[ICOM] Re: Icom IC-718 Review

[Larry Winslow]

Bob,

I have the schematic of the CT-17 if you're 
interested. It's built around the MAX232 which you ordered.

73 - Larry WØNFU
larry_w at comcast.net


At 08:55 AM 12/28/2005, you wrote:

>I got it done.
>
>I modified the BUXCOMM RASCAL and it is now keying the CW
>JACK on the back of the IC-756PRO as though it was
>originally designed to.
>
>I added a *very* simple little circuit to the box which is
>comprised of a general purpose NPN a 1K ohm resistor and
>that was all it took. Now it takes the keying relay to
>ground.
>
>I opened the jacket of the cable going to the serial port
>just enough to find the DTR line and connect it to my
>little circuit.
>
>After doing so I then ran a line from pin 5 ground and the
>collector (center pin) of the CW KEYING JACK and it is
>working flawlessly.
>
>All other functions work perfectly also. The buxcomm box
>still looks like brand new and all there is now is a new
>cable running to the CW KEYING JACK from the same bundle
>as the others.
>
>Now I am on to build a CAT circuit for the computer
>control aspects of the rig.
>
>I ordered a MAX233 chip from MAXIM/DALLAS fro the CAT
>design and have a design I gleaned from the Ham Radio
>Deluxe PDF that tells it all about how to kit it and put
>it together.
>
>Should have it all going by the end of the week thanks to
>you guys and helping guide my thinking.
>
>Now I am armed and dangerous, Hi Hi
>
>Thanks to one and all for your time and help on this
>project. I now understand a lot more about how this
>process it taking place.
>
>
>
>   73 fer nw,
>Bob AD5VJ
>
>10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
>http://www.n5iet.com/
>Code may be taking a back seat for now,
>but the pioneering spirit that put the code
>there in the first place is out front of it all.
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> > [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
>Thomas Giella KN4LF
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 8:49 PM
> > To: icom at mailman.qth.net
> > Subject: [ICOM] Re: Icom IC-718 Review
> >
> >
> > Steve,
> >
> > I had an IC-701 back in 1988-89 and that llittle rig was
>
> > built like a tank!
> > I bought my IC-718 for digital operations only and have
>the
> > W4RT board
> > installed in it that allows me to select filters for 1.8
>kc
> > and 500 hz, plus
> > the normal 6.0 and 2.3 kc filters.
> >
> > Weaknesses:
> >
> > Without the W4RT board you can select 6 kc, 2.3 kc and
>either
> > a narrow SSB
> > filter or CW filter but not both. The RF processor is
>fixed
> > and you have to
> > pop the cover to adjust it. The AGC time constants are
>fixed
> > too, with the
> > AGC on SSB to fast but a mod will correct it. The
>transmit
> > audio is a bit
> > pinched too because of the 2.3 kc SSB filter. No DSP
>transmit audio
> > tailoring. It has the one 13 pin DIN plug for all
>connections.
> >
> > I wrote the following short review of the strengths of
>IC-718 back on
> > 10/8/05 and will repeat it here.
> >
> >
> > Strengths:
> >
> > It puts out 150 watts PEP out of the box.
> >
> > The rig is very small and light at approximately 8 lbs
>and
> > would make an
> > excellent mobile or field day rig.
> >
> > The rig has allot of bells and whistles that the Yaesu
>FT-840
> > does not have;
> > to include full break in on CW, adjustable CW keyer, RF
>gain control,
> > preamp, tunes in 1 hz intervals and shows the 1 hz digit
>on
> > the digital
> > readout, that is very easy to read without glasses,
> > adjustable AF DSP, DSP
> > auto notch, VOX, direct frequency entry via keypad,
> > adjustable wide/narrow
> > noise blanker, built in SWR bridge, settings menu system
>
> > similar to the
> > IC-756 series, front firing speaker, stock 6 kc AM
>filter,
> > plus lot's of
> > other more common stuff like RIT, IF shift, split
>operation,
> > 101 memories,
> > frequency scanning, etc. It's amazing how cheap the rig
>is
> > ($544.95 at
> > Universal) considering all the useful bells and whistles
>built in.
> >
> > On receive it's surprisingly good, very impressive
>actually.
> > Yesterday
> > evening on the longwave band I had easy copy of European
>and African
> > longwave broadcast stations with no IMD. On the MF AM
> > broadcast band it's
> > also very sensitive but with no IMD. On SW broadcast
>it's
> > very sensitive
> > with no IMD, including the ham bands. Yesterday evening
>I
> > listened on 20 and
> > 80 meters SSB where many strong signals existed and
>could
> > detect no IMD.
> >
> > The rig is considered only average on 160 meters due to
>MF AM
> > broadcast band
> > station breakthrough, because of high sensitivity on the
>AM
> > broadcast band
> > but I could not detect any IMD on 160. Of course I don't
>have
> > allot of
> > nearby high powered MF AM broadcast band stations
>either. I
> > have one 5 kw
> > daytimer on 1430 kc approximately 5.5 miles away but
>nothing
> > greater than 1
> > KW at night. A true 160 meter test will be the first SSB
>or
> > CW contest this
> > fall.
> >
> > BTW I added the INRAD 1.8 kc SSB filter which has a real
>good
> > shape factor.
> > The stock AM filter is a little to wide at -60 db but
>the
> > stock 2.3 kc SSB
> > filter seems to have a pretty good shape factor too.
> >
> > Comparing the Icom IC-718 to the Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V
>and FT-840.
> >
> > On the LW band the IC-718 is better than the Mark V and
> > FT-840 as far as
> > sensitivity and IMD.
> > On the MF band the IC-718 is much better than the Mark V
>and
> > better than
> > FT-840 as far as sensitivity and IMD.
> > On SW including the ham bands it's tied with the FT-840
>and
> > down a smidge
> > with the Mark V as far as sensitivity and IMD.
> >
> > 73 & Happy New Year,
> > Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF
> > Lakeland, FL, USA
> > Grid Square EL97AW
> > 27 57 26.5 N 81 56 46.6 W
> > kn4lf at arrl.net
> >
> > PODXS 070 PSK Club #349
> >
> > KN4LF Amateur & SWL Radio History:
>http://www.kn4lf.com/index.htm
> >
> > From: Steve Rodowicz <Stefan.Rodowicz at verizon.net>
> > Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-718 Memory Management Software
>Found
> >
> > Hello Tom,
> >
> > I've noticed your inquiries regarding the 718.
> >
> > There are some here in New England that are suggesting
>that
> > its a good
> > choice
> > for emergency communications. Certainly the price is
>inviting!
> >
> > I have no experience with the radio, have used various
>other
> > Icoms tho,
> > (ic-701,
> > 746,756, 781 and the others)
> >
> > What as your experience been with the 718?
> >
> > How do you primarily use?
> >
> > What strengths and weaknesses have you noted?
> >
> > Hope I'm not too inquisitive, but I would appreciate
>your comments
> >
> > Have a good New Year.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Steve - N1SR
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this outgoing message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.7/214 -
>Release
> > Date: 12/23/2005
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> > icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom Users Net: Sundays,
>1700Z,
> > 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> >
>
>
>----
>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/