new Icom transceiver

Sat Feb 5 13:05:01 EST 1994

I received several respones to my reflector posting regarding a new, so far
Japan-only, Icom transciever.  Looks like a great contest/DX/Dxpedition
radio.  Here is a summary of the info sent to me (including several messages
from Japanese hams):

The IC-736 is an improved version of the IC-737 version currently sold
stateside:

IC-737 features additional to the IC-736:

*  vox.
*  6 meters (50w, can adjusted to 100w).
*  RF gain control.
*  built-in switching power supply accepts 85-135v and 187-265v AC.
*  ALC metering.
*  SWR metering.
*  weighs 10.5 kg.
*  Motorola MRF174 push-pull power MOSFET final amplifier.
*  optional 500 Hz or 250 Hz CW filters at the 2nd IF (9.0106 MHz) and 3rd IF
(455 kHz).
*  built-in antenna tuner: HF: 16.7 - 150 ohms & 6m: 20 - 125 ohms.
*  RIT and XIT are clearable.
*  during Split operation, the Lock button locks the receiving frequency
only.   This means you can still change the transmitting frequency by
pressing XFC even when Lock is engaged.

DX/contest features the IC-737 and IC-736 still do NOT have:

*  Beverage antenna input.
*  provisions for VHF/UHF transverters.
*  adjustable CW pitch.

I do not know what the IC-737 general coverage RX range is.  6m DXers like to
have 30 - 50 MHz RX capability for MUF analysis.

When will Icom introduce the IC-737 radio stateside?  Will they wait until
they sell off their IC-736 inventory?

One person sent me a cryptic message about a great new Yaesu transciever
under development.  Anyone have further news on this?

One last comment -- why have the big three (Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood) been so
slow to incorporate DSP technology in their rigs?  (I know Kenwood has some
limited DSP features -- but they could do A LOT more.)  DSP chips aren't
terribly expensive anymore and are rountinely showing up in consumer video
game players, PCs, and so on.  A digital IF could do amazing things in a
crowded band or with extremely weak signals.

Bill AA6TT
wmhein at aol.com

>From robert penneys <penneys at freezer.cns.udel.edu>  Sat Feb  5 19:06:55 1994
From: robert penneys <penneys at freezer.cns.udel.edu> (robert penneys)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 94 14:06:55 EST
Subject: Last chance-join NERDS Sprint CW team!
Message-ID: <9402051906.AA13078 at freezer.cns.udel.edu>

If you're gonna be onna Sprint tonite, and wanna be inna true inna crowd,
lemme know RIGHT NOW an I'm gonna senna Tree my list this afternoon.
Got it?  ]
Tnx Bob WN3K N.E.R.D.S    FRC

>From kitagawa at ee.ES.Osaka-U.AC.JP (Masahiro KITAGAWA)  Sat Feb  5 21:11:52 1994
From: kitagawa at ee.ES.Osaka-U.AC.JP (Masahiro KITAGAWA) (Masahiro KITAGAWA)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 94 06:11:52 +0900
Subject: new Icom transceiver
References: <9402051305.tn16663 at aol.com>
Message-ID: <9402052111.AA12494 at qed.laser.ee.es.osaka-u.ac.jp>

> I do not know what the IC-737 general coverage RX range is.

IC-736's RX freq range is 0.5-29.995MHz and 50-54MHz.

> 6m DXers like to have 30 - 50 MHz RX capability for MUF analysis.

Sure, it would have much helped 6m DXers. But I think enthusiasts can
make a tiny crystal converter for the purpose. Or there might be
easier mods.

> A digital IF could do amazing things in a crowded band or with
> extremely weak signals.

