[Icom] Introduction of the IC-7800

[icom@mailman.qth.net]

Thanks for the info Matt. The next few years should be real interesting to
say the least. I like George's idea of a "prosumer" 7800 in the $4,000 range
several years out. And, yes, my 756 PRO II seems to do a pretty good job.

Sometimes ham radio is like one of my other hobbies--astronomy--where we
also tend to get hung up on mirror specs that are not discernable in
everyday use but it is a fun game to play anyway. :-)  Used to own a car
that would go 160 mph but couldn't find a place in Dallas to test it :-)

Andy  K5VM

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Erickson" <kk5dr@ev1.net>
To: <icom@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Icom] Introduction of the IC-7800


> Since ICOM's source code is the "Holy Grail" in some ways, they can't risk
allowing users to see it, at any cost.
> They did pretty good on the P2, didn't they? Got it right, the first time
I would say.
>
> On DSP, ICOM has a total of (4) DSP chip sets operating in the 7800, which
allows the task load to be drastically reduced on any one set. Even though
the DSP IF is only 36KHz (just like the P1 & P2) the task loading is so low,
it allows an effective quadrupling of the overall performance while only
operating them at 36KHz.  Commercial radios are operating in the 100+ KHz
DSP IF range now, but are only using single chip sets, task load is very
high, so little head-room is left over.
> I don't think ICOM has much to fear from other ham radio competitors, ICOM
has deeper pockets...
>
> 73 de Matt KK5DR
>
> At 03:48 PM 5/21/03 , you wrote:
> >Hi Matt-
> >
> >If Icom does not provide for flash upgrades in a radio at this price
point,
> >they certainly better get it right the first time! :-) And I think in a
few
> >short years they may find themselves left behind to rapid development by
> >competitors who do provide for such upgrades. Is it feasible, if one
wanted
> >to, to also allow for user replaceable DSP chips ( similar to replacing
> >memory or processors in a PC )?
> >
> >TI and others have some amazing DSP designs in the pipeline, fueled in
part
> >by the cellphone-Wi-Fi explosion. IMHO, we ain't seen nothing yet
regarding
> >the full potential application of cheap DSP to ham radios! George??
> >
> >Andy K5VM