This postal service last revised: 01/21/2018

This post shows the settings I employ with my IC-7300 for digital modes over the USB connectedness from the 7300 to a Windows reckoner. (e.g., BPSK31 using Ham Radio Deluxe Digital Chief 780, fldigi, WSJT-X) These settings seem to work equally well with nearly digital modes, and digital fashion software. These settings might exist different for DXLab Commander and Ham Radio Deluxe. Meet my other posts that address the specifics of DXLab Commander and HRD.

It is easiest to connect the IC-7300 using a unmarried USB cablevision. Be sure that you first download and install the Icom USB driver

before
connecting your 7300 to the Windows figurer the very first time. Windows volition effort to auto-install its own driver if you simply plugin the USB cablevision from the 7300 to the computer, and that one doesn’t work with the Icom USB interface.

In this article, use the context to differentiate USB (PC Universal Serial Motorbus) vs. USB (Upper Side Ring).

Set Upwards your IC-7300 for Digital Modes

Connectors Settings

Open the Settings -> Connectors menu. There are
4
important settings.

  1. USB AF Output Level
    – 40%. This affects the Audio Level heard by your computer. Depending on your software, you may want to change this. For WSJT-Ten, this value affects the
  2. USB MOD Level
    – xl%. Set up this and then that you get a minimal ALC meter reading when transmitting. This should assure yous accept a clean output betoken. This value tin vary depending on your software. The value is also related to your output power. Meet the output power description beneath.
  3. DATA OFF Modern
    – Mic. This option tells your IC-7300 which audio input source (modulation) to use when the DATA mode is OFF. This would unremarkably be your microphone (MIC) when in regular USB/LSB modes. Annotation that the versions of the 7300 firmware after late 2017 have added an option for this setting called MIC, ACC. This new option was technically unnecessary, but many people were confused by the DATA OFF and DATA (ON) options, and were getting no audio when switching between Digital and Microphone modes. The MIC setting is really “correct”.
  4. Data Modernistic
    – USB. Use the USB connector to go your audio from your computer when in data way (USB-D).
  5. CI-Five
    – These settings relate to the USB control interface and are controlled past the setup of your digital software. They are related to the ICOM USB port commuter you lot must install for Windows, the serial COM port number that ends up beingness the one used for your particular PC, and the baud rate y’all determine to use. These are usually described in some detail for each digital control plan you use, and can be set up upwards so that all your software volition talk to your IC-7300.
    Note: the CI-V USB Port setting should be set to “Link to [REMOTE]”. This setting seems to exist required for most software programs using the CI-V function. A side effect of this is the the CI-5 USB Baud Rate volition exist express to 19200. You desire the fastest Baud rate possible.
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AF Output Level 40% (see text)
USB MOD level, Information OFF MOD
ic-7300-data-mod
DATA Mod USB

Use USB-D Way

Now, when using a digital style, you should use the USB-D mode. (Click the Mode characterization in the upper left, select USB and select Information.) The USB-D mode is needed then that the Information MOD pick works every bit expected. It also lets you define a custom filter for BPSK31.

Apply USB-D for digital modes.

You lot tin set the Filters (i-3) for each mode (USB, USB-D, AM, etc.). The default for the Data modes is very narrow, and this doesn’t work well for BPSK31. Then alter the USB-D Filter ane by long-pressing the
FIL1 button on the screen, and set up the BW to 3.0K or wider. Alternatively, if yous utilize RTTY or other narrower modes, y’all can employ FIL2 or FIL3 instead for BPSK31.

Set USB-D FIL1 to three.0k.

Other Important Settings

  • No compression
    – this should be automatically disabled when yous are in USB-D mode. Yous can check on the Role screen – COMP should be disabled.
  • No Notch Filter
    – press the NOTCH button until it is
    OFF
  • NB
    (dissonance blanker) and
    NR
    (noise reduction) both
    OFF.
Values for AGC, NOTCH, NB, NR for digital modes.

Reduce Your Transmit Ability

Don’t forget to reduce your RF output power when on digital modes. The effective output ability is determined by a combination of three settings:

  1. The output book of your computer audio out (microphone). Ultimately, this is the best way to command your RF output power. Your digital mode software should take an pick or on-screen setting to change this level. For instance, WSJT-X has a vertical slider on the lower right labelled “Pwr”. This controls your output ability by controlling the sound level delivered to the IC-7300. There are similar settings for fldigi.
  2. If you are decision-making RF output power by using the audio level on the computer, then you lot should exist able to selection a usable constant level for USB Modern level. Around twoscore% seems to piece of work well.
  3. Yous can also leave the RF power of the IC-7000 (ready from the MULTI physical knob) to 100%. If yous don’t have easy RF ability control from the digital software, you can instead simply use the MULTI knob to set your RF power to 30%, which will be about 30 watts.

Notation that you will likely want to operate with the meter prepare to Southward/Power Out to monitor your RF output power. Call back, you lot don’t need more than near 30 watts to make contacts, and many people like to run with even less power.

Ability Ouput Level: about 30 watts

Save Your Settings

Presumably, you will used your 7300 for other operating modes. The settings described for digital modes are not optimal for SSB or CW. Fortunately, you can save all your settings in a named file on the SD card. It then becomes a elementary affair to load your settings for unlike modes.

To save, utilise Menu -> Ready -> SD Card -> Save Setting -> <>. Don’t use the default name – create an explanatory name for your settings file – Digital Modes, USB, etc.

To restore, utilize Bill of fare -> Set SD Carte -> Load Setting. So pick the settings file for the appropriate style.

More Details on Power and ALC Control

In that location are other tutorials on the web about controlling your digital manner output power. One practiced one is found at:
The N7XGR Audio and Transmit Settings Tutorial