I'd go further and add that the K3 version of APF in
my view it is still a work in progress, as it still
isn't as good as the original FT1000D.
I find the K3 APF most of the time adds noise
rather than letting the weak signals jump out. I
suspect it is not sharp enough at its peak although,
however I don't have measurements. 73 Clive GM3POI
with Both radios
----- Original Message -----
From: "VE6WZ_Steve" <ve6wz@shaw.ca>
To: "'topBand List'" <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Preferred Topband transceiver
>> Anyone using the IC7800 for top band?
>> Martin
>> VE7MM/G4EZG
>
> Martin:
>
> I purchased a new IC-7800 and had it side-by-side
> with the FT-1000d for
> almost three years. (7800 purchase Sept. 2006-SOLD
> Aug 2009)
> The 7800 was the latest version with all roofing
> filters.
> It was set up with **INSTANT A-B switching**. A
> toggle switch operates a
> relay box to switch all peripherals between radios.
>
> I tried for three years to like that radio for weak
> signal DX but as noted
> above, I sold the radio and have replaced it with
> he FTdx-9000D.
> The Icom is long gone simply because compared to
> the FT-1000D (with the
> reverse modified APF) it could not copy the very
> weak signals bubbling at
> the noise that the Yaesu could.
>
> This report is all about the lack of an effective
> APF in the 7800.
>
> Before I am flamed, PLEASE PLEASE if you have never
> used the "original"
> Ft-1000d APF and or a "reverse modified" APF on a
> newer FT-1000d, then this
> report might not be relevant to you. This report
> has nothing do with the
> overall build quality, SSB capabilities, scopes,
> digital functions etc. The
> fact is, these radios are great in every other
> regard. Also, if you never
> turn on the APF, don't typically use an APF to peak
> weak signal DX, or think
> an APF is too "ringy", then this report is not
> relevant, and the IC-7800
> will be a fine radio for your needs. Not everyone
> likes an APF.
>
> The DX signals I am talking about are those which
> are JUST AT or bubbling
> BELOW the noise level. These are the very weak
> signals which are basically
> ESP and you would normally just tune by. ****For
> all signals ABOVE the
> noise, both radios could copy equally well.*****
> Those very weak signals at the noise will "pop" out
> when the APF is engaged
> on the FT-1000d, but will remain unreadable on the
> 7800 with or without the
> APF.
> I ended up adding an external AUTEK audio peak
> filter to the Icom to emulate
> the Yaesu APF, and was able to reproduce
> readability between
> radios.....hmmmm I'm adding a cica 1980's analog
> audio filter box to a $10k
> radio??
>
> By the end of year two, the IC-7800 was not being
> turned on, and the radio
> of choice was the FT-1000d, simply because for the
> weak ones, it was better.
> It didn't make sense to have a $10k radio sitting
> on the bench unused, so it
> was sold and has been replaced with the FT-dx-9000d
> which is now the only
> radio of choice. It does have an effective APF and
> can copy all signals
> equally to the old FT-1000d. Also, the FT-dx-9000D
> is perfect for diversity
> RX which is used all the time on 160m which is just
> like magic. I would
> never go back from using diversity RX on 160.
>
> Please understand, I have no interest in Yaesu or
> Icom. The IC-7800 was a
> great radio in all other regards with a fantastic
> "lab-quality" feel, great
> DSP and very solid front-end (DSP noise reduction
> is better than the
> FTdx-9000), I had NO problems with the 7800...no
> final's problems etc.
> I DID NOT want to sell this radio and take a $4K
> loss by selling it on
> e-Bay, but for myself, this radio was deficient for
> very weak signal DXing.
> Over two years of testing, I found MANY MANY
> occasions when I could copy
> weak DX on the Yaesu, which were simply not
> readable on the 7800.
>
> I would NOT recommend this radio for weak signal
> DXing if you are looking
> for an effective APF.
> (yes I tried to communicate this to Icom and was
> met with a deafening
> silence)
>
> de Steve VE6WZ
> http://www.qsl.net/ve6wz/intro.htm
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
_______________________________________________
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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