MODS for ICOM IC756 Pro 2
- Expand tx-freqeuncy for the
IC756-PRO ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#1575
)
- ICOM IC-756PRO CW Filter Shape
Selection ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#2325
)
- Eliminate an adjacent channel
noise problem (QST mod for IC-756PRO) ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#2488
)
- 50 Mhz 100 Watts Adjustment ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#2488
)
- 50 Mhz 100 Watts adjustement
Open the bottom lid of the radio.
Looking on Main board for the tiny potentiometer at the bottom side of the
transceiver.
There are only numbers marked on the board.
You have to look in the service manual to find out what number is correct.
R-509 is the one to adjust the 6m 100W - The R-509 is located on the
"Main Unit".
R-509 is the proper adjustment point but you need to make sure you follow
the proper procedure per the service manual.
By Kevin McClinton, W7JRL
Icom Technical Support Representative
Expand tx-freqeuncy for the
IC756-PRO
Author: Hans , PA3HGT - pa3hgt@amsat.org
You need a very fine solder iron to remove the 3 diodes from the main
board!
You have to remove the bottom cover of the 756PRO.
When you removed the cover and you have the backside of the 756-PRO facing
you , you can locate the dsp-box on the left-side (the shiny-box). You have lift the dsp-box (with care !) out of the main board.
After removing the dsp , you can see a row of diodes with some spaces. You
can see on the right of the row the number "3751" , that
diode is already missing , hi.
You have to remove 3 small diodes located on the left side of number
"3751" (diodes 3752 , 3753 and 3754) when you have a version
"#03" Icom IC756-PRO.
When you have a version "#02" : remove diode 3751 , 3752 and
3753 !
R R R I I I X X I I X X I I I X diode-row IC756-PRO version
"#03" 3 3 3 3 before modification .
7 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 3 0 5 1 R R R I I I X X I I X X X X X X after version
"3" mod.
R R R I I I X X I I X X I X X X after version "2" mod. I = diode
installedX = diode not installedR = resistor
Trouble to find the diode-row ? It's about 1/2 inch located under the CPU.
If you can't find out the version of your 756-PRO (#02 or #03) , look at
the topside of the box .( see white sticker).
If there's something going wrong .............. I've no responsibility
This info is from a Icom-infosheet .
73 van Hans/PA3HGT uit Yerseke
PA3HGT@ON1CED.WVL.BEL.EU
User comment
Making 756P continuous Xmit 1.6 -
29.999 MHz
Mods desired to use 756P as
Xverter on 24 MHz which is out of its stock Tx range.
I followed the suggested steps for making 756P continuous Xmit from 1.6 -
29.999. Bottom cover removed by 10 screws (6 on bottom
and 4 on sides), no need to remove feet. CPU box is connected to mother
board via two multi-conductor connectors. Easy to gently
"rock" it back and forth, pops right off. Diodes on my Ver #2
were instantly identifiable. Heated one end, used very small blade knife
to
lift desoldered end. Left diodes connected and "hanging" by
other end.
Total time required approx 10 minutes. Piece of cake. No observable
reduction in operation upon firing it up.
User comment
Extended Xmit including 30-60MHz
From: K3CW
On my 756PRO, I found that leaving diode 3753 in place (and all other
locations from 3751 to 3756 empty) enables transmit
continuously from 1.6MHz to 60MHz. The mod suggested above enables
transmit from 1.6 to 30 but transmitting is still disabled from 30
to 50MHz. I think it's an older 756PRO, serial #1090.
Note:
1) Experiment at your own risk. I am! :)
2) Use a dummy load not an antenna.
User comment
IC 756 Pro Freq Mod
From: NL7HQ - Derek Edmondson (find_derek@yahoo.com.MODIFICATION.NET)
After experimenting with several of the diodes (D3751 thru D 3756), this
is what I found on my 756 Pro (I) (S/N 01850):
Removal of 3751, 3752, 3753 gives TX 1.6 MHz to 30 MHz, plus normal 50 MHz
to 54 MHz. Removal of 3756 (3754 and 3755 where
already gone from factory) killed the TX on 50 MHz to 54 MHz. Reinstalling
3756 restored 50 MHz to 54 MHz.
Reinstalling 3753 opened TX from 100 kHz to 60 MHz continuous.
However, be very careful from 30 MHz to 50 MHz, as the block diagram shows
no Low Pass Filter support there.
Also the Band Pass Filter range for 30 MHz to 50 MHz is abnormally broad
when compared to adjacent band pass filter blocks (20 MHz
wide compared to between 2 MHz and 8 MHz). -Regards
User comment
100kHz ~ 60MHz TX Mod
From: Bonnie KQ6XA (radioadventure@aol.com.MODIFICATION.NET)
Now reporting success for 1600kHz to 60MHz Continuous Transmit. This
includes the 5MHz Band, of course.
