[ICOM] Icom 706MKIIG on low bands

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

That's what the "attenuator" function is for, John.
If that isn't what you are looking for, simply turn
your RF gain down.

73 - Mac, K2GKK/5
Oklahoma City, OK



----Original Message Follows----
From: John Geiger <johngeig at yahoo.com>
Subject: [ICOM] Icom 706MKIIG on low bands
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:57:58 -0800 (PST)

Here is a kind of unusual question I have:  Is the
Icom 706mKIIG too sensitive to really use for low band
DXing?

Let me explain.  I currently have an Icom 706
original.  The QST review shows a MDS of -124dbm on 80
meters with the preamp off.  This seems about right to
me.  I run it with the preamp off on 30, 40 and 80,
and it sounds pretty good.  Not real noisy, but I can
hear the DX well, and it didn't overload very badly in
last weekends contest on 80m.

For the 706MKIIG the QST review shows a MDS of -136
dbm with the preamp off on 80m.  It seems to me that
it is too sensitive.  At -136 DBM, 80 meters will
probably sound noisy as heck.  You can turn on the
attenuator, but they you are down to -116, which might
be too low.  I did use a 706MKII last year in the IARU
contest and on 40m I had to run it with the attenuator
due to overloading and band noise (it shows a MDS of
-134 dbm on 80m).  With the attenuator on, I heard a
couple of loud EU stations, but not that many.

So, those that use it, what is the 706mKIIG like on
the low bands?  Is it almost too sensitive?  Will it
still do ok with the attenuator on?

73s John W5TD