I recently had the fortune of convincing my wife that the Icom R-75 available
at AES in Cleveland (et al.) was too good a deal to pass on, and that an early
Christmas present might be in order. Fortunately she bought it, (the story and
the radio). $450 with a free DSP unit.

Not being the worlds most intelligent person, nor the most adroit, I must say
that I had a few moments of consternation installing the DSP unit. If you get
the R-75 with the UT-106 DSP, open the DSP box and place the enclosed
instructions and leatherette case far from view. They contain no information
and are not used to install the UT-106 in the R-75. Next, open the manual for
the R-75, and follow the instructions for the installation of the UT-106 DSP
unit. P.S., the view showing the installation of the "Velcro Pad" is virtually
indecipherable.

Oddly enough, while reading the Radio Netherlands report on the R-75, I came
across the following:
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr75.html

"Spot the Difference with the Sync
What is the singular failing of this receiver? In our opinion, there is
virtually no difference between synchronous AM and AM reception. The
synchronous mode includes both sidebands; there is no option to choose the
lower or upper sideband. The Lowe HF-150 synchronous modes and performance are
far superior. We urge that ICOM correct the synchronous performance in future
models and make available a retrofit ROM available to current customers.
Fortunately all is not lost here. As the receiver's SSB reception is quite
good, in difficult or crowded band conditions, we simply tune in the
appropriate sideband of the desired signal and, if necessary, adjust the PBT
controls."

Notice the last paragraph, using the receiver's SSB abilities to substitute
for the lack of an adequate synchronous detector. I've been saying this for
some time, though some people insist that you need Synchronous Detection, else
life isn't worth living. Since my Yaesu FRG-100 and FT-840 don't have
synchronous detection, this is what I have done for certain difficult
reception situations.

Anyway, I am a Yaesu addict, but I must say I am impressed with the R-75.
Preamps, DSP, Dual Pass Band Tuning, etc. Very nice, and certainly worth the
money.

Apparently the DSP offer isn't a once in a lifetime deal, so that anyone
wishing to get the combination of radio with the DSP for the price of the
radio alone, if it is not affordable now, and if the offer "expires", it will
no doubt be offered again. The following was on the Radio Netherlands R-75
review page:

"We should note that in North America there is an ongoing sales promotion that
offers the UT-106 DSP module free to purchasers of the receiver before March
30, 2000. After sending in the registration card and coupon, we received the
module from ICOM America in two weeks time. It took us about 10 minutes to
install the small circuit board and plug in three cables. We cannot determine
if there is a similar promotion elsewhere in the world. Check with your
dealer."

Regards

The DSP isn't worth worrying about, IMHO.

Outboard DSPs all work way better that the one that Icom sells.

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 13:35:05 GMT, (Soliloquy)
wrote:

I recently had the fortune of convincing my wife that the Icom R-75 available
at AES in Cleveland (et al.) was too good a deal to pass on, and that an early
Christmas present might be in order. Fortunately she bought it, (the story and
the radio). $450 with a free DSP unit.

Not being the worlds most intelligent person, nor the most adroit, I must say
that I had a few moments of consternation installing the DSP unit. If you get
the R-75 with the UT-106 DSP, open the DSP box and place the enclosed
instructions and leatherette case far from view. They contain no information
and are not used to install the UT-106 in the R-75. Next, open the manual for
the R-75, and follow the instructions for the installation of the UT-106 DSP
unit. P.S., the view showing the installation of the "Velcro Pad" is virtually
indecipherable.

Oddly enough, while reading the Radio Netherlands report on the R-75, I came
across the following:
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr75.html

"Spot the Difference with the Sync
What is the singular failing of this receiver? In our opinion, there is
virtually no difference between synchronous AM and AM reception. The
synchronous mode includes both sidebands; there is no option to choose the
lower or upper sideband. The Lowe HF-150 synchronous modes and performance are
far superior. We urge that ICOM correct the synchronous performance in future
models and make available a retrofit ROM available to current customers.
Fortunately all is not lost here. As the receiver's SSB reception is quite
good, in difficult or crowded band conditions, we simply tune in the
appropriate sideband of the desired signal and, if necessary, adjust the PBT
controls."

