[CQ-Contest] Filters

[Ed Kucharski]

Kelley,
I had the exact question a couple of years ago with my then new IC746.  I 
was planning on using the 746 on 6m and 2m for vhf weak signal work, 
contesting and as a back-up to my IC765 for HF contesting (which already 
had narrow SSB filters in both IF's that worked very well) and I wanted to 
narrow the IF to better reject adjacent frequency interference.  Like you, 
I didn't want the wire-in filter mod so I compromised by purchasing the 
1.9KHz Icom narrrow SSB filter for the 9MHz IF and the 1.8Khz narrow SSB 
filter for the 455KHz IF from INRAD.  This combo sharpens up the IF 
considerably (it almost makes rag chewing uncomfortable because of the loss 
of the wider fidelity but that is easily fixed with a push of the FILTER 
button to toggle back into the stock 2.4KHz Icom filters) and makes 
contesting and dx'g on a crowded band much more bearable.  I have found the 
IC746 with filters to be a very respectable radio.  Probably a better way 
to go is to purchase the wire-in filter from INRAD for the 9MHz IF as well 
as the INRAD drop in filter for the 455KHz IF but my compromise worked out 
very well without any internal changes to the IC746.
INRAD's webpage is at:  http://www.qth.com/inrad/

73,
Ed K3DNE



At 09:39 AM 11/20/2002 -0500, Tim Gardner wrote:
>Kelley,
>
>There is a FAQ for the IC746 that contains a sizable section about 
>filters. You can see the entire FAQ at:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IC746/files/IC746-faq.txt
>
>You need to be a member of the group (or at least a Yahoo member) to 
>retrieve the file. I'd be happy to extract & send anyone a copy.
>
>Tim - N9LF
>
>
> >>> "Kelley Shaddrick" <kshaddri at xtratyme.com> 11/19/02 10:36PM >>>
>Howdy all,
>
>After working my first SS this past weekend, I'm looking for some advice on
>filters. I run a Icom IC-746. It currently has no filters in it other then
>what comes with the radio. I notice that Icom sells a couple of different
>SSB filters for this radio. One is a 1.9 KHz filter for the 9 MHz IF, and
>the other is a 1.8 KHz filter for the 455 KHz IF (I think I have those
>right). My questions then are:
>
>1. Do I get both filters?
>
>2. If not both, which single one is best?
>
>3. Is there a third party filter that I should consider (I really don't want
>to have to solder anything in place if possible).
>
>Thanks all,
>
>Kelley -- WØRK
>
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