Icom 7300 HRD 6.3 DM780 RTTY FSK CW
My Icom 7300 HRD 6.3 is working now. Yes, I finally broke down and purchased the latest version of Ham Radio Deluxe, 6.3. I wanted FSK in Digital Master 780 and I also wanted to see what new things have been done to Ham Radio Deluxe. For one, the Icom 7300 has been added as a rig.
What else? I haven't really noticed anything else yet, but I have only had it a few days and I'm sure there will be some other things of importance. I'm only using the rig control, HRD Logbook and DM780. There's no need for me to use the satellite tracker or rotor control. Hopefully rotor control someday.
Icom 7300 HRD 6.3 DM780 RTTY FSK
RTTY (FSK) is very easy to setup in HRD 6.3. It only took a few minutes and I was able to transmit and receive. There always seems to be a hiccup or two with this program and Windows. I think restarting Windows and opening HRD fixes most things.
Here are a few notes I took for the Icom 7300 and HRD 6.3:
- I installed HRD 6.3 with the old version still on my laptop. It installed into a different folder under "Program Files (x86)". I wanted to be able to uninstall the new version and go back to the old if it didn't work out. This may not be the best way to do things, see their website for installation and migration information.
- HRD 6.3 picked of my old log right away when I logged into HRD Logbook.
- DM780 didn't find my old macros and I wanted to start fresh anyway. I'm sure my old one's could have been imported.
- When setting up CW, I like to use CW and not the other options. There is the option to use KY, WinKey or SSB. Since I use two cables I have the choice to use CW. CW needs the extra cable for comm port keying, just like FSK needs it.
- In FSK I use HRD for PTT and then my USB cable for the keying. The CI-V cable is used for rig control.
- I put my com port speed at 9600. It's been the most reliable for me. I'll test faster one's later. Start slow, work your way up 🙂
Why use FSK and not AFSK?
When the Icom 7300 is in RTTY mode you have an excellent filter! Try using the Twin Peak Filter (TPF) in RTTY mode. There’s the sound card issue with AFSK also. When operating AFSK, you must make sure the audio going to and from the Icom 7300 is at the correct level and maintain this level.
Another thing I noticed after setting up AFSK on the 7300 is that the signal on the spectrum scope is not aligned with the signal on MMTTY (N1MM Logger). In other words when I use the 7300’s spectrum scope to tune to a signal and line it up, it’s not in the band scope of MMTTY. It’s completely outside the band scope and I have to go searching for it. Using FSK, when I tune to a signal using the Icom 7300 spectrum scope, it aligns perfectly in MMTTY’s band scope. I haven't checked this in DM780.
Here are a couple of videos demonstrating RTTY FSK.
NOTE: Users are reporting that there is a timing issue with RTTY (FSK) and using HRD and DM780. I have had a problem with recent HRD updates myself. You may or may not get this working.
I hope this helps. Thanks again for coming by and reading. Best wishes 73 and good DX. - Rich, K0PIR.
Thanks a bunch for this post. You seem to have a video for everything I have been asking about.
If you like your Ameritron 600 watt amp, I think I will buy one as well assuming you have no regrets. I have a hard time spending the money for legal limit as the gain is not that much over 600 watts. A little more the just 3db? They idea is to get ahead of all the 100 watts guys I think.
I ordered a CI-V cable for FSK and CW. I did not think about the length. My computer is about 6 feet from the rig. Might have to move the computer of buy a long cable and choke it.
My installation will be a little different since I run Win4ICOMSuite. It is really an awesome interface, much better than HRD rig control screen. It is tailored for the IC7300 and has a direct server connection to HRD. It also has the ability to act as a clearing house of radio data for other applications. You can enter virtual com port pairs, six of them so that other applications have access to radio data. I think I will setup Win4ICOMSuite on the Ci-V cable and use the USB cable port for PTT for FSK and CW?
No regrets on the Ameritron, just enough power to get me by and you’re correct legal limit would not do me much more good. Antennas and feedlines is where the real gain (benefit) comes in. I’ll work on a better beam antenna someday.
Thanks for commenting and I’m calling CQ on RTTY right now. No responses today. I’d better change antennas, hi!
I looked at the Win4IcomSuite and it is very nice, but I didn’t play around with it much. With Win4IcomSuite you’ll need to use the USB cable for the rig control if you want to have the spectrum monitor display on your computer screen. That’s the catch 22 with those programs now. The CI-V cable doesn’t help. You’ll need to go with something like VSPE with that one, assuming you want the spectrum monitor display and RTTY FSK.