Yes, I agree that DSP at IF is the right way to go and they are doing
research. I think it is still expensive at popular 455kHz 3rd IF. 
Adding lower 4th IF also costs. The problem is that expensive HF rigs
will not be profitable for next several years with decreasing
sunspots. I expect rigs with DSP at IF will show up before the high bands
are crowded again. A possibility which might accelerate DSP at IF
technology is the elimination of expensive mechanical filters at
455kHz. Just my guess.

masa
*--- **** ***-- *--* *-* *-*      QRZ? de JH3PRR
Masahiro Kitagawa  <kitagawa at ee.es.osaka-u.ac.jp>

>From barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner)  Sat Feb  5 19:46:44 1994
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (Barry Kutner) (Barry Kutner)
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 94 19:46:44 GMT
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <L5HaHc3w165w at w2up.wells.com>

"H. Ward Silver" <hwardsil at seattleu.edu> writes:

>    Why not have an on-line QSL service, financed by the QSLer and QSLee,
>    in which contest logs would be stored for access by QSLers?  Each QSLer
>    would submit a list of the desired QSOs.  The system looks each one up,
>    verifies the QSO, and submits the list to the indicated award manager.  Or
>    maybe the QSLer can submit the list to award managers and they can access
>    the data base.  It can work any number of ways.
>    Just think, you could have a DXCC "account" which would forward verified
>    QSOs to ARRL's DXCC computer for automatic credit!  And save all those
>    cards and stamps and envelopes and time for filling out cards which go to
>    those new friends overseas you work between contests.
>    
>    Even DX-peditions could use it, but it would cut down on the
>    contributions.  Nor would those snazzy photo cards get sent.  It's
>    probably just a good idea for contest QSLs.  What say?
>     
>    73, Ward N0AX
>    hwardsil at seattleu.edu
> 
> 
> 

I think Ward has a great idea. Remember the days when DXCC accepted
contest QSOs for credit? As long as logs are submitted on disk, it
shouldn't be too difficult to implement for DXCC. What say ARRL?
73 Barry

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Usenet/Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >K2TW (FRC)
.......................................................................

>From oo7 at astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills)  Sat Feb  5 23:00:33 1994
From: oo7 at astro.as.utexas.edu (Derek Wills) (Derek Wills)
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 94 23:00:33 GMT
Subject: Contest QSLing
Message-ID: <9402060500.AA04853 at astro.as.utexas.edu>

	I think Ward has a great idea. Remember the days when DXCC accepted
	contest QSOs for credit? As long as logs are submitted on disk, it
	shouldn't be too difficult to implement for DXCC. What say ARRL?
	73 Barry

	Barry N. Kutner, W2UP   

What makes you so confident that FR5DX will send in a log after a contest?

Derek aa5bt

>From hhoyt at k4pql.apex.nc.us (Howard Hoyt)  Sun Feb  6 04:25:57 1994
From: hhoyt at k4pql.apex.nc.us (Howard Hoyt) (Howard Hoyt)
Date: Sun, 06 Feb 94 04:25:57 GMT
Subject: NAS
Message-ID: <y66aHc1w165w at k4pql.apex.nc.us>

Conditions seemed quite good. West coast very loud on 80
73,
Howie
-------------------------------------------------------
         Contest Date: 02/06/1994
                 Mode: CW

     Station Callsign: K4PQL
    Operator Callsign: K4PQL
     State or Country: NC

                 Name: Howard Hoyt
              Address: 7125 Roberts Road
       City/State/Zip: Apex, NC 27502

     band        QSOs
     ________________

      20           84
      40          133
      80           96
     ________________

     total:       313 QSOs  X   38 mults  =  claimed score:  11,894

     Pre-registered Team: NO

            (HHOYT at K4PQL.APEX.NC.US)

>From robert penneys <penneys at freezer.cns.udel.edu>  Sun Feb  6 05:13:41 1994
From: robert penneys <penneys at freezer.cns.udel.edu> (robert penneys)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 94 00:13:41 EST
Subject: Join N.E.R.D.S. for phone Sprint!!
Message-ID: <9402060513.AA13844 at freezer.cns.udel.edu>

Join us next Sat nite for the phone Sprint. We can still use a couple more
folks. Let me know ASAP.  Tnx WN3K Bob