[PCR-1000] Input for Icom at Dayton

[A10382]

A few days ago someone suggested collecting input for the Icom folks at =
Dayton....

I won't be going, but would happily contribute my dos centavos....  =
updates prior to May 17th as I think of them.

HARDWARE/CABINETRY
1) Add a USB connector IN ADDITION to the RS-232 one - virtually all new =
desktops=20
        have USB.  Many new laptops do not have any serial ports at all.
2) Provide an audio output that does not disable the internal speaker or =
an option to=20
        have both on.  Would be nice to listen to the data stream while =
the soundcard=20
        does it's 'DSP' thing without using the PC speaker.  Most laptop =
speakers are
        pitiful.
3) Use a 'three prong' power cube so power-line ground can be brought to =
the box
        without a separate ground wire ( this may be open to some =
discussion from the group).
4) Taller rubber 'feet' for the unit.  Would help it run cooler if =
placed on top of something
        else.  Mine rests atop my external Zip drive and although the =
Zip drive is very cool,=20
        the bottom left rear of the PCR-1000 gets a tad warm after a few =
hours - just=20
        now adding bigger rubber feet I got from RadioSchlok last night.

SOFTWARE FEATURES
1)  Would it be possible to have audio enabled concurrently with the =
bandscope during=20
        CW, and SSB ?  Or is this a function conflict of the audio =
filters within the radio ?
2)  Wider bandscope view.  Would like to see about 500kHz with a tuning =
step as small as=20
        1kHz.  This could be an optional setting - many older systems =
are still 800x600. =20
        However, newer systems -since 1999 - are generally 1024x768 or =
higher.
 2) Built a repeater plus/minus offset function into the database and =
have an on-screen +/- offset
        button.  TalkPcr's one is nice.  Would need to save these =
settings in the database.
3) Save all the other settings in the database (Squelch, Volume, IF =
shift, Bandscope=20
        settings, NB, AGC, and AFC for FM, etc).  Again, I like the way =
TalkPcr does this.
4) Link bands together for scanning (or make bands larger - like 200 or =
more freqs).
5) Official support for Operating Systems beyond Win'95.  While I've =
kept a Win'95
        system around for running a lot of old Basic apps, many users =
have only an=20
        XP system.  I have run the Icom s/w on NT and '98 OK.  And then =
there are the
        Linux users....
6)  A full function PalmOS and WinCE controller.  The PCRPilot software, =
although
        simplistic is GREAT.
7) Provide a 'development kit', kinda' like WinRadio's RadioBasic =
modules ( see
         www.rbasic.com or the RBASIC section of www.winradio.com .  =
It's inane to
        have Icom keep their product 'proprietary'.  After looking at =
all the commercial=20
        and freeware products, ICOM's would have very little standalone =
sales potential.
8)  Distribute the software and manual on CD in lieu of diskettes.  =
Diskette only users=20
        (definitely in the minority today) could download.  This would =
allow ICOM to
        replace the manual with the CD and add more ICOM product =
literature.

ACCESSORIES
1) Provide a longer standard collapsible whip with a tuning guide (i.e. =
for 10M extend
        the top x section, for 40M extend the top x sections....).  =
Could add more sections
        and still have it remain no longer than the radio itself.  =
Although many of us=20
        do use another -or multiple - antennas, I take my original whip =
along for portable=20
        use.  My new 'travel' package is the radio, 12V (110/240 50/60) =
power cube, the=20
        original whip, and my PalmPilot/sync-cable/DB9 Null modem.  All =
together, It's pretty=20
        compact.  The PCR-1000 has passed muster in customs a few times =
as a 'computer
         peripheral' -- if packed very separately from the antenna
2) Brand an amplified antenna (must be very compact for travel), much =
like Sony has done=20
        with their wide-band amplified collapsible loop.  The PCR-1000 =
is generally a=20
        sensitive receiver and it is easy to overload the front end, but =
sometimes, you need
        a bit more to pull in some sigs on 160 or 80M.  I may try the =
Sony one - I believe it's
        about $50USD...


73
Frank

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