Need suggestions.

[WB2WIK]

Internal rewiring? Uh, not by me! LOL! I can just picture how that would turn out, and it ain't pretty.

I could do this in about 30 minutes.

If you use the PTT pulldown to suck the bias current from the mike jack, it will disable the microphone. The addition of one resistor and a piece of wire, internally. Actually a 1N4148 diode and a piece of wire might do it, I'd have to see how much current the mike bias line can sink.

[W9PSK]

I think I figured out what I can do. I always have to turn the mic gain down when working AM and happened to have my radio set up that way. I did a test on 17m PSK and in the middle of it, my scanner started blaring out a fire call (those tones can be loud sometimes). I noticed that the needle in the meter didn't jump up (like it's been doing when the mic gain is set to SSB levels). So, I did a little test. I turned the mic gain all the way down and whistled into the mic while doing another PSK test transmission. The needle stayed steady at the 25-35 watts I normally put out when working PSK. I then turned the gain up to the normal SSB level and did the test again while whistling into the mic. The needle jumped to the 100 watt mark. So, I am guessing that turning the mic gain setting all the way down will not affect the power going out of the radio with the Signalink. Maybe that is ICOM's way of disabling the mic audio when going through the back of the radio for digital modes?

[WB2WIK]

Sure. The rear panel connector bypasses the mike stage entirely, so the mike gain should not affect it.

Turning down the gain all the way should do the job; I'd want something a bit more "automatic" if possible, but if you don't mind doing that, problem solved.

[W9PSK]

Sure. The rear panel connector bypasses the mike stage entirely, so the mike gain should not affect it.

Turning down the gain all the way should do the job; I'd want something a bit more "automatic" if possible, but if you don't mind doing that, problem solved.

Yeah, that's one of the things I am having to get used to again since I sold the 897D. There are quite a few things that aren't automatic any more, like the when the preamp is on, automatically changing modes, this mic gain thing, AGC, etc. The 735 is much more hands on than the 897D was. Still, I am glad I got something figured out I can live with. Now I just need to remember to turn the mic gain down when I want to work PSK. lol

[WB2WIK]

I actually like the IC-735. Except for the silly door over frequently used controls, which of course I immediately removed and tossed in the trash...within about 24 hours after buying one, new.

It's a pretty good rig. I'd think that other than VHF-UHF capability, it might outperform the 897D on HF.

[W9PSK]

I actually like the IC-735. Except for the silly door over frequently used controls, which of course I immediately removed and tossed in the trash...within about 24 hours after buying one, new.

It's a pretty good rig. I'd think that other than VHF-UHF capability, it might outperform the 897D on HF.

Think again. The filtering ability of the 897D is leaps and bounds above that of the 735. The notch filter on the 735 is a good one, but the ability to create a 500hz filter with the 897D when working PSK was very nice.

[W7DKK]

Glad to hear that people like the IC-735. I just bought one. (I'm learning to use it).

By the way, I'm using a homebrew dipole antenna and would like to get an automatic tuner since the IC didn't come with that option. Any recommendations?

[W9PSK]

Glad to hear that people like the IC-735. I just bought one. (I'm learning to use it).

By the way, I'm using a homebrew dipole antenna and would like to get an automatic tuner since the IC didn't come with that option. Any recommendations?

The 735 was offered with the matching AT150. You can buy them for around $150, maybe less if you get lucky at a hamfest. I have an AT150 and it works, but it's just like many other ATs in that it won't handle anything more than a 3:1 mismatch.

[WB2WIK]

Think again. The filtering ability of the 897D is leaps and bounds above that of the 735. The notch filter on the 735 is a good one, but the ability to create a 500hz filter with the 897D when working PSK was very nice.

I don't have to think again; I've owned both. The 735 is head and shoulders above the 897D with respect to phase noise and wide spaced rejection. IMO it also has better modulation quality when used with any sort of decent microphone (that's subjective). The 897D has some interesting features but its DSP is very fundamental and not terribly useful.

One of the "tests" I do is to connect a small rig like these to my tower mounted 8L beam on 20/17/15/12/10 to see how it rejects KVOH, a local SW BC station that runs 1.25 million watts and is literally up the street from me. Many rigs completely collapse on 30m and 17m (the station operates in the 31m and 18m broadcast bands) and wipe out those bands. The 897D is in that "collapse" category. The IC-735 passes with flying colors.

All depends on your environment.

[N0SYA]

How hard is it to disconnect the mic when doing the digital thing?