Notice the last paragraph, using the receiver's SSB abilities to substitute
for the lack of an adequate synchronous detector. I've been saying this for
some time, though some people insist that you need Synchronous Detection, else
life isn't worth living. Since my Yaesu FRG-100 and FT-840 don't have
synchronous detection, this is what I have done for certain difficult
reception situations.

Anyway, I am a Yaesu addict, but I must say I am impressed with the R-75.
Preamps, DSP, Dual Pass Band Tuning, etc. Very nice, and certainly worth the
money.

Apparently the DSP offer isn't a once in a lifetime deal, so that anyone
wishing to get the combination of radio with the DSP for the price of the
radio alone, if it is not affordable now, and if the offer "expires", it will
no doubt be offered again. The following was on the Radio Netherlands R-75
review page:

"We should note that in North America there is an ongoing sales promotion that
offers the UT-106 DSP module free to purchasers of the receiver before March
30, 2000. After sending in the registration card and coupon, we received the
module from ICOM America in two weeks time. It took us about 10 minutes to
install the small circuit board and plug in three cables. We cannot determine
if there is a similar promotion elsewhere in the world. Check with your
dealer."

Regards

Perhaps, but at $0.00, it's better than nothing.

Radio Netherlands, concerning this receiver, continued with:

http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr75a.html

"In our opinion, there is no need to purchase an after-market external DSP
unit (c.f. "Digital Signal Processing... and a look at two market leaders of
post-receiver processing units", World Radio TV Handbook, 1997 edition)."

though I imagine that the article on the Icom R-75 was written in the year
2000, and that progress has been made in External DSPs.

Regards.


In article , David
wrote:
The DSP isn't worth worrying about, IMHO.

Outboard DSPs all work way better that the one that Icom sells.

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 13:35:05 GMT, (Soliloquy)
wrote:

You may also want to consider getting the Kiwa mods for the AM sync and the
audio section. I have an R-75 and sent it to Kiwa for the mods. It was
well worth it.
--
Respectfully,

Michael

Home Page: http://md_dxing.tripod.com/
Northern NJ
R75 w/DSP, Kiwa agc/sync & audio mods
G5RV & 200ft longwire w/ICE-180
MFJ-1048 preselector
SoundBlstr Live PC card w/five piece Cambridge
speakers & full software mixer/eq.

"Soliloquy" wrote in message
...
I recently had the fortune of convincing my wife that the Icom R-75
available
at AES in Cleveland (et al.) was too good a deal to pass on, and that an
early
Christmas present might be in order. Fortunately she bought it, (the story
and
the radio). $450 with a free DSP unit.

Not being the worlds most intelligent person, nor the most adroit, I must
say
that I had a few moments of consternation installing the DSP unit. If you
get
the R-75 with the UT-106 DSP, open the DSP box and place the enclosed
instructions and leatherette case far from view. They contain no
information
and are not used to install the UT-106 in the R-75. Next, open the manual
for
the R-75, and follow the instructions for the installation of the UT-106
DSP
unit. P.S., the view showing the installation of the "Velcro Pad" is
virtually
indecipherable.

Oddly enough, while reading the Radio Netherlands report on the R-75, I
came
across the following:
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr75.html

"Spot the Difference with the Sync
What is the singular failing of this receiver? In our opinion, there is
virtually no difference between synchronous AM and AM reception. The
synchronous mode includes both sidebands; there is no option to choose the
lower or upper sideband. The Lowe HF-150 synchronous modes and performance
are
far superior. We urge that ICOM correct the synchronous performance in
future
models and make available a retrofit ROM available to current customers.
Fortunately all is not lost here. As the receiver's SSB reception is quite
good, in difficult or crowded band conditions, we simply tune in the
appropriate sideband of the desired signal and, if necessary, adjust the
PBT
controls."

Notice the last paragraph, using the receiver's SSB abilities to
substitute
for the lack of an adequate synchronous detector. I've been saying this
for
some time, though some people insist that you need Synchronous Detection,
else
life isn't worth living. Since my Yaesu FRG-100 and FT-840 don't have
synchronous detection, this is what I have done for certain difficult
reception situations.