Best to you and yours, thanks again.
Rich, K0PIR
I hooked up my Ci-V cable. Can’t seem to get a rig connection. I have the radio set at 115200, and the driver at 8, none, 1 none. The Device Manager says it is a RTS01 Driver on com 5. I got the driver from valley-ent.com.
Wondering if I have the right driver. What do you think.
Rig is ICOM 7300.
Hi Brad,
On the CI-V the highest baud rate is 19200. You will be able to see that in your 7300 radio settings under Menu>Set>Connectors>CI-V. Try that.
For the driver, did you install anything? The cable should come with some instructions from valley-ent if you need to install a driver for it. I did not have to install a driver. I’m using Win10 Pro and the driver must have already been on there. Mine says “FTDI” under manufacturer in the driver properties. Look for that.
Okay?
Rich, K0pir.us
Rich, K0PIR
Yes, I did load the correct driver but need to change Baud rate. However, during a weak moment, I purchased a 7610. I plan on putting together a mobile package with the 7300.
I understand there are two USB ports on the 7610? Or two ports are available with one USB cable? Either way, I can get FSK and CW working with rig control?
Brad
N6GR.
Hi Brad,
Yes, with the 7610 we get 2 virtual serial ports on the USB 2.0 port on the rear of the radio. It’s very nice.
Yes, CW and RTTY FSK work very well with a couple of programs. I am still having trouble with DM780 and FSK, as others are. However, I’ve seen where Hams report that RTTY FSK works with DM780, so I am not sure what my issue is, yet. Hopefully it’ll be worked out soon. I do not have tech support with HRD so I’m following a HRD forum on the topic.
Congrats on the 7610, you’ll see a big difference between the two and how they feel.
Rich, K0PIR
OK. I do have tech support with HRD. I am a DM780 user but have other programs as well. Maybe we can work out the DM780 FSK problem together. My radio arrives Tuesday and should be hooked up and ready to go the same day.
So I guess there is no need for a Ci-V cable with the 7610?
Brad
N6GR
Sounds good Brad. I just downloaded and installed the new HRD so I’ll see if it fixes anything.
Richard, I appreciate your web site and the help you have given to all of us. Very valuable info.
Could you share the settings of your 7300 and DM-780 for FSK RTTY. I have two cables but when I put the rig in RTTY mode and transmit all I get is a single tone. I looked at your videos but didn’t see all your actual settings.
Thanks for all your help
Hi Ron,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
I apologize, I did not ever complete a tutorial on the 7300, DM780 and FSK because it turned out to be glitchy back then. I had trouble and other Hams had the same problem. Sometimes there was a significant delay and it was just unusable. I did get mine working fairly well for a period of time.
I was using the CI-V cable for rig control and the USB for RTTY FSK keying. You could use one USB cable and something like VSPE if you wanted.
The radio is setup the same for everything. You can see my screen captures link at the top of the page. The radio is in RTTY mode.
In DM780 Program Options>Modes+IDs see the RTTY tab. Enable FSK, the com port your USB cable is on and then under Devices>Rigblaster PRO….etc.
I needed to Reverse enabled on the DM780 toolbar. The waterfall is as in this video. I set 2210Hz as the center. Program Options>Waterfall>Center Marker.
I will revisit FSK in DM780 very soon. I think much has improved. Thank you!
See if that helps.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich thanks for the reply. I have mine set up exactly like you do with 2 cables and the same settings. But I’m still just getting a single tone when I xmit in RTTY mode. I look forward to your next update. 73. Ron/W4ET
I know what you mean Ron, I had that issue just today with CW (KY). Send a CQ macro and see if that will work. Sometimes just trying to send a test like “VVV test de K0PIR” it just didn’t work.
Rich, K0PIR
Rich, I followed your suggestion and dm-780 did start sending. However, it is sending garbarage rather than what is in the macros or what I send by typing. I’v tried both normal and reverse but it is the same. At least it is sending. Now I have to figure out why its not sending the correct letters/numbers.
Hi Ron,
Is it receiving? The TX problem is probably just be a setting. Are you at 2210 Hz. and in RTTY mode on the radio and RTTY FSK in DM780?
Rich, K0PIR
Thanks for the reply. Yes to all three questions. Any suggestions as to what settings to check in reference to it sending garbage? Thanks for your help.
Ron W4ET
Can you decode using AFSK?
I mentioned using Reverse, but try it without Reverse. Maybe something changed in DM780.
Rich, K0PIR