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!