Model: IC-756 PRO (original)
Serial Number: Serial Number approximately #2650.
Version Number: #2 on original packing box, for USA market.
Procedure: Removal of diode 3751 and 3752 only.
After successful modification, the following notes apply:
Note 1: Diodes 3753 and 3756 remain in place.
Note 2: Diodes 3751, 3752, 3754, 3755 are absent.
The following notes apply to operating range:
Note 3: TX power drops out below 1600kHz due to band filter.
Note 4: Transmitting below 1600kHz not recommended.
Note 5: Transmitting is possible continuously from 1.6MHz to 60MHz.
Note 6: Transmitting is not recommended from 30.000MHz to 37.000MHz
because of potential for harmonic emissions.
If transmitting in this range is required, it may be possible to use an
external transmit low pass filter with a roll-off at
40MHz to suppress harmonics at 60MHz and above.
Note 7: For test purposes, transmitting of a very low power signal is
possible between 100kHz and 1599kHz.
This may be useful as a short duration signal source, however, if
continuous transmit in this range is required, more testing
must be done to verify that the transceiver will not be damaged.
Disclaimer: Amateur Radio Operators have a long tradition of modifying
radio equipment. Many people use amateur
transceivers as test equipment. This message is for educational purposes
only. All the information that is known at this time
has been provided in this comment. Please do not contact the author
about this comment on the modification.
The bottom line: It's your radio. Do with it what you like. Don't tell me
about it.
User comment
5MHz Operation, Power Amp Low Pass
Filter
From: Bonnie KQ6XA ( radioadventure@aol.com.MODIFICATION.NET)
Update: 5MHz Channel USA/UK operation of IC-756 PRO and IC-756 PRO 2.
Caution: 5.3MHz operation is not advised until a further modification to
the Transmitter Power Amplifier's Low Pass Filter.
Presently, the PRO has a Low Pass Filter after the RF Power Output
Amplifier, that presents a high SWR to the PRO's RF Power
Amplifier in the range of 5.100 to 5.999MHz. This LPF is in the circuit
from 2MHz to 6MHz. However, it has a 1dB roll-off point
at about 5.0MHz, increasing to more than 3~6dB at about 5.35MHz.
In my preliminary testing on 5.3MHz, it appears that the Low Pass Filter
causes 50 to 75 Watts of the output power to be
converted to heat within the PRO's circuitry (RF Power Amplifier
transistors, RF output transformer, switching relays, and 2~6MHz
LPF section).
We are now looking at the design of a modification for the PA LPF to
enable safe operation of the IC-756PRO2 and PRO on 5.3MHz.
Here is a schematic of the PRO's 2~6MHz LPF before modification:
LOW PASS FILTER SCHEMATIC CLICK HERE ( http://www.mods.dk/%22http://www.qsl.net/kq6xa/mods/prolpf.jpg%22
)
There are 2 solutions to this problem:
1. Modification changing the existing capacitors/inductors values of the
LPF, along with the possible addition of another inductor or trap.
2. Modification to switch the existing 6MHz to 8MHz LPF in the circuit on
5MHz instead of the 2MHz to 6MHz LPF.
Again,
Please do not contact the author of this comment about this mod.
Everything that is known at this time about it has been posted already. - Thank you.
ICOM IC-756PRO CW Filter Shape
Selection
Author: Greg Ordy -
ordy@seed-solutions.com
by Greg Ordy
- Introduction ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#Introduction
)
- The Undocumented BPF Indicator
( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#BPF
)
- Two Ways to Specify the Filter
Width ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#FilterWidth
)
- Do It Yourself ( http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#DoitYourself
- The Difference (
http://www.worldwidedx715.com/#The Difference )
Introduction
The ICOM 756PRO documentation is silent when it comes to describing the CW
filter shape factor, and how it can be selected.
ICOM tried to improve the situation with a brief mention of this topic in
its Advanced Operation Guide ( http://www.icomamerica.com/
)
for the 756PRO, but it does not clearly describe how to select the filter
shape. I will try to do a little better on this page. I would like
to thank Rob Peebles, W8LX, for bringing these capabilities of the radio
to my attention.The 756PRO receive audio, coming out of a
digital signal processing (DSP) intermediate frequency (IF) stage, is much
different in character than other purely analog receivers.
I have captured some of my impressions on another page ( http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/Amateur%20Radio/Experimentation/IC756Pro.htm
).
On CW, the filter response created by the DSP is extremely sharp. That is,
signals outside of the pass band are substantially attenuated. In the analog domain, sharp filters can lead to ringing, and
other artifacts. Digital filters can have similar problems.
In addition, it has been claimed that the 756PRO receiver highlights flaws
(key clicks) in the transmitted signal. In other words, it
hears the clicks better than other receivers. These various factors lead
to CW receiver performance which some operators do not like.
