Mt Washington Wx CAM
New Icom IC-7300 HF SDR Transceiver
The Icom IC-7300 has taken ham radio by storm. This Software Defined Radio (SDR) was introduced at a very reasonable price and has been a huge hit with the ham community. When this rig first hit the market there were waiting lists to get one and most all of the reviews I have seen in writing and on YouTube have been extremely posative. This is the first real SDR that looks and functions as a ham radio and not a computer.
The Icom IC-7300 is Icom's latest SDR HF/50 MHz Transceiver. It offers 100W of output power and receieves from 0.030 to 74.800 MHZ. It operates on SSB, CW, RTTY, AM and FM modes. The Icom IC-7300 features a RF direct sampling system, 15 discrete band-pass filters, a real-time spectrum scope and a large 4.3" color touch screen display. Additional features of the IC-7300 include a built-in automatic antenna tuner, 101 channels, SD memory card slot and 3 CW functions. In the box you will find the IC-7300 transceiver, a HM-219 hand microphone, DC power cable, fuses and plugs along with a warranty card and manual.
This rig has been a top-notch rig and it has been one of the best selling HF radios in the amateur raio market in a long time. The direct sampling receiver places it near the top of the Sherwood Engineering Receiver tests. It may not have the amount of Dynamic Range Narrow Spaced rejection at 2kHz, but the sensitivity of the receiver places it near the top.
Specifications:
Output power: 100W (25W AM)
RX Frequencies: 0.030-74.800
Receiver type: Direct sampling
RF direct sampling system
The IC-7300 employs an RF direct sampling system, where RF signals are directly convert to digital data. Then processed in the FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), making it possible to simplify the circuit construction as well as reduce noise that can mask weak signals.
The new “IP+” improves the 3rd order intercept point (IP3) performance improving the ability to copy a weak signal that is adjacent to either a strong interfering signal. In this process, A/D converter is optimized to reduce or eliminate signal distortion.
Large color touch screen
The large 4.3” color TFT touch LCD offers intuitive operation of functions, settings, and various operational visual aids such as the band scope, waterfall function, and audio scope.
Like on the high-end rigs, the waterfall shows a change of signal strength over a period of time and allows you to find weak signals that may not be apparent on the spectrum scope.
Use the audio scope function to observe various AF TX/RX characteristics such as microphone compressor level, filter width, notch filter width and keying waveform in the CW mode. Image below shows the Audio scope with the waterfall function and the oscilloscope.
Real-Time spectrum scope
You no longer have to choose whether to listen to the audio or have the spectrum scope sweep for signals as the IC-7300’s real-time spectrum scope offers the simultaneous operations found in some of the more expensive rigs! This means you can use either the spectrum scope or the waterfall to quickly move to an intended signal while listening to the receiver audio. The ‘7300’s touch screen introduces a “Magnify” function. So, when you first touch the scope screen around the intended signal, the touched part is magnified. A second touch of the scope screen changes the operating frequency and allows you to accurately tune.
Spectrum scope specifications
Scope system : FFT (Fast Fourier Transform)
Sweep speed : Max. 30 frames/second (approx.), selectable from slow, mid or fast
Span width : 5kHz–1000kHz
Resolution : 1 pixel minimum (approximately)
Waveform display area (vertical axis) : 80dB
Reference level adjustment : –20dB to +20dB
Peak level hold function (Max. hold) : ON/OFF/last 10 seconds
Other functions
- Averaging indication
- Touch screen operation
- VBW (Video Band Width) adjustment
Additional Features:
- Built-in automatic antenna tuner
- 101 channels (99 regular, 2 scan edges)
- SD memory card slot for saving data
- Cooling fan system
- Multi-function meter
- CW functions: full break-in, CW reverse, CW auto tuning
- SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM modes
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