[ICOM] Preamp question

[Adam Farson]

Hi John,

No, I do not believe there was a patent or copyright issue involved. Decades
ago, GTE Lenkurt designated as "IF Preamplifier" the 70 MHz IF amplifier
immediately following the passive diode mixer in their microwave receivers.

One explanation may be that Yaesu and Kenwood were able to sneak buzzword
generators into their IT budgets; Icom used the money to buy a
low-phase-noise RF signal generator instead.

Another possible rationale is that marketoids at Yaesu and Kenwood felt that
calling the RF amplifier a preamp would be seen as a tacit admission that
the 1st mixer was "a wee bit deef" (like auld Mrs. McGregor) and needed a
wee bit of help. One has to admit that "Advanced Intercept Point" or
"Intercept Point Optimization" sounds snazzier, and less accusatory, than
"Preamp". I would have been content with the term "RF Amplifier" (with which
I grew up.)

Cheers for now, 73,
Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ


-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of John Geiger
Sent: 15 June 2006 22:06
To: kenwood at mailman.qth.net; yaesu at mailman.qth.net; ICOM Reflector
Subject: [ICOM] Preamp question

On Icom radios, there is a button labeled "preamp" which turns the preamp on
and off. This seems pretty logical, whereas on Kenwood radios you have to
turn on the AIP (advanced intercept point) to turn off the preamp, and on
Yaesu's it is the IPO (intercept point optimizer).  This seems less logical.
Is this some sort of patent deal where Kenwood and Yaesu can't call it the
preamp, much like when Icom had to quit having passband tuning for awhile?
Although I do think the Kenwood TS2000 calls it the preamp.

73s John W5TD



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