Icom 7300 Receiver Settings For Digital Operation
I had a conversation with a friend recently and while talking about the Icom 7300, HRD and DM780 I realized that I haven't made a good article covering basic receiver settings for digital modes. The settings under "Connectors" have been an issue with some Hams but, also the operational receiver settings, like filter bandwidth, USB data (USB-D), NB, and NR for digital modes. I'll cover the latter in this post.
Icom 7300 Digital Operation
The Icom 7300 is an easy radio to use for digital modes because all you need is a USB cable. Set aside your Signalink or whatever you were using with you old radio. The Icom 7300 uses an internal sound card device. Download and install the Windows Icom 7300 USB driver from Icom before attaching the rig to your computer. (I have noticed after my Windows computer updates, the USB driver gets updated too.)
Consistency
I try to keep my settings the same for all of my software. Whether using RTTY (AFSK), BPSK, JT65, JT9 or FT8, this is a fun and easy digital mode transceiver to operate. The settings in this article will work with all of the major digital modes that I have tried. I won't delve into CW or RTTY (FSK) in this post.
I can use one or two cables with how I have things setup (more on "Connectors" in the next article) and I can use Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems.
Digital Software, Logging and Rig Control
I have used Digital Master 780, Fldigi, WSJT-X, JT65-HF (HB9HQX Edition), and MMTTY to name a few with these receiver settings.
For rig control and logging I have used Ham Radio Deluxe, ACLog, N1MM Logger+, Log4OM and some others in Windows. On the Mac, RUMLogNG and MacLoggerDX. For Linux, CQRLOG. All of the programs work with basically the same settings.
Save Settings Data to a SD Card
Let's do this. Before making any changes to your rig, go in and save the settings you have now.
Icom 7300 Receiver Settings For Digital Operation
Here is the next part:
- Press FUNCTION and turn off NR, NB and NOTCH.
- You can elect to turn off AGC as in the video above for digital modes like FT8, JS8Call, JT65 and JT9. For PSK, Contestia, THOR, RTTY (AFSK), etc., I choose to leave my AGC on FAST. Experiment and see what the differences are!
Icom 7300 MENU>SET>Connectors
We'll go deeper into the Icom 7300 menu later. For now you could take a look at N3FJP ACLog, WSJT-X, JTAlert A Powerful Combination.
Thanks for dropping by and I hope you find this useful. I hope to hear you on the air, best 73! - Rich, K0PIR
Sometimes I forget this, and I forgot to mention, the notch filter should be turned off too. It’ll create a nice dark patch in the waterfall.
Rich- it says on the Icom USB Driver download that the driver is only for Windows. Is that an issue if you’re running Linux and CQRLOG?? Do you somehow load the driver with Wine? Or do you not need that driver in Linux?
Thanks again for all your 7300 help!
Hi Wes,
Nice to hear from you and for Linux, I just plugged it in and so no need to install anything. Same with the Raspberry Pi and Raspbian. It loaded the correct driver.
For the Mac the download is here:https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
Thank you and bets 73! – Rich, K0PIR
Thank you, K0PIR.
Hi Deryl,
Great to hear from you and hope to hear you on the air. Best 73 – Rich, K0PIR
RIch, how do I turn down the ALC on my Icom 7300 when transmitting on digital modes? The ALC is almost full scale. I also sent you an email on this issue.
Thanks!
Hi Deryl,
Great question and I am going to cover that a little more in the next article. Long story short, adjust USB MOD Level in MENU>Settings>Connectors. Also, with this radio, having some ALC deflection is not a bad thing. Just keep within ALC margin. I never let mine get more than 3/4 of the ALC meter. I have a YouTube video about fine tuning digital here: https://youtu.be/VocRqrKc2dQ and then my favorite for adjusting transmit: https://youtu.be/aC8OzLlO_30
That should do it 🙂
Please visit my YouTube channel for live Hurricane Irma updates:https://youtu.be/AbjOqdAsPSo
Best 73 – Rich, K0PIR
Thanks, Rich, and God bless you.
Deryl
Hi Rich, Just a word of thanks for your so good job with your clear and helpfull postings.
I use to have a IC-7700 but i’m just surprised with my 7300 as it looks to me that for this money you get nothing and this rig is just amazing.
Keep on Rich… we thank again and again.
Warmest greetings from Portugal
Gus CT1 ABE
Hello Augusto!
Thank you so much for the kind comment. Best to you and yours from South Dakota. 73 – Rich
Greetings, Rich:
I am using your “settings” to try and get my 7300 running for W7GJ’s visit to the VK9 islands (09/12)
Noticed your ref to Irma. I have found Levi Cowan’s audio/vid updates to be most informative. They are at: http://www.tropicaltidbit.com …. many thanks…
Hi Mel,
Thank you for the link! Best 73- Rich, K0PIR
Please post a setup file for the SD card along with the U-Tube video and detailed instructions with pictures. A setup file on the SD card is fast, repeatable and more reliable than manual entry.
