Ftdx 1200,3000 991a , IC7300

[L2]

How's your 7300 setup? What are you using for a mic?
Now a day's it's almost a prerequisite that one immediately go out and purchase a studio mic, and use the supplied hand mic as a backup microphone. In many cases the studio mic is purchased along with the rig or one the owner already owns is immediately put to use without even giving the hand mic a try.
If I had to choose which mic sounds better studio type, or hand, I'd have to say studio.
But the 7300 along with it's supplied hand mic sounds superb. The first local to own a 7300 immediately used his pr40 as opposed to the supplied hand mic. It (the 7300) obviously sounds better with the pr 40, but when I asked him to switch over to the supplied mic I was pleasantly surprised @ how wonderful it sounded.
Imo some HF's like the ftdx 1200 benefited greatly when a studio mic was used, and that didn't seem so much the case with the 7300.
I am only assuming that the 7300's hand mic was specifically engineered, and designed for the 7300. Whereas the supplied stock hand mic that comes along with the ftdx 1200 might just be a generic Yeasu mic that's used on many of their (Yeasu's) transceivers, and, isn't specifically designed for the parameters of any one specific transceiver. It sounds like the 7300's hand mic was designed around the 7300, and meant to be used on that specific transceiver.
I am always in the habit of asking people using HF transceivers on 11 meters (because I'm a chicken bander only) to switch their mic's from their studio's to the mic supplied with the transceiver, in order to see if the rig tremendously benefits from a studio mic, or the hand mic supplied is quite sufficient. In most cases the studio microphone enhances the audio tremendously, but in the case of the 7300 the hand mic sounds terrific. Definitely no need for a studio mic on the 7300. Especially considering the outrageous prices some microphones are selling for. Just curious. 111 NJ. 73

I have tried the SM30, Heil icm, and a PR40. All of them sound good but I always come back to the supplied HM219 hand mic. It's just too darn convenient and like you said, it sounds fantastic. You are correct, Icom did an excellent job designing the mic to match the transceiver.

Edit: One friend runs a Heil headset. Also sounds very good.

 

[oldtymer]

I have read of some type of receiving issue, but haven't read about this transceiver to amplifier issue. My curiosity is piqued. Can you please expand on your reply. What exactly is hot switching, and what are the potential consequences to the amplifier or the transceiver itself?

Hot switching occurs when the amplifier has a faster time going from receive to TX
while the radio has not completely gone from receive into Tx.
High voltage from the amp can feedback into the radio while the relay is still partially in receive mode causing bookoo damage.

 

[fogdog]

Whatever radio you choose, if you love it once you get it, and if you are that guy that never gets rid of something you bought and plan on keeping it forever, go to the makers parts dept and order a brand new LCD screen and put it away. A bunch of the older icoms are now showing screen burn in and failure, the screens are no longer available. So be ready. .

The IC 7300's screen is backlit by LED, NOT Fluorescent. No chance of burn in.

 

[Road Squawker]

Hot switching occurs when the amplifier has a faster time going from receive to TX
while the radio has not completely gone from receive into Tx.
High voltage from the amp can feedback into the radio while the relay is still partially in receive mode causing bookoo damage.

No,you want the amp to go to TX before the radio does.

hot switching occurs when the radio go into TX before the amp does.

The amp does not "feedback into the radio " causing damage to the radio.
all the damage is to the amps TR relay.

 

[oldtymer]

No,you want the amp to go to TX before the radio does.

hot switching occurs when the radio go into TX before the amp does.

The amp does not "feedback into the radio " causing damage to the radio.
all the damage is to the amps TR relay.

3 am, senior moment, had it backwards.

 

[Sonar]

3 am, senior moment, had it backwards.

Have 7300 owner's found a fix for this issue? It would absolutely suck to ruin oneso amplifier. I can't imagine icon allowing a transceiver to be released with such a problem. After all so many operators use amplifiers. I would absolutely lose my mind knowing that problem exists in my transceiver. I'd be worrying about my amplifier getting destroyed every time I keyed the microphone. That's a serious issue, and for that reason alone I wouldn't buy one. Not that I was considering one anyway, but if I were that would be a very good reason to choose another transceiver. 73

 

[Road Squawker]

Have 7300 owner's found a fix for this issue? It would absolutely suck to ruin oneso amplifier. I can't imagine icon allowing a transceiver to be released with such a problem. After all so many operators use amplifiers. I would absolutely lose my mind knowing that problem exists in my transceiver. I'd be worrying about my amplifier getting destroyed every time I keyed the microphone. That's a serious issue, and for that reason alone I wouldn't buy one. Not that I was considering one anyway, but if I were that would be a very good reason to choose another transceiver. 73

Adding an (expensive) pin diode QSK relay to the amp will protect the amp, or,...... you can change 2 (two) default settings on the 7300.

