Icom IC-7300
A Look Under the Hood
Bruce Wampler - WA7EWC
The Icom IC-7300 is a brand new (April
2016), Direct Conversion, 100% SDR.
It is the first SDR amateur radio transceiver
by one of the “major” Japanese companies.
Is the IC-7300 revolutionary?
$1,500 “entry level” Transceiver changes what “entry level” means.
160m to 6m plus full general coverage receiver
Exceptional receiver - RMDR@2K: 103dB
RF and Audio Spectrum scopes
Built-in Tuner
Built-in USB transceiver control and audio
Full remote control capability
Direct conversion SDR
YES! This changes everything.
From now on, an entry level base
station transceiver will have:
Receiver with 2kHz RMDR of at least 100dB
Real time Spectrum scope
USB control and audio
Antenna Tuner
SDR / DSP
Digital features: audio recording, predefined messages
Highly customizable filters
2kHz Scope Tuner Price
RMDR
Icom IC-7300 (sdr) 103 X X 1,500
Icom IC-7100 (mobile) 84 1,100
Icom IC-7600 86 X X 3,000
Icom IC-7650 (speculation) 115 X X 3,000
Icom IC-7851 116 X X 13,000
Flex 6300 (sdr, w/ Maestro) 116 X X 3,650
Flex 6700 (sdr, w/ Maestro) 116 X X 8,500
Kenwood TS-590SG 94 X 1,400
Kenwood TS-990S 87 X X 6,800
Yaesu FT-991 75 X X 1,300
Yaesu FTDX-3000 82 X X 2,700
Yaesu FTDX-5000 104 X X 5,000
Yaesu FTDX-9000MP 92 X X 9,000
Elecraft K3S (sdr - base station) 114 +800 +650 2,650
Comparison of some currently available transceivers
Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range
ARRL Test Labs: “Reciprocal Mixing must be seriously
considered while evaluating the overall performance of a
receiver. In fact, it is probably the most significant figure in
receiver performance!” http://www.arrl.org/forum/topics/view/177
RMDR is a measure of how well the receiver blocks adjacent signals.
Why does SDR make such a difference?
Superheterodyne + DSP vs. SDR
Why does SDR make such a difference?
Superheterodyne
Analog design for RF signal
Multiple IF stages with complex filtering issues
Added noise
Analog filters
SDR
Can be all digital (except RF pre-amps/
bandpass)
Current A/Ds and D/As work well, not expensive
Digital domain allows use of FPGAs and/or DSPs
for mod/demod and customizable “perfect”
software filters
Basic IC-7300 Features
Output power: 100W (25W AM)
TX Frequencies: 160m - 6m (SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM)
Antenna Tuner: Matches up to 10:1 SWR
RX Frequencies: 0.030-74.800
Receiver type: RF direct sampling system
Color touch screen: 4.3” color TFT touch LCD
Spectrum Scope: Real-Time FFT RF/Audio scope
Built-in automatic antenna tuner
SD memory card slot for saving data, audio, screen shots
Cooling fan system
Multi-function meter
CW functions: full break-in, CW reverse, CW auto tuning
Customizable filter profiles
Easy to use settings with buttons and touch screen
Requires 13.8v, 22 amp DC power
IC-7300 Features: Spectrum Scope
Spectrum Scope:
Large Size
Spectrum Scope:
Small Size
Mystery: What is This????
RFI: Probably my heating boiler
Note: Center View vs Fixed on previous slide.
IC-7300: Audio Scope
CW Audio Spectrum
Audio Scope
LSB Audio
PSK31 Audio Signal
IC-7300: Frequency/Band Selection
Direct selection by
touching Spectrum
Scope.
Band Selection by
touching first
frequency diet, then
selecting band.
Can also directly enter
frequency.
IC-7300: Auto Antenna Tuner
Will match up to 3:1 SWR at full power
Up to 10:1 SWR at reduced power
Remembers up to 100 frequency matches
IC-7300: Display & Settings
Combination of physical buttons and touch screen
buttons to select displays and change settings.
Many options, most obvious in context.
Long-press used to open settings for a button.
IC-7300: Example - setting a filter
Can set passband filters using Multi knob.
IC-7300: Observations
The Good:
• Receiver Really Good
• Noise Reduction Amazing
• Spectrum Scope: Wow
• Control Interface: A-
• Mode Filters: Really work
• Good reports of TX audio
• USB control /audio
The Bad:
• Only one antenna connector - no • Antenna Tuner
separate RX antenna • Cost/feature ratio: A+
• Memo interface awful
• Fixed Scope only has 3 edge settings
• Built-in speaker mediocre
• IP+ feature apparently not yet right
• You need to have this radio!
WA7EWC
WA7EWC - Complete Station
Where’s the tuner, the audio interface box, amplifier, DSP
speaker, keyer, and all that other stuff? Don’t need ‘em.
Outside: Hustler 6BTV+17m Vertical with 32 radials
IC-7300: Technical Overview
Altera EP4CE55F23I7N 55856 Logic elements
FPGA Cyclone IV E 200 MHz
TI TMS320C6745
DSP 375MHz
Intersil ISL5857IAZ 12 Bit
TX D/A High Speed D/A 260 MSPS
14Bit
RX A/D Linear LTC2208-14
130MSPS
Renesas R7S721000VCFP 32 Bit, 1M Ram
Main CPU 400MHz clock
Plus display CPU and audio A/Ds and D/As
IC-7300: Main Board
TX
D/A
DSP FPGA
To
LCD
RX
A/D
CPU RF
Microphone
Speaker
The End