One suggestion to improve performance has been to alter the CW filter
shape. Perhaps if the filter was not as sharp, the artifacts
would not be as pronounced.
Apparently a special DSP ROM ( http://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/jpro/index.html
)
(software) is available in Japan,
but information on this modification has been difficult to obtain, and in
any case, changing the DSP software is claimed to be a major project, in terms of taking apart the radio to access the relevant
parts.It turns out that for filter widths of 500 Hz and less, it is
possible to select one of two filter shape factors. One is the sharp CW
filter, and the other appears to be the SSB shape factor, which
is not as sharp.
Calling one the CW shape factor and the other the SSB shape factor is my
own terminology. Rob Peebles, W8LX, estimated the sharp
CW shape factor to be 1.5, and the SSB shape factor to be 2.0. This page
describes how to select the two different shape factors
(in the CW mode, it cannot be selected in SSB mode).
The Undocumented BPF Indicator
The top line of the main display contains a yellow indicator labeled BPF.
This indicator is not mentioned in the documentation (756PRO
user's manual). It appears immediately to the right of the pass band width
indicator (page 10 of my manual). It is my belief and claim
that this indicator shows the IF filter shape factor state. When the
indicator is off, the display is dark, the SSB shape factor is in use.
When the BPF characters are visible, the CW (sharp) shape factor is being
used.Early 756PRO users discovered the BPF indicator soon
after the radio was introduced. It was clear that it was tied to the CW
filter width. As best as I can tell, you must be in CW mode in
order to be able to use the sharper filter. When the CW filter width is
set to 500 Hz or less, via the BW (F-1) button, in IF filter
selection mode, the BPF indicator and mode automatically turns on. Until I
talked to Rob Peebles, W8LX, I assumed that all CW filters
500 Hz or less in width would have the BPF indicator on. This turns out to
be untrue. It is possible to have CW filters at and under 500
Hz without having the BPF indicator on. Since the BPF indicator is not on,
you will be using the SSB shape factor, even if the filter width is reduced to the minimum value of 50 Hz.
Two Ways to Specify the Filter
Width
The current filter width and shift (offset) are displayed on the top line
of the main display. The BW field indicates the filter bandwidth,
and the SFT field indicates the filter shift. I believe that these two
fields, along with the BPF indicator, completely capture the IF filter
state of the radio.
There is no more data to view or change.There are two
different ways to specify the filter width. Until this issue came
up, I assumed that both ways would always arrive at identical results.
This is not true. One way changes the BPF indicator and the other
does not.
Again, this discussion applies to CW mode.
In SSB mode, the BPF
indicator will never turn on.The first way to adjust the IF
filter width is to use the BW [F-1] button in conjunction with the main
VFO knob. You must enter the IF filter set mode in order to use
this way. When this way is used, the BPF indicator will turn on for all
widths of 500 Hz or less.The second way to adjust the IF filter
width is to use the Twin PBT knobs. These concentric knobs can be adjusted
to narrow the filter width.
Here is the entire point of this web page: When the IF width is adjusted with the Twin PBT knobs, the BPF
indicator will not come on, even for widths equal to and under 500 Hz. Obviously you must start with a width greater than 500 Hz so
that the PBT indicator is off to begin with.My own opinion is
that this is a bug that really is a feature.
My guess is that ICOM
engineers wanted the sharp CW filter to be on for all widths of 500 Hz
or less. When using the BW button, it works like that. But when the Twin
PBT controls are used, the check for crossing the 500 Hz
boundary is not made, and the filter does not change shape.
Do It Yourself
The best way to evaluate the two different filter shape factors is to A/B
compare them for a constant filter width. Here's my suggestion
for doing that.
Pick a band like 40 meters that usually has a number of CW signals, and
some background noise (especially at night).
Set the 756PRO to CW mode, and enter the filter set mode by pressing the
Filter button for 2 seconds.
Select the first filter and press the DEF button to return the filter to
the factory default width of 1.2 KHz. Since this width is greater than
500 Hz, the BPF indicator will be off. Turn the outer Twin PBT knob to the
right 10 clicks. Turn the inner Twin PBT knob to the left 10 clicks. This should result in a 200 Hz filter. Since the filter was
narrowed with the Twin PBT knobs, the BPF indicator should still be off.
You now have a 200 Hz wide filter with the SSB shape factor.
Select the second filter and press the DEF button to return the filter to
the factory default width of 500 Hz. Since the filter width is 500
Hz or less, the BPF indicator will be on. Press the BW [F-1] button and
while holding the button, rotate the main VFO knob to the left
until the width reduces to 200 Hz. You now have a 200 Hz wide filter with
the CW shape factor.