TX DELAY. (a one time "set and forget" menu change).
HANG TIME, (this setting must be changed EVERY time you change your operating speed)

 

[Sonar]

Adding an (expensive) pin diode QSK relay to the amp will protect the amp, or,...... you can change 2 (two) default settings on the 7300.

TX DELAY. (a one time "set and forget" menu change).
HANG TIME, (this setting must be changed EVERY time you change your operating speed)

I'm assuming operating speed is associated with Morse code. Am I correct? If so it sounds like that would be the way to rectify the problem. Especially if it indeed only has to be changed when one is sending dots and dashes. Those locals I mentioned who own the 7300 (to my knowledge only do voice. For them a one time menu change shouldn't be a Hassel. For those who operate Morse, and change speed it certainly seems like it could be a Hassel. I find it difficult to believe icom didn't do what auto companies do when there's an issue, and that's a recall. If I were interested, and considering buying a 7300, and then finding out about this issue it would certainly, have me thinking twice. It's not like that's a small issue. Purchasing such a advanced transceiver, and then finding out there's a chance it could possibly blow my amplifier up would certainly have me looking elsewhere when it comes to my transceiver choice

 

[Riverman]

Im looking to get a new HF rig . I’m undecided between 4 radios . The Yaesu ft991a , ftdx1200 , ftdx3000 and the Icom IC7300.
Looking for opinions , pros and cons on the radios listed above and which one would you buy and why .
Thanks in advance

Which one did you decide on, Bulldog?

 

[Riverman]

Well, my growing desire for a more colorful display and scope/waterfall has finally gotten the best of me. I'm not interested in hooking my TS-590SG to my PC, so I've been mulling over the same radios as Bulldog and finally decided on one. Am making the trek to HRO tomorrow to get a FTdx-3000.

 

[543_Dallas]

Well, my growing desire for a more colorful display and scope/waterfall has finally gotten the best of me. I'm not interested in hooking my TS-590SG to my PC, so I've been mulling over the same radios as Bulldog and finally decided on one. Am making the trek to HRO tomorrow to get a FTdx-3000.

Cool. Are you going to use the 3000 with an sdr on your pc or just using the band scope built into the 3000? I haven't used one but hope it's better than the ftdx1200. My 1200 band scope only works while the vfo is being turned.

 

[Riverman]

Cool. Are you going to use the 3000 with an sdr on your pc or just using the band scope built into the 3000? I haven't used one but hope it's better than the ftdx1200. My 1200 band scope only works while the vfo is being turned.

Not going to connect to PC. Could've done that with my Kenwood. Am just going to use the scope on the 3000.
I entertained the idea of a 1200 but DX, Gigaparts and HRO don't offer them anymore.

 

[543_Dallas]

Not going to connect to PC. Could've done that with my Kenwood. Am just going to use the scope on the 3000.
I entertained the idea of a 1200 but DX, Gigaparts and HRO don't offer them anymore.

I think you made the right choice. The 1200 isn't a bad rig but unless there has been an update to improve the band scope it might as well not have one. Drop me a line if you need a radio check.

 

[Riverman]

I think you made the right choice. The 1200 isn't a bad rig but unless there has been an update to improve the band scope it might as well not have one. Drop me a line if you need a radio check.

I believe there are firmware updates available that add a waterfall to both the 1200 and 3000. Like the spectrum scope, the waterfall in the 1200 isn't real time but still pretty cool.
Have you updated yours?

 

[543_Dallas]

I believe there are firmware updates available that add a waterfall to both the 1200 and 3000. Like the spectrum scope, the waterfall in the 1200 isn't real time but still pretty cool.
Have you updated yours?

No, I haven't updated it. I bought an anan 100 a few years ago and don't use the 1200 much.