IC-7610 band scope - revised opinion and a suggestion (WX0V Mea Culpa)

[@jeromec5199]

Hi Scott, indeed a pileup up or down function with a width to be defined would be welcome. At each time, you have to go into the exp/set + fixed edges + menu to choose the desired width and go back. I'm reassured to know that I'm not the only one who finds it annoying when there are several Dx expeditions running at the same time. Always a pleasure to watch your videos. 73 jerry F4HJO

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you, Jerry. Unfortunately, Icom at least for the time being, doesn't see it our way. As an aside, awesome job by your countryman as FT8WW...he did France proud! Also, your French DX teams do a superb job...wish they could activate Glorioso (I know they are trying). 73! de WX0V

[@jeromec5199]

@@SuburbanDXing Ok Scott. France is a small Hamradio country, but we have some dynamic guys and the chance to have interesting islands. FT8WW on crozet, FT4YM on Concordia Base in Antarctica, even the boat and the crew of 3Y0J are French! For the Glorious Islands, I think there are people working there.... 73 jerry F4HJO

[@tvtech2582]

I am glad to see your 5 K tone never came back after the firmware upgrade.The only Icom I own is the R7000 communications receiver.25 Mhz---2.o Ghz. I use it with DSD plus software for digital signal decoding.I bought from HRO in the late 90s for $1,500 with all the extra bells and whistles. To this day it does not have a scratch on it

[@SuburbanDXing]

Sounds like you take great care of your gear. Keeps it looking new! Thank you for your comment regarding the tone. It's been gone for almost 2 weeks now, with the radio on every night. It sure appears that Icom has solved the issue. 73! de WX0V

[@VK4VO]

Your scope settings are stock,,, you can make it look far better and more precise.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thanks for your comment, although I am not sure what you mean. A full reset of the rig gives you the stock settings, and they are much different than what I have here. 73! de WX0V

[@protonman8947]

Agreed - I love the 7610 band scope. I wish I had your noise floor on 40M :-(

[@SuburbanDXing]

Yes, I (currently) have relatively low QRN at my QTH; rather lucky for a suburban area. However, I was using a non-resonant antenna for this video; it was either my 160m EZ-L, or my 40m vertical was tuned to 30m (via my Palstar tuner). I often will use that method, or use an RX antenna for my low band DX videos. You see, if the signal from the DX is loud enough...I don't have to TX...just RX. :-) 73! de WX0V

[@1OFGODSOWN]

I’m not a fan of Touch Screen radios but I lost my ICOM 7700 to a recent lightning strike and I may purchase a 7610 and see if I can tolerate having to touch the screen all of the time.I don’t change filters very often and they did leave the Triple Band Stacking buttons so that’s a Plus for me.I like the display and now that you have shown me that I can get rid of the waterfall on the screen I like it much better.I HATE a waterfall display and I wouldn’t buy any radio that I couldn’t remove it.I hope I don’t regret buying one of these but if I do I’ll sell it and buy another 7600 or 7700.👍🎙

[@SuburbanDXing]

Many like the waterfall, but I prefer the scope itself. 73! de WX0V

[@hansspeepa5fn]

Nice video, let’s hope Icom implements your suggestion 73

[@SuburbanDXing]

We'll see...I hope so. Thanks for your comment and 73! de WX0V

[@jgefaell]

Solution? Go to the settings screen for the scope (soft menu long-press on expn/set) then on-screen 1/3 set "CENTER Type Display" to 'Filter Center'. Adjust your span to the range the DX is listening to and have it occupy the entire screen (within the limits of the span steps,of course). Also, I noticed both your RBW and VBW are set wide. I think you'll enjoy them set to narrow. Let me know your thoughts? Looking forward to your update video :)

[@SuburbanDXing]

Hello Jon, and thank you for input. Your suggestion is good, but it does not left justify the transmit QRG (if the split DX is listening up) or right justify it (if the split DX is listening down) on the scope. If we could add this feature without having to use the FIXED EDGES (caps used not to shout but to emphasize the menu selection) it would make use of the entire scope for a large pile. Unless I just am being stupid (wouldn't be the first time), just using the CENTER TYPE/Filter Center leaves you using just half of the scope (with the DX centered) and the pile-up to the right (DX working up) or left (DX working down). It's a minor deal but I suspect someone will offer this someday. There are multiple DX videos here on my channel showing the entire scope being used (after I manually changed the Fixed Edges...pain in the ass). As far as my RBW/VBW settings, yes, I like them wide (think Sir Mix-a-Lot here) but I do understand why some prefer the more narrow settings. For my scope...it's gotta have BACK. 😄 Thanks for your comment, enjoy your IC-7610, and 73! de WX0V

[@SuburbanDXing]

I would be derelict in my duties without referencing "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen vis-a-vis my band scope...sorry for the oversight! 😄 de WX0V

[@Scif64]

I wonder if Icom has given the 7610 the Scroll option like the 705 and now latest 7300 firmware upgrades.?

