Best Icom 7300 Transmit Bandwidth TBW Settings
The 7300 isn't the only Icom radio with this feature, my Icom 7000 also has adjustable transmit filter widths. It's common in modern ham radio transceivers.
I had an excellent question posed to me in a comment and it got me thinking about TBW and the customizable values. The comment: "I read that some say “for DX, use a narrow bandwidth” whereas another says “Narrow setting does not work well for DX”. Problem is, I can’t figure how to “set:” the bandwidth they’re talking about."
Icom 7300 Transmit Bandwidth TBW - WIDE MID NAR
Do not confuse transmit filter width with receive filter width. Another friend of mine, Andy, WB0OAF, reminded me that these are confused at times. The receive filter width (not pictured) on the Icom 7300 is set using the FIL "soft button" on the LCD screen. Tap the FIL with your finger and you will see it change from FIL to FIL2 and then FIL3. These filter widths are adjustable also, but that's another story.
The transmit filter widths are set using the FUNCTION, "hard button", on the front of the Icom 7300. Push the FUNCTION button and a menu pops up (pictured above). You'll see TBW. Tap TBW with your finger on the LCD and it will change from WIDE to MID and then NAR.
Look at the Icom 7300 Full Manual on page 4-14. The full manual can be downloaded from here.
Icom 7300 Transmit Bandwidth TBW Customizable Values
Look at the Icom 7300 Full Manual on page 12-3. It is possible to set the transmission pass bandwidth of wide, mid, or narrow, by changing the lower and higher cutoff frequencies.
Push the MENU button on the front of the Icom 7300. Tap SET with your finger on the LCD. Scroll to find the "Tone Control". Tap Tone Control and then tap TX with your finger. Tap SSB. Use the scroll up and down arrows on the right of the LCD screen to scroll up to page 1/2 (pictured above). In addition to TBW settings you can also adjust the TX Bass and TX Treble on this screen.
Best Icom 7300 Transmit Bandwidth TBW Settings
What are the best settings? That's a matter of opinion. Is narrow best for DX? I think so, because it takes out some of the low frequency. My narrow TBW is adjusted to reduce the high frequency too, thus compressing it more. But, it is subjective and each user can set their own values. I've asked around and here are some values being used by others:
The Default
SSB TBW (WIDE): 100 – 2900 Hz
SSB TBW (MID): 300 – 2700 Hz
SSB TBW (NAR): 500 – 2500 Hz
WIDE and MID High Frequency Altered (My settings)
SSB TBW (WIDE): 100 – 2900 Hz
SSB TBW (MID): 300 – 2900 Hz
SSB TBW (NAR): 500 – 2500 Hz
All High Frequency Altered
SSB TBW (WIDE): 100 – 2900 Hz
SSB TBW (MID): 300 – 2900 Hz
SSB TBW (NAR): 500 – 2900 Hz
Monitor Transmit Audio
How do we listen to the transmit audio? Great question! Using the Monitor on the Icom 7300 we can hear what it sounds like. Hook up your headset to listen.
Using the Monitor function isn't really what your transmit audio sounds like on the air though, but it's good enough most of the time.
If you really want to hear what your audio sounds like, have another Ham record and send the audio file to you. That's the best way that I've found.
Included in this video: Demonstration of receive filter, transmit filter and customizing the transmit bandwidth. Also, suggestions for listening to your real transmit audio.
What do you think is best? Do you use NAR for DX? Please comment below, best 73 and good DX. - Rich, K0PIR
Sources for this article include comments by:
Wes, AI4FH
Andy, WB0OAF
Great video! Thanks!
Thanks Mark. I still use those settings today! 73 Rich, K0PIR
Thanks Rick,
Something new is learned every day, so many things that the 7300 has.
regards
Thank you so much Edmundo for coming by and commenting.
Best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
Hi,
Name is Marc : call sign F6GRH
Xellent settings and good article : I’ve got a question though ……
do you know how to reduce the TBW (kind of narrow) in FM mode on the IC 7300 ?
Thanks for your answer.
Marc
Hi Marc,
Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting here.
No way to do it that I can see. It is not in the menu of the 7610 either.
Best 73!
A study was done some time ago which indicated rolling off too much low end made for harder copy under bad conditions. There’s enough speech energy in the lower end to help with copy. Too much bass, though, is not well handled by older product detector circuits.
Hi Chuck,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here. Yes, I think my best sounding TBW is 200-2900 and treble +4, bass -2. At least with my new microphone it is.
Thank you again and good information. Best 73!
Trying to get N1MM to work with 7300 but the waterfall does nothing. i have rig control but it just want do waterfall. changed the baud rate to 115 but no joy. works with wsjt-x, js8call, sdruno but no N1MM. any ideas?
just no signals showing up.
i see no kind of signals anywhere. if i put the baud rate at 115200 then i lose rig control. even on the other digital mods. the waterfall contrast dose nothing. don’t change the color of waterfall at all. its like it don’t scroll down with signals are anything. changed usb cable also like you did one time but no go. its like waterfall is in stop mode.
Hi Stacey,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
When you say no signals, is the waterfall working? Are you just not seeing spots? You’ll need the cluster working for spots to show.
http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Spectrum+Display+Window
Rich, K0PIR
OK it needs to be 115200 (don’t use “Auto” anywhere for the baud rate) or it’s not gonna work and if you lose rig control then somethings off. Have a look at the screen captures page and especially the CI-V “Unlink from REMOTE” section. https://k0pir.us/icom-ic-7300-specifications-features/icom-7300-screen-captures/
In N1MM you’ll have to look at the configuration section for rig control and see that the baud rate is set correct there. Have a look at this page and the video on it. https://k0pir.us/n1mm-logger-spectrum-monitor/
If you really want to hear what your audio sounds like go to http://websdr.org/ and choose a station wherever your signal can be heard.
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for commenting here and a very happy holidays to you and yours.
Absolutely, that’s my favorite way to hear my audio. I favorite the Utah SDR #2 because it is capable of 75 Meters and I’m there almost every morning.
Best 73 and good DX!