[RTTY] New Radio

[Bob Burns W9BU]

On 9/28/2017 2:39 PM, Don AA5AU wrote:
> ...but Icom could have made things a lot easier by just adding the 
> external RX antenna port to the radio to begin with.

How many other currently-produced $1500 HF radios have a second antenna 
port or RX antenna port? Yes, the Kenwood TS-590SG does, but it doesn't 
have a spectrum display.

Icom apparently built the IC-7300 to a price point. Given the other 
features included in the radio, there may not have been room within 
their price constraints to provide a second or RX antenna port...or a 
video output for an external monitor.

Rob Sherwood NC0B gave a talk at the Dayton Contest University about 
"disruptive technologies" in which he discussed how SDRs have changed 
the HF radio landscape. His presentation talks about the IC-7300 and he 
estimates that Icom sold approximately 10,000 IC-7300s in the first year 
of availability. Rob also discusses how he has used an IC-7300 in contests.

You can view Rob's presentation at: https://youtu.be/owaaT6u4XkY

As for viewing the spectrum scope on an external monitor, there are two 
options:

1. Use Icom's RS-BA1 software (approximately $100). It's a Windows 
program that provides full rig control of several Icom radios including 
the IC-7300. RS-BA1 can display the spectrum scope on a computer monitor.

2. Use N1MM+. The authors have tapped into the CI-V commands for the 
spectrum scope so they can, from what I understand, display the spectrum 
scope as an extension of the N1MM+ band scope complete with worked 
stations and highlighted spots indicated on the spectrum scope. See 
https://youtu.be/nasSxs_ueK4

Bob...