[VHFcontesting] Icom 7000 vs other HF/VHF/UHF rigs

[Marshall Williams]

Hello to all....I like the IC7000 for roving...it has several features 
that work nicely.
1.  All my rover transverters are set up as "max of 10W on 28Mhz IF" for 
the input.  We actually adjust them for 5W of 28Mhz.  With the IC7000 
you can set the 28Mhz output to 5W and enforce that with the menu 
system.  That way when you switch to 28Mhz for the transverters you 
can't blow them up.  Certainly, other radios have this feature also.  
The most notable ones that do NOT are the IC746's and the IC756's.  This 
is a problem, because it is so easy to blow something up.  I use the 
transverter port on a 756Pro2 to drive the transverters in one of my 
rovers, but because it is a very low level output, you can't blow 
anything up, even if you forget and have the RF Power knob up too high.
2.  As mentioned below, the IC7000 has separate keying for HF/6M and 
2M/432.  W2ENY makes a special cable that has separate outputs for HF/6M 
and 2M/432.  He builds a small isolation relay into the cable so that 
the relay voltages and currents of the amplifier won't damage the 
radio.  I am fairly sure that the same cable that works for the IC7000 
will work for the IC706.  He makes cables for other radios too.  I have 
a lot of these in use, because I very much do not like RF hot keying my 
amps.
3.  The output on 432 is supposed to be 35W rather than 20W.  I guess if 
you are driving an amp, this is not significant, but if you are 
barefoot, the extra power might help sometimes. 
4.  The RX is better in the IC7000 and the audio is better. 

You will have to judge whether or not you think the newer radio is worth 
the extra money.  73's Marshall K5QE

k9tms at mindspring.com wrote:

>I run my DEMI 222/28 transverter with mine. Basically the setup is identical to the IC706 I used to run the same Transverter with. One thing I did notice is I use the TIB from DEMI and this sends back an ALC voltage to control the power output, the IC 7000 did require a re-adjustment of this to bring the transmit level into the Transverter to the correct level. Keying is again the same as the IC706, one key circuit for HF/50 and one for 2/432. You can't really drive anything off the key circuit as the amperage it can sink is the same low value that the 706 uses. I use a simple Radio Shack 12v reed relay for the job, it has served well for over 10 years now with this setup. With this setup my IC7000 can go into my rover for January and handle 50 through 432, the nice thing is the voice keyer is built in and with the addition of a 4 button switch box you can really utilize it well, similar to the IC756 in that manner. 
>
>Tom - K9TMS
>
>-----Original Message-----
>  
>
>>From: Nate Duehr <nate at natetech.com>
>>Sent: Jan 30, 2008 9:46 PM
>>To: VHFContesting Remailer <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>, cq-contest at contesting.com, vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
>>Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Icom 7000 vs other HF/VHF/UHF rigs
>>
>>
>>On Jan 30, 2008, at 8:46 AM, k4gun at comcast.net wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>I love mine.  The voice keyer is really nice for roving.  Its fairly  
>>>easy to use once you get used to it.  It does take some time to get  
>>>everything figured out, but once you do, its no problem.
>>>
>>>I wont go into the DSP because you already seem to know, but I will  
>>>just say the noise blanker alone is worth the cost.  Other than  
>>>that, the display is pleasing to the eye and easy to see.  The auto  
>>>and manual notch filters work very well.  I also get outstanding  
>>>audio reports from other stations.  A common comment from some guys  
>>>with high end audio is "Whatever settings you have are right.  Don't  
>>>change a thing!"
>>>
>>>I hope this helps.
>>>
>>>Steve
>>>K4GUN
>>>      
>>>
>>Anyone driving transverters with one?  How is the connectivity?   
>>Different pins for keying different bands (for pre-amps, etc.)?
>>
>>--
>>Nate Duehr, WY0X
>>nate at natetech.com
>>
>>p.s. I'm not on all those other lists, so if they have moderators they  
>>can choose to post this, otherwise the reply will go in the bit- 
>>bucket, which is fine with me... too many lists already here...
>>
>>    
>>