ICOM announced IC-756PRO II
Courtesy Nobuyuki
Oba, JA7UDE
ICOM has already stopped the production of IC-756PRO and started selling IC-756PRO II
in the JA market. The price is 358,000 yen, which is 10,000 yen higher than IC-756PRO.
New features
- Digital IF filter - the user can change the filter width as well as the filter shape
factor on the fly
- Got wider dynamic range and improved third IMD
- One-touch audio record/play-back
- Audio and CW memories that can be controlled with an external switch
- Improved SSB data mode including a new BPF and 1/4 dial speed mode
- Noise blanker with adjustable threshold
- The display format is selectable from 8 templates. The font is selectable from 7 fonts.
How ICOM reacted to the users' requests?
Users' voice |
ICOM's answer |
IMD problem. |
Improved 3rd IMD characteristics. |
The sensitivity of 50MHz is not good enough. |
Changed the RF circuit for 50MHz and used SSB-SOFT filter. |
The voice recorder/player works for SSB only.
When the recorder/player is in use, other features cannot be used at the same time. |
Added a new button for recorder/player, which can be used not only for SSB but also
for other modes.
Added an interface for the external logic to control the recorder/player. |
NB is not effective in some situations. |
Added a level control for NB. |
Special ROM. |
Added a DSP set mode that allows the user to change the filter shape on the fly. |
AF volume know is touchy. |
Improved the AF volume resolution. |
With NB on, the signals are distorted. |
Improved. |
The output level of the headphone is not loud enough. |
Improved. |
The VHF users commonly use USB side for CW (CW-R) |
Got it user-customizeable. |
The receive frequency is shifted when the mode is changed. |
Added an option that keeps the receive frequency even when the mode is changed. |
The repeat interval of the memory keyer should be set longer. |
The repeat interval can be set from 1 to 60 seconds. |
The power meter swings stickily in the CW mode. |
Smoothed it. |
The key-speed knob is not easy to handle. |
Exchanged the positions of the key-speed and delay knobs. |
The narrow BPF does not work for SSB. |
The narrow BPF is available for SSB, too. |
The filter settings for DATA should independently be controlled. |
The user can settle the filters for SSB and DATA independently. |
The 1/4 function is not available for SSB. |
It is available for SSB, too. It is effective for digital modes, such as PSK31. |
No one touch clear of RIT. |
User customizable. |
The monitor level is not enough. |
Raised the level. |
The wake-up/sleep timer is not easy to use. |
Improved the user interface. |
I was surprised that ICOM has put the comparison chart of
IC-756PROII and XXX on their web site. ICOM keeps XXX as anonymous, but clearly XXX is
Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V. Bear in mind that it is unusual for a big maker to publish such a
comparison chart with competitors in Japan, though it is quite common in US. At the middle
of the page, there is a figure that shows the filter shape factors. One is, of course, the
756PROII's IF DSP and the other is COLLINS 10-pole filter. As you should know, the COLLINS
filter is installed in Mark V. Hmmm, ICOM becomes very aggressive, hi hi.
I am pleased that ICOM has implemented some of my and my friends' requests in
756PROII. OK, well, should I upgrade my IC-756PRO to IC-756PRO II? I do not know, but not
now. At least I wait for someone's report and article on 756PROII, Hi.?
IC-756PRO (HF and 50MHz transceiver)
History
ICOM announced IC-756PRO at 1999 Ham fair, which was held in Yokohama Japan in August
1999. I was very pleased to hear the announce and was looking forward to its release to
the market. As was the case of IC-706, it took substantial time for ICOM to actually
release IC-756PRO to the market. At the beginning of December 1999, the 756PRO finally was
released in the Japanese market.
I purchased one immediately after the release and have been using it for 14 months. I
think it is good time to write my review on 756PRO.
First impression
Since I have been using an IC-756 for more than three years, I had no trouble in
operating the primary functions. The most eye-catching change in 756PRO from 756 is,
needless to say, the color LCD panel. It obviously improves the user interface.
- The color LCD definitely improves the user interface.
- The band scope is inherited from 756. The peak holding option greatly helps us to find
new signals (pileups?).
- The name of memory is displayed at the upper right corner of the LCD. That's a good
feature.
- The DSP IF filter has a good shape factor and therefore works great. I would name it QRM
BUSTER.
- The DSP IF filter has a preset feature. For each operation mode, the bandwidth can be
preprogrammed in three ways. I no longer have to buy optional crystal filters.
- The DSP noise reduction works far better than that of 756. In particular, it is very
effective for PSK. It gets the target signal come out of QRN.
- The DSP IF filter can be as narrow as 50MHz. This is doing an ideal job for PSK31
because PSK31 occupies only 31MHz.
- We can name each memory by turning the main dial. It is speedy and easy to assign a name
to memories. In 756, we had to push buttons many times to pick up an alphabet.
- It is a good idea to relinquish the microphone input by pressing a mode button more than
1 second. It is very useful for data communication means, such as PSK and AFSK.
- The built-in automatic antenna tuner does the job. In addition, I am very happy with the
external automatic antenna tuner, AH-4. I have connected a 15m wire to it and I can
operate 3.5MHz - 50MHz. Neat. What I have to do is just pushing the tuner button on the
front panel of IC-756PRO.
I wish it could have....
- The receiver voice memory would have worked in the CW mode as well. I sometimes want to
record CW as well as phone signals.
- The S meter is sticky. I am not sure this is box-specific, but mine is often fluttering.
- The 756PRO provides four patterns for the LCD display. Two of them are color and
remaining two are monochrome. Who are using the monochrome type?
- The scratch pad memory, MP-W/MP-R, is very useful. However, I sometimes forget which
contains what. It would be nice if the content of the memories are displayed on the LCD.
- I am not satisfied with the sensitivity for 50MHz. YAESU FT-655, which is more than ten
years old, is still superior to 756PRO in terms of the 50MHz sensitivity.
- I personally do not like the feeling of the main dial. It is sticky. 756 is better.
- The bandwidth of the DSP IF filter is presettable. I hope I could change and preset the
center frequency, too, that is to say, the IF shift.
- I use the USB-D/LSB-D mode position for the PSK operation. Many Hams will use it for
AFSK. It would be nice if I can preset IF filters for USB-D/LSB-D independently of
USB/LSB. It is obvious that Phone, PSK, and AFSK require different filters.
- Narrower band scope is desired (ie., AF). It should be very useful for getting the
manual notch adjusted sharp at the QRM signal.
All in all, I am very happy with the new IC-756PRO. ICOM has done a great job! To play
with 756PRO is fun and joy. I trust IC-756PRO is an ideal radio for digital modes, such as
RTTY and PSK.
Special ROM
- In August 2000, ICOM has started offering a special ROM for 756PRO. The ROM makes the CW
filter a bit less sharp in order to remedy the CW click problem. The procedure of the ROM replacement
is not so easy but not so tough to me. I opened the box, dug out the DSP board, unsoldered
the shield cover, and eventually replaced the ROM with a new one. I have been using the
special ROM for a couple of weeks. Does it work? My answer is YES. With the special ROM, I
can hang around in a bunch of strong CW signals with less click sound.
Doesn't it degrade
the selectivity? I do not think so, because I still can pull down the band pass width as
narrow as 50 Hz. I do not know if ICOM is offering the special ROM outside Japan. Anyhow,
ICOM have developed this special ROM by request of the users. Good job ICOM!