Anyway, I am a Yaesu addict, but I must say I am impressed with the R-75.
Preamps, DSP, Dual Pass Band Tuning, etc. Very nice, and certainly worth
the
money.

Apparently the DSP offer isn't a once in a lifetime deal, so that anyone
wishing to get the combination of radio with the DSP for the price of the
radio alone, if it is not affordable now, and if the offer "expires", it
will
no doubt be offered again. The following was on the Radio Netherlands R-75
review page:

"We should note that in North America there is an ongoing sales promotion
that
offers the UT-106 DSP module free to purchasers of the receiver before
March
30, 2000. After sending in the registration card and coupon, we received
the
module from ICOM America in two weeks time. It took us about 10 minutes to
install the small circuit board and plug in three cables. We cannot
determine
if there is a similar promotion elsewhere in the world. Check with your
dealer."

Regards

Soliloquy wrote:

"As the receiver's SSB reception is quite good, in difficult or crowded band conditions, we simply tune in the appropriate sideband of the desired signal and, if necessary, adjust the PBT controls."

Notice the last paragraph, using the receiver's SSB abilities to
substitute for the lack of an adequate synchronous detector. I've been
saying this for some time, though some people insist that you need
Synchronous Detection, else life isn't worth living. Since my Yaesu
FRG-100 and FT-840 don't have synchronous detection, this is what I have
done for certain difficult reception situations.

The method (discribed above) for tuning an AM signal using the SSB mode
is called 'Exalted Carrier Single Sideband' or ECSS. It works quite
well, providing the receiver has the ability to tune at 1-Khz increments
and is also very stable. This is important if you're listening to music.
The R-75 seems to fit these requirements. The advantage of a real
syncronous detector is it works independently of tuning accuracy and/or
stability, so you don't have to keep adjusting it after it's locked on
the signal.


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"Soliloquy" wrote in message
...
Perhaps, but at $0.00, it's better than nothing.

I was disappointed in my R75's audio, until I turned off the DSP. Then I was
quite pleased! But the DSP is fun to play around with.
DeWayne


Radio Netherlands, concerning this receiver, continued with:

http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr75a.html

"In our opinion, there is no need to purchase an after-market external DSP
unit (c.f. "Digital Signal Processing... and a look at two market leaders
of
post-receiver processing units", World Radio TV Handbook, 1997 edition)."

though I imagine that the article on the Icom R-75 was written in the year
2000, and that progress has been made in External DSPs.

Regards.


In article , David
wrote:
The DSP isn't worth worrying about, IMHO.

Outboard DSPs all work way better that the one that Icom sells.

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 13:35:05 GMT, (Soliloquy)
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 22:25:49 -0400, starman wrote:

Soliloquy wrote:

"As the receiver's SSB reception is quite good, in difficult or crowded band conditions, we simply tune in the appropriate sideband of the desired signal and, if necessary, adjust the PBT controls."

Notice the last paragraph, using the receiver's SSB abilities to
substitute for the lack of an adequate synchronous detector. I've been
saying this for some time, though some people insist that you need
Synchronous Detection, else life isn't worth living. Since my Yaesu
FRG-100 and FT-840 don't have synchronous detection, this is what I have
done for certain difficult reception situations.

The method (discribed above) for tuning an AM signal using the SSB mode
is called 'Exalted Carrier Single Sideband' or ECSS. It works quite
well, providing the receiver has the ability to tune at 1-Khz increments
and is also very stable. This is important if you're listening to music.
The R-75 seems to fit these requirements. The advantage of a real
syncronous detector is it works independently of tuning accuracy and/or
stability, so you don't have to keep adjusting it after it's locked on
the signal.

There is another advantage. Synchronous AM detection phase locks to
the on air carrier. Without it, the phase relationship between the
carrier and sidebands is unknown, resulting is some degree of phase
distortion. Given the choice between phase distortion, and no
intelligbility at all, phase distortion wins every time. That is why
SSB doesn't sound so great, phase distortion because the relationship
between the sideband and the carrier is unknown.

There are ways with ISB to establish the phase relationship (The ISB's
are generated with carriers at quadrature)..