[Icom] IC-706MKIIG on PACTOR

Tue, 18 Jun 2002 13:15:04 +0000

Before you modify your radio, consider: If you can use FSK on PACTOR, you 
need no mod. AFAIK, only PTC brand modems _require_ AFSK.

Standard PACTOR can be operated using either FSK or AFSK. FSK uses a 
back-panel connection from a pure digital signal line, whereas AFSK uses an 
audio signal and can use the mike input. I have read technically-oriented 
articles that claim that FSK is technically superior for basic digital modes.

When I first asked ICOM about the PACTOR mod two years ago, they told me 
that the engineers had designed the  radio expecting that FSK would be used 
rather than AFSK. There is no timing problem with FSK, and no mod is needed.

I was offered the mod by ICOM and declined because of its possible side 
effects on other modes. I don't know the negative effects when the radio is 
operated on other modes, but since this mod is done only on request, and 
apparently has not been incorporated into regular "g" production, you might 
want to wonder why not. The mod I was offered is useful ONLY for guys using 
AFSK.

  I use FSK. My PACTOR use is limited to connecting to HF WinLink stations 
for email from my camper while on the road using either my KAM+ or my 
PK-232. YMMV.

Jerry W4UK

At 12:25 6/17/02 -1000, you wrote:
>Randy,
>
>Thank you for your reply and YOU ARE RIGHT ! I have just received an
>e-mail
>from ICOM USA stating to send the radio in for a PACTOR II modification.
>I post this on the list in order to pass this info on to all IC-706MKIIG
>owners.
>Please reply to me direct and let me know your MARS call.
>Hopefully we can connect on a MARS frequency!
>
>73, Peter, NH6VB / AFA8VB ALOHA.
>On Mon, 17 Jun 2002 04:27:28 -0700 <[email protected]> writes:
> > Peter,
> > I went through my receipts and I found where I sent my 706MKIIG in
> > for
> > MARS mod and found where there was also a mod for digital mine works
> > on
> > PACTOR so this might be it.
> >
> > Randy
> > AC7NJ
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
> > On
> > Behalf Of Peter Scheller
> > Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 6:30 PM
> > To: [email protected]
> > Subject: [Icom] IC-706MKIIG on PACTOR
> >
> > Hi Gang,
> > I am still chasing my tail trying to get my 706MKIIG to operate on
> > PACTOR
> > properly. So far I eliminated wiring, TNC, software and computer.
> > The
> > fault seems to be in the radio. The problem is that although
> > everything
> > is fine in unproto I cannot connect via F-4, calling a station or
> > be
> > called.
> >
> > Any thoughts on this subject ?
> >
> > 73, Peter, NH6VB. ALOHA.