[ICOM] IC-706MkIIG - Can you increase the output level of thefixedaudio output (Data and/or ACC)?

Michael G. Carper mike at wa9pie.net
Wed Jul 22 22:36:34 EDT 2009 

Yeah, I very much suspect the AF output.  Icom won't own up to it and (of
course) want to blame it on the three different commercially made sound card
interfaces or that somehow "the user" (ie. me) is unable to properly setup
the interface... software... and so on.

That said...

I'm going to do exactly that - build a jumper and use a bread-board to break
out the audio and see what's there. 

AND...

I DX Engineering also makes a "socket adapter" that you can use with the
SignaLink to quickly change its radio configuration.  So I'll do that - make
up one for my 706MkIIG and make one up for my Kenwood TS-690S.  I can test
the SignaLink that way and make sure that it's not the problem (using the
same laptop... software... potentially "defective user" and all that).

But it's frustrating.  I paid Icom to check this out and lost the rig for
two weeks while they gave it their gold seal of approval.

Mike, WA9PIE

-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Jim Hargrave
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 7:59 PM
To: ICOM Reflector
Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-706MkIIG - Can you increase the output level of
thefixedaudio output (Data and/or ACC)?

Mike,

The rest of the story helps a lot. I did not realize you were using the
SignaLink. I was talking about using the mic input to the sound card.
However with the built in sound card, I understand the limitations there.

If you have the stuff to do it, I would suggest you make up a temp jumper
cable and feed the 706 data output directly to the input of the computer
sound card. This would verify that you actually have some output from the
radio on the acc connector. It would also eliminate the Signalink as a
possible source of the trouble. The other interface that you have tried,
could also be attenuating the signal enough for it not to work.

It really sounds like perhaps the damage was done and I bet Icom did not
actually put a meter on the acc output to verify that it was up to spec. You
would almost need to check it with a scope with the proper load resistance.

I'm not sure I can offer any more ideas without actually verifying the radio
output.

   * 73's Jim W5IFP *


   >-----Original Message-----
   >From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
   >[mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Michael G. Carper
   >Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 11:22 PM
   >To: 'ICOM Reflector'
   >Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-706MkIIG - Can you increase the output level of
   >thefixedaudio output (Data and/or ACC)?
   >
   >
   >Jim,
   >
   >Great questions/points.  Here's the rest of the story...
   >
   >The soundcard/interface I'm using is a SignaLink USB.  I have
   >installed the
   >jumper (per the manual) to step up the audio output and the RX
   >dial is at 10
   >(max).  So there's no ability to plug it into the mic connector
   >(and that
   >defeats the purpose of having the SignaLink box in the first place).
   >
   >Next question - is my radio bad.  Twenty-four months ago, I plugged in
   >another commercial sound card interface (into the 13-pin connector) and
   >smoke came out the rig.  It ended up blowing a fuse.  I never
   >could get a
   >sound card to pick up the audio with either the 13-pin or
   >6-pin.  So I sent
   >the rig to Icom (Bellevue) and they tested it and told me
   >"there's nothing
   >wrong with it".  Meanwhile, still no success (then again, I
   >couldn't get it
   >to work before either).
   >
   >Since then, I've asked Icom (Bellevue) to double-check their
   >service record
   >and... "are you sure you tested the audio output of the
   >radio?"... to which
   >they say 'yes, we did and it was fine'.
   >
   >So at this point... I have no idea why this won't work.  I will
   >say this...
   >
   >I've been using digital modes since the first PSK31 article
   >came out years
   >ago.  I've built my own... used SignaLink... Buxcomm...
   >microKEYER II (with
   >my Kenwood rig)... I've used DigiPan... MixW... HRD... and I'm
   >absolutely
   >certain that this isn't a case of a "defective user".  I've tried three
   >different sound card interfaces and none of them get enough
   >audio out of the
   >6-pin or 13-pin.
   >
   >Sure - connecting the speaker output of the radio into the mic
   >input of my
   >laptop works great.  But that's not what I'm looking for.
   >
   >Mike, WA9PIE
   >
   >-----Original Message-----
   >From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
   >[mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
   >Behalf Of Jim Hargrave
   >Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 2:31 PM
   >To: ICOM Reflector
   >Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-706MkIIG - Can you increase the output
   >level of the
   >fixedaudio output (Data and/or ACC)?
   >
   >Mike,
   >
   >The fixed output should be more than enough to drive the soundcard.
   >
   >Perhaps your interface is attenuating the signal too much. You
   >may have to
   >use the Mic input on the sound card. Also make sure your settings on the
   >sound card are correct and the input is not muted. Normal rule
   >of thumb is
   >to set the sound card input gain to about 50% and then adjust
   >the interface
   >for proper drive, if it is adjustable.
   >
   >There is an outside possibility that your radio is bad, but I
   >would suspect
   >the interface/sound card setting first. My son-n-law has a
   >706MKIIIG and it
   >drives the line input with an isolation transformer and
   >potentiometer in the
   >interface. The fixed output should be the same on the 706MKIIG.
   >
   >I have an IC-735 and also use fixed output to the line input of
   >the sound
   >card. However on my laptop I have to use the Mic input to get full audio
   >drive.
   >
   >   * 73's Jim W5IFP *
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >   >-----Original Message-----
   >   >From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
   >   >[mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Michael G. Carper
   >   >Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:51 PM
   >   >To: icom at mailman.qth.net
   >   >Subject: [ICOM] IC-706MkIIG - Can you increase the output
   >level of the
   >   >fixedaudio output (Data and/or ACC)?
   >   >
   >   >
   >   >Is it possible to increase the output level of the fixed AF
   >   >output available
   >   >at the data or ACC jack?
   >   >
   >   >
   >   >
   >   >There's not enough AF coming from it to drive my sound card.
   >   >
   >   >
   >   >
   >   >Mike, WA9PIE
   >   >
   >   >----
   >   >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/
   >   >To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
   >
   >----
   >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/
   >To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
   >
   >----
   >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/
   >To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

----
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/
To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

More information about the Icom mailing list