[ICOM] 60 meters

[N4ch at aol.com]

Hello Steve,
 
A good place to look for modifying virtually ANY  "general-coverage 
receive" transceiver to also transmit over the entire 1.8-30  MHz range (including 
60 meters) is:
 
_www.mods.dk_ (http://www.mods.dk) 
 
There are quite a few entries including Icom, Kenwood,  Yaesu, and pretty 
much everything else that's out there.   In most  cases, the required 
modification involves careful removal of a small SMT diode  or resistor chip, 
and/or "bridging" a set of solder pads that were originally  left open.   I've 
never had a problem with any of the changes I've  made using information from 
this site, including the IC-706/MK2/G series of  transceivers.   I don't own 
a 756/Pro/II/III, but I HAVE heard that at  least one or two versions of 
these rigs may not be the best candidate for such a  change, because once 
modified for general-coverage transmit, the PA output is  routed thru a low pass 
filter section that has the "corner" too low in frequency  when 5 MHz 
transmit is desired.   I've heard (but cannot confirm) that  the low pass filter 
section that's normally selected for 80/75 meters is the one  that's still 
in-circuit when 60 meters transmit is selected, and this often cuts  into the 
PA's output by at least a couple dB, resulting in lower power output,  and 
excessive dissipation within the PA as a result.......not a good  situation. 
  I've never heard of this being a problem on any other  Icom radio; I've 
used info from this site to modify quite a few  other Icom radios (besides 
the IC-706 variants), including the IC-707, 718,  725,6,8,9, 736,7,8, 745, 
746, 751, 765, etc.   No problems (including  the IC-756 LPF power loss issue 
mentioned above) were ever evident in any of  these radios.
 
Good luck and 73, Herman, N4CH.