Hi Ken,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the suggestion. You may be on to something. I have thought about it before and I will look into it again. Thank you! – Rich, K0PIR
I’ve lost the KEY, Rich. Using Digipan 2.0 and it worked for a couple of QSOs and even put it on the SD card but now the only way I can transmit is with the TX Button. I even connected both cables with no help. I’ve tried all variation in the setup, upgraded my firmware, and re-loaded the USB drivers with no help.
Hi Ken,
Nice to hear from you. Are you saying you lost PTT? It’s transmitting PSK, but just won’t key the radio? I’m not real familiar with Digipan, but there must be a setting in there for PTT. Try a couple of settings in the PTT settings.
I hope this helps and thanks for coming by a commenting. Let me know how it goes.
73’s,
Rich, K0PIR
No PTT and I’ve tried the CIV cable added also. I’ll try Fldigi, MixW or some others and see if they will key. I don’t want the features of HRD or the expense but it does address the IC-7300 in the setup. Maybe I did push the “TRANSMIT” button for those 2 QSOs but I thought it was all on the USB Cable.
Hi Ken,
When there is trouble like that, most of the time it is in the settings. Did you look at the radio under menu>set>connectors, scroll down to the bottom and see what you have set for USB SEND. Mine is set to RTS and I don’t check off RTS in my software when I connect, because it’ll key up the transmitter.
Fldigi can be quirky too. A simple one to try is WSJT-X. It’s a stand alone program, you don’t need JTAlert or anything else. My 7300 connects just fine with it.
Rich, K0PIR
Ken,
Great
Very helpful for me setting up digital mode
Just had my IC7300 for 2 days
73 from Belgium de ON4BAG
Wsjt-x is saying rig failure
Hamlib error : protocol error While getting current frequency
What am i doing wrong?
Hi Jasper,
Nice to hear from you and that’s an odd one. What OS are you running? Has it ever worked? Do you see any frequencies in the drop down list in WSJT-X?
You could try uninstalling and reinstalling the latest WSJT-X version.
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Rich,
I have Windows 7, I did not check the freq yet, but it showed the right com port. I will try to reinstall it and will Come back on it later on.
Thanks for your answer.
Pb2jj
Jasper
If the frequencies don’t show up in the drop down, go to File>Settings and the Frequencies tab. Under Working Frequencies, if it is blank, right click and select Reset. It’ll fill them in for you.
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Rich,
I found on google these settings:
Data-Mod USB
USB Serial Function CI-V
CI-V USB Port – Unlink from Remote
CI-V USB Baud Rate 115200
CI-V Echo Back ON
CI-V Baud Rate AUTO
CI-V Address 94h
CI-V Transceive OFF
it did the trick for me to get it working.
Thanks for your interest
73 de Jasper PB2JJ
Fantastic Jasper! Merry Christmas!
Jasper,
Did you see this article? https://k0pir.us/transmitter-settings-digital-operation/
Merry Christmas
Hi Rich,
Running FT8 on 7300 using HRD for rig control….one issue USBD flips to USB during tx and no out put.
This happens about 75% of the time. Any suggestions?
Thanks for all your information has made getting on digital a lot easier …
73 de Gary
Hi Gary,
It’s nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting. Each comment adds value to the website and helps others. Thank you!
Yes, In WSJT-X check the File>Settings>Radio tab and look at Mode on that tab. Set it to Data/Pkt. Have a look at this clip: https://youtu.be/j-2iDCkWQA0
I hope this helps, Merry Christmas and best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Rich,
I will look into it. Thanks.
Merry christmas
Rich,
One more question. What USB cable do you use or recomend? I got some rf problems and putted some Ferrite blocks around the cable but I stil have problems txing and usb port shutting down.
Jasper
Hi Jasper,
The best shielded one you can get. One with ferrite already embedded on the ends of the cable. You could try moving or routing the cable differently.
I use ferrite and they come from Amazon. Some ferrite cores aren’t for HF, so choose a 31 mix type. Wrap the cable 2,3, or 4 times around the ferrite. Mine are wrapped 3 times.
This is what I use:
http://amzn.to/2zq9OJj
I hope this helps.
Rich, K0PIR
This was very helpful. I had the 7300 set up for FT-8 and everything was working but no RF output. I found your video and realized I needed to set the mode to USB-D. Suddenly- RF! That was the longest 2 hours of setting and re-setting. I almost gave up. Thanks for the help!
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for commenting and it’s nice to hear from you. You’re not alone because that was a new one to me too. USB-D – First radio I ever had with that mode!
Thank you again and please keep coming back, I’ll have more on the IC-7300. The articles on the IC-7610 will also pertain to the IC-7300. These radios are so similar.
HNY and may DX be with you!
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich, I’m using FT8 with HRD and my 7300. For some reason, I have USD-D selected, but every time I try to TX, the mode switches to Plain USD. It will not stay in USD-D no matter what I try to do! Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Rob,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
If you are using Ham Radio Deluxe for the Rig in WSJT-X, try setting the Mode to None in WSJT-X under Settings and Radio. If you are using the Icom 7300 as the Rig in WSJT-X use Data/Pkt for the Mode under Settings and Radio.
