i think the DX may be listening.
If I need to adjust the freq where I hear the DX, I use the RIT which is
always on.

I heard H44LB announce her split segment (3 to 5 down), pressed split, tuned
my TX to the start of the segment, called once - voila, worked her. Easy
(100W and vertical on 12m).

BTW - the spectrum display is great for DX. You see where the pile up is and
can find either a gap or go to the edge. You see nicely when the pile up
jumps up because the DX has ended their call, and go down when DX is working
someone. Well mostly, as many callers don't seem to have an RX.


> Are the DSP filters adequate?

To me - yes. I have used the Ft1000 ocasionally and must say that i am
impressed with the possibilities. AFAIK it has more AF processing
capabilities than the Pro/ProII. The filters are very good for RTTY, and
it's nice to change them on the fly if necessary.


> How do they compare to the FT1000mp?
Not enough data on my side.

> Would you buy the Icom IC 756ProII again?

Yes.


73, and good luck,
Ekki, DF4OR