That's why the jokes about icom standing for "I can only monitor." are 
around though I think that was more true back when they had the horrible 
tinny audio of 10-15 years ago. High end radios were good sounding but that 
was it. I may try an icom radio in the house here someday but for now, I'm 
very happy with my Kenwoods. I'm just a bit concerned that they may be out 
of ham radio when I'm ready for a new radio. My TS-2000 is only 1 year old 
though so that's a long way off, and on my budget maybe longer than it 
should be.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: DSP of the Icom 7000


> Phil,
>
> I've always thought that Icom makes some of the best receivers around, not
> only for their excellent dynamic range, but for their sensitivity and low
> noise.  And, from what you say, good DSP and filtering makes them even
> better.  I just wish Icom would make their radios a bit more friendly for
> those of us who can't read the damned display.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 13:20
> Subject: DSP of the Icom 7000
>
>
>>     I have been doing a lot of listening and experimenting with
>> the Icom 7000 so that when I begin making contacts, I'll be
>> familiar enough with the radio to make adjustments on the fly
>> without having to screw things up.  Lately, I have been testing
>> the Digital Signal Processing feature in conjunction with the
>> crystal filtering and tuneable twin pass band filters.  I keep
>> wondering if it is my imagination if what I am hearing is due to
>> the sensitivity of the radio or band conditions.  Let me explain.
>> I have used this same R7 I have current hooked up to the Icom 7000
>> for many years and on three different radios.  I have never heard,
>> nor worked, Europe on 40 meters using this vertical.  I could hear
>> them faintly but they were not workable.  I never heard New
>> Zealand at 9:30 in the evening.  I never heard Japan at 9:30 in
>> the evening.  I never ever heard Europe at my sunset hour but I
>> am, in fact, hearing all these places with the 7000 transceiver
>> now.  I have line noise that goes from S2 to S9 on 40 meters and,
>> of course, this is the biggest disadvantage with any vertical.
>> They love pulling in all the noise they can find.  Anyhow, using
>> the DSP and the tuneable crystal filtering, not to mention the
>> various levels of other switchable filters you can pull in and out
>> on the fly, I have been able to copy signals literally in the mud,
>> I mean, totally unable to be copied in the noise, to Q5 copy once
>> the filtering and DSP are brought into play.  Tightening down on
>> the crystal filters helps shift the line noise to low or high
>> sounds but the DSP actually diminishes the noise to below the
>> signal level of the station, unless he is just too weak to copy at
>> all in the first place.  I am suggesting that I hear a signal
>> mixed into the line noise with an S4 reading, for example, on the
>> signal strength meter, but I am unable to copy the signal in the
>> mud.  Switch in filtering, snapping on the DSP, and only tuning
>> slightly, lowers the noise to S0 and the desired signal to an S2
>> that is perfectly copyiable.  You can even then tighten down on
>> the tuneable crystal filter a little more and bring the
>> readability of the signal up more.  As I said, the areas of the
>> world I have never heard with this vertical before, I am now
>> hearing and on a regular nightly bases.  Since I am well
>> acquainted with the receiving capabilities of the R7 vertical I
>> have had for many years, I know it isn't just band conditions
>> because out here, band conditions ain't that hot yet.
>> Furthermore, I know the propagation of 40 meters when I had the 2
>> element beam.  Then I heard ZL and VK at 9 PM at night and could
>> work them.  Then I would hear Japan as early as 9 and 10 PM, weak,
>> but I heard them, and worked them, but never with this vertical at
>> these times and this includes hearing and working Europe at sunset
>> my local time.  I'm very interested to see how much better my 40
>> meter rotary dipole is going to work at 50 feet compared to the
>> vertical.  I already know what to expect from past experiences of
>> doing this; the difference will be amazing.  At the same time, I
>> am now convinced of the superb receiving ability, sensitivity and
>> selectivity, of the Icom 7000 receiver.
>>
>> Phil.
>> K0NX
>> 
>>