[@SuburbanDXing]

I heard a guy in 75m SSB earlier say that Icom was coming out with a Firmware update for the IC-7610...we'll see if that happens and if it includes the Scroll option you mention. Thanks for your comment and 73! de WX0V

[@russozard2626]

Great video of the 7610 and good info ,73

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you for your positive feedback. 73! de WX0V

[@bahathir_]

YEs, I wish the FIXED CENTER scope mode. 1. Here is my proposal.. Select CENTER mode Set SPAN width Tune to the center freq VFO untul the range of frequencies are in the scope. HIT FIX LOCK , which will be fixed the scope, and the VFO can tune to the frequency without changing the scope. Hope Icom can do this also for IC-7300. :) For the moment, I am using MPAD tu mark, and change frequency.. Thaank you, Bahathir 9W2GNU, 73.

[@bahathir_]

Actually, we can change the band edge in the FIX mode. So we can specified the left and right scope marker. ..

[@SuburbanDXing]

Yes, but then you have to change the Fixed band edges each time you work a pile-up, for each QRG the DX is on. That is doable, to be sure (I will start doing that for my DX videos), but is clunky. If Icom gave us Center, Right Justified, and Left Justified options (if that is even possible; maybe it is not?), it would be be much easier to use. You would still tune the band the way you do in Center mode, but the marker would be fixed towards the left or right, versus being fixed in the center. Either way, I think the idea of a Right and Left justified band scope marker option is a good idea for working pile-ups. I would think someone would run with this, unless I am just being an idiot here; wouldn't be the first time! :-) :-) Thank you Bahathir, for your comment and feedback. As always, 73! de WX0V

[@ZedBeeE]

"One of These Days" by the Foo Fighters brought me here

[@SuburbanDXing]

"Wasting Light" is great record...I saw them on that tour and they were excellent. Take care and 73! de WX0V

[@pu2xbt74]

Hi, Please help me ... I will buy a new radio and I am in doubt which one to choose ??? Kenwood ts 890 or Icom 7610 ??? can you help me with the opinion on which one is best ??? thanks 73

[@SuburbanDXing]

Hello, and thank you for your question. I have no experience with the Kenwood TS-890, so I cannot give you a balanced opinion. I know Kenwood makes a very fine radio, and I'm betting the TS-890 is superb. I do like my IC-7610, and I am an Icom guy, so any other input I would have would be unfairly biased towards the Icom. There may be other You Tube channels where they cover both radios. A better opinion may be had from those. Good luck on your purchasing decision and 73! de WX0V

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Product segmentation aside you will not see any changes to the firmware beyond fixes for specified functionality. Why do I say this? well history for one but IMHO "saving face" is the underlying reason. To later release upgraded functionality would be an admission or interpretation that they hashed the initial release, a very Japanese mindset. If you want in box downstream upgrades US made equipment may be the better route since to them the face saving is reduced to non existent. Besides why not save the improvements for the next model?

[@SuburbanDXing]

Your timing is interesting here as I was just recently wondering when Icom would replace the IC-7610 with a new model, and if that would have some of the suggestions that others and myself have put forth. We'll have to see as time will be the arbiter of these questions. Tooting my own horn, I cannot see any DXer who works pileups visually not wanting the Left and Right justified band scope option I suggest here. Eventually, someone will offer it. Great post, Rob...thank you for sharing it. Come back anytime...73! de WX0V

[@qrptedmac]

Did Icom ever do that suggestion.

[@SuburbanDXing]

No. They probably never will. Somebody should, but I'm married to this idea, so I'm biased. :-) 73! de WX0V

[@kb9khm]

Center mode is terrible and I don’t know why anyone would want to use it over fixed. Say you spot a signal you want to listen to in center mode, you grab the VFO and turn it and all the signals start smearing across the screen, or the signal you wanted to tune to stops transmitting while you are QSYing. It’s too easy to lose sight of the target you wanted to tune to using center mode.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Couldn't agree more. If Icom has the ability to create left and right justified band scope modes, I have no idea why they wouldn't do it. Someone should. Thanks for your comment and 73! de WX0V

[@kb9khm]

WX0V I run a FT-2000 with an SDRPlay RDP-1a and HDSDR software. I run in fixed mode and fortunately I can achieve what you are looking for very easily. While in fixed mode in HDSDR you simply have to grab the spectrum ruler with the mouse and drag it left or right. Icon could achieve the same thing using fixed mode and allowing the whole spectrum to be shifted left or right with the ‘multi’ knob. I’m sure it would be a nice enhancement.

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@kb9khm Interesting. Well maybe someday Icom will adapt this. They do seem somewhat sluggish in that arena, however. Thanks for your comment and 73! de WX0V

[@johnmunton-G7SSE]

Use the "Hold" function, thought it would be nice if Icom could add in firmware an "Auto Hold When Tuning" function