INTRODUCTION
|
 The rig has now been in use
for several years and I have never had so many filled pages in my log book!
It is a SUPERB rig for the QRP enthusiast and does just about everything that
one could want. The antennas used have been modest: a 50-60 ft long wire at
about 15 ft average height and a V2000 vertical on 6m.
The IC703 features a built-in DSP filter and auto
ATU as well as speech processing an a CW keyer with 3 message memories.
It is
an ideal "all-in-one" ham station for QRPers.
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LIKES AND DISLIKES
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Some points of note
1. The RX is nicely
quiet, but sensitive, even without the DSP switched in. It reminds me of my old
FT7 in this respect: that was the best receiver I'd ever used and this one
rivals it.
2. DSP filter works nicely. Not having used a heterodyne
"remover" before it was unbelievable how well it worked. The progressive step
DSP noise filter works well too.
3. Dial backlight was a relaxing amber
colour. I had expected it to be a harsh yellow.
4. Menus are easy to
follow (although I'd seen similar in an IC706).
5. The auto-ATU
loaded the longwire on ALL bands except 160m! Much better than expected. I was
surprised how, once stored, the ATU reset to a band change almost immediately -
clatter of relays for a few milliseconds and it was there.
6. One on the
air it works well with worldwide QSOs on SSB and CW achieved. Audio reports have
been excellent with the ability to punch through a few pile-ups being noted.
7. It is an excellent performer on 6m (most of
Europe, N.Africa including EA8 worked with just a modest vertical). 2m and
70cms would have been nice too but I expect that will be in the IC703
MkII.
8. A QRP version of the IC7000
with internal ATU like the IC703 but with all the DSP IF filters
would be nice!
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SPECS
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| GENERAL |
| Frequency Range |
Depends on version but covers 30kHz - 60MHz
RX plus ham bands TX. |
| Mode |
USB/LSB/CW/RTTY/AM/FM |
| Temperature range |
-10°C to +60°C; +14°F to
+140°F |
| Antenna Impedance |
50 ohms(SO-239) |
| Frequency stability |
Less than ±0.5 ppm (0 to 50°C;
+32 to +122°F) |
| No. of Memory Ch. |
105(99 split, 6 scan
edges) |
| Frequency stability |
Less than ±0.5 ppm (1 min. after
powered ON/0 to 50°C; +32 to +122°F) |
| Power supply voltage |
9.0 to 15.87 V DC (negative
ground) |
| Current Drain |
Tx
Rx |
10 W
5 W
Standby
Max.
audio |
3.0 A
2.0 A(9.6V)
0.25 A
(typ.)
0.45 A (typ.) | |
Dimensions
(projections not
included) |
167(W) × 58(H) × 200(D) mm;
6 9/16(W) ×
2 9/32(H) × 4 7/8(D) in |
| Weight (approx.) |
2.0 kg; 4 13/32 lb |
| |
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| TRANSMITTER |
| Mode |
USB/LSB/CW/RTTY/AM/FM |
| Modulation system |
USB/LSB Blanced Modulation
AM Low Level
Modulation
FM Variable Reactance Frequency Modulation |
| Spurious emission |
50 dB (HF bands) |
| Carrier suppression |
More than 40 dB |
Unwanted sideband
suppression |
More than 50
dB |
| Spurious Emissions |
<30 MHz: Less than -50 dB
>50
MHz: Less than -60 dB |
| Microphone Connector |
8-pin modular jack (600
ohms) |
| Output Power |
USB/LSB/CW/FM/RTTY 0.1 to 10 W (at
13.8V)
AM 0.1 to 4 W (at 13.8 V)
USB/LSB/CW/FM/RTTY 0.1 to 5 W (at
9.6V)
AM 0.1 to 2 W (at 9.6
V) |
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| RECEIVER
|
| Receive system |
Double conversion Superheterodyne
system |
| Intermediate
frequencies |
1st 64.455 MHz (for all modes) 2nd 455
kHz (for all modes) |
| Sensitivity (typical) |
Frequency Range
(MHz) |
SSB, CW, RTTY
(at 2.4 kHz BW) |
AM
(at 6 kHz BW) |
FM
(at 15 kHz BW) |
| 0.50 - 1.799 |
__ |
13µV*1 |
__ |
| 1.80 - 29.99 |
0.16µV *1 |
2µV *1 |
__ |
| 28.0 - 29.7 |
0.16µV *1 |
2µV *1 |
0.5µV *1 | 10 dB S/N for SSB, CW, RTTY and AM, 12 dB SINAD for
FM
*1 Pre-amp is ON
| |
Squelch sensitivity
(Pre-amp:
ON) |
SSB, CW, RTTY
FM |
Less than 5.6 µV
Less than 0.32
µV | |
Selectivity
(typical) |
SSB/ CW (BW: 2.4
kHz)
AM /FN-N (BW: 6 kHz)
FM (BW: 15 kHz) |
More than 2.4 kHz/-6dB
Less than 4.5
kHz/-60 dB
More than 8.0 kHz/-6dB
Less than 30.0 kHz/-60 dB
More
than 12.0 kHz/-6 dB
Less than 30.0 kHz/-60
dB | |
| Spurious Response |
More than 70 dB |
| AF output power |
More than 1.0 W with an 8 ohms
load |
| RIT variable range |
±9.99 kHz | |
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LINKS
|
ICOM (Japan) IC703
page.
IC703 Yahoo
Group. |
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