You now have two filters with identical widths, but with the two different
shape factors.Tune around the band, and use the Filter button
to select the different filters. Remember, when evaluating filters, check
the BPF indicator state. When BPF is on, you are using the sharp
CW filter shape. When the indicator is off, you are using the broader SSB
filter shape.
The Difference
So, is this a distinction with a difference? While the difference is not
large, my own subjective opinion is that it significant. The SSB
filter shape sounds much more like traditional filters in an analog IF
radio. The CW signal edges are not as sharp and grating. The sound
is a bit softer. Even the background noise of the band changes. I could
imagine that it would be much less tiring on the ears to listen to
the SSB filter shape for extended periods. In contest situations, however,
with crowded bands, the CW filter shape will probably be more desirable. Your mileage may vary.With appropriate test equipment it would
be possible to make a more accurate estimate of the shapes
of the filters. Although I don't have that equipment, I do have the
program Digipan ( http://www.digipan.net/
, which is PSK31 software
with an integrated audio spectrum analyzer. Here is a Digipan screen
capture showing three filter choices.
http://www.worldwidedx715.com/756pro_cwfilter.jpg
Digipan Display
of Selected Filters
The Digipan screen capture shows the audio spectrum output of three
different filters. The capture was made on a noisy 80 meter band,
monitoring background noise. My CW center frequency was 400 Hz. Since the
program scrolls from top to bottom, the first filter selected
is actually at the bottom of the captured screen. The bottom filter is a
200 Hz filter with the CW shape factor (BPF is on). Note the sharp edges,
indicated by the straight vertical lines that separate the black (no
output) zone from the yellow zone (random background noise coming through
the filter). Above the 200 Hz BPF filter is the 200 Hz non BPF (SSB)
filter. The edges are no longer as sharp.
Additional energy around the 200
Hz width is coming through the filter. The blue lines indicate
intermediate energy levels (between
yellow and black). Finally, the top and last filter is a 300 Hz BPF
filter. Larry Benko, W0QE, a 756PRO user who independently discovered
the two CW filter shapes, informed me of another program, Spectrogram( http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/SPECTROGRAM/
),
which is a free audio analysis tool. I used Spectrogram
to create spectrum plots of the 200 Hz wide BPF and non BPF CW filters.
These screen captures, made while listening to the same noisy
80 meter band, reveal the different filter shapes.
200 HZ BPF filter (CW shape)
200 Hz non BPF filter (SSB shape)
The nonBPF filter shape factor does have a character all its own. In some
circumstances, you may find it useful, and at the least, ICOM
should document it. The use of a broad-band uniform RF noise source, such
as 80 meters at night, combined with an audio spectrum
analyzer implemented in software on a computer, is a simple but effective
approach for making reasonable measurements of receiver
filter pass band characteristics. More of these sort of plots can be found
on a web page ( http://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/passband/passband.html
)
maintained by Adam, VA7OJ/AB4OJ. These plots compare the ICOM
IC-756PRO against the ICOM IC-765.
This modification can also be found on Greg Ordy
( http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/Amateur%20Radio/Experimentation/CWFilter.htm
homepage.
Eliminate an adjacent channel
noise problem (QST mod for IC-756PRO)
Author: K3CW, Chris
The June 2002 issue of QST describes a modification to the 756PRO.
Additional power supply bypassing is added to eliminate an
adjacent channel noise problem. The problem has been fixed in the
756PRO-II. Page 68
Here are more details:
Cures key-click-like noise (on CW) and rumbling noise (on SSB) due to IF
pass band coupling to the 8V supply rail. Occurs when strong
signals are within 7.5kHz of the indicated frequency.
Remove the bottom cover of the 756PRO.
With the backside of the 756-PRO facing you, locate the DSP-box on the
left-side (the shiny-box).
Lift the DSP-box (with care !) out of the main board.
C316 is a 100uF capacitor located underneath the DSP module.
Carefully solder 2 wires in parallel with C316, the PCB contact pads
extend a bit on either side, and connect the wires to a 1000uF 16V
capacitor.
Observe the polarities on both capacitors - the negative side of C316 is
towards the front panel.
There's space to mount the new cap using double-sided tape next to the
memory back-up battery.
This will improve the bypassing on the 8V rail and should cure the
problem.
- Chris
K3CW
User comment
756 pro adjacent channel noise problem
From: Jim Jarvis, N2EA (n2ea@arrl.net.MODIFICATION.NET)
This is a good modification. It
removes the Noise Blanker drive signal from the main audio in the 756pro.
As the first person to make this modification, and one of the authors of
the QST article, I would have expected pubs credit for use of
my (our) copyrighted work.
This is a good service, however, and K1KP and I would have granted
permission...and even provided a better picture than the one you chose. (that option is still open to you. Contact me.)
73, N2EA
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