Use Fake It for Split Operation. That’s on the Radio tab too in WSJT-X.
That should do it for you.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich, I have followed your blogs since you first received your IC-7300. I have been putting off buying one until I can find out whether the NB/NR circuitry would be capable of reducing or eliminating the S9 noise level on 40 meters that I am getting from my own – and my neighbors – PV solar electric systems. I saw a video by George EI7KO where he demonstrates the NB and effectively cuts 7 S-units of noise, making a weak signal readable.
My question is: Do you have nearby PV solar electric systems that cause noise, and have you experienced effective NB/NR when dealing with it? If you have not had personal experience with this issue, can you point me to someone that has?
Thanks!
Hi Greg,
It’s nice to hear from you and thank you for the great question. It is something I am sure many others are wondering.
As far as PV solar, I don’t know. I have heard that it doesn’t do good with electric fences so I would guess it is pretty similar to solar.
I have a friend in Florida and I will ask him. He has a solar system and a Icom 7300. There is a Yahoo group and someone there might help you. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ic-7300/info
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
I’ll see what I can find out.
He said, “Need to know what the noise is that’s coming from his solar. I reduced my noise/tone with a filter. Switching noise
occurred only when sun was out.”
Rich, thank you for checking with your friend in Florida, and for the info on the Yahoo group for the IC-7300. I’ll do some more investigating and some experimentation with my system… then I’ll ask the guys at my local HRO if they’ll let me borrow a 7300 on a sunny afternoon!
I appreciate you sharing your honest experiences with the rest of us.
73s,
Greg
Thank you Greg! 73’s – Rich
Hi rich. Hope you are well. 73 de EI7KO
Hi Geroge,
Nice to hear from you! I enjoy your YouTube videos.
It’s all good and I am operating a little on 75 Meters this morning.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich,
I’m a newbie to Ham radio and trying to setup my IC-7300 for data using Fldigi. I’ve watched all of your videos as they relate to digital operation but still have problems. In each one when you come to Menu, Set, Connectors, Ci-V, you say that you just leave it the way it is. But how is that? Are you saying you leave the Ci-V connector items setup as defaults or perhaps the way you set it up the last time you did it? Could you please list how you have the various items setup in Menu, Set, Connectors, Ci-V for two cable operation?
Thanks,
Tom, KN4KFH
Hi Tom,
Nice to hear from you and congrats on your license and the 7300.
Have a look at the screen captures page. There is some good information there. https://k0pir.us/icom-ic-7300-specifications-features/icom-7300-screen-captures/
Let me know how it goes.
Here is a YouTube video I did a while back for the Icom 7300 and Fldigi. I think it has everything you need.
https://youtu.be/yIPIG8fdtJc
Rich,
Thanks for the advice and I’m learning now how to navigate your site. The screen shots were really a great help.
73,
Tom
Rich,
I’ve looked at the Data Mode setups again and I have a question regarding the “DATA OFF MOD” settings. You recommend both MIC, USB and MIC, ACC in different places. I’ve read what the manual says about the settings but I’m not getting. I’m sure the explanation is simple, but I’ve missed it. I’m using a two cable setup.
Tom
Hi Tom,
That’s a great question. The articles and videos are progressive. When I started out with one cable, HRD and DM780 I had very few changes in the radio. By the time I was using MLDX, Fldigi, N1MM+ and RTTY (FSK) more things had changed in the radio.
When I make a change I want it to be backward compatible. In other words I don’t want the new setting to mess up some older software.
That being said, you’d probably be okay using either MIC,USB and MIC,ACC. Off hand I can’t remember why I changed it to MIC,USB unless it’s just because I’ll never use the ACC on the radio. 🙂
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to explain the progression of the articles.
Rich, K0PIR
Any tips on the settings for using an old modem like KAM Plus for Pactor?
Hi Dave,
I don’t have any experience with those. Sorry.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich
I have been using the WSJT -X as per your fine guidance , all work well on all the bands
I use it on FT8 Mode on 160m
how do i setup the software and the 7300 to work split on Rx 1908 (jap freq) and TX 1840
The software throws up an error messagr once you move away from 1840 ~+/- a few Khz .
kinldy advice
73
kumar
Hi Kumar,
Nice to hear from you.
That is a very good question and I am sorry I do not know.
You could try adding an offset. Go to File>Settings>Frequencies. Right click in the station Information box (anywhere in the box). Click Insert from the pop up menu. In the WSJT-X Add Station window:
Band 160m
Offset (MHz) 0.068
Antenne “your antenna”
Click OK button.
Now when selecting 160m from the WSJT-X frequency list, 1.840 000 will show in WSJT-X, but the radio will show 1.908.00.
You can check The FT8 Group. Someone there should know.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
I am trying to set up a 7300 to run FT8 at our seniors club . In set-up of WSJT-S under audio input and output ,what choices should i see? Not sure if its talking to the 7300.
It was working at one time but someone got in and screwed it all up.
I am searching for help on line .Thanks
Hi Tom,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting with your question here.
You should see the “USB Audio CODEC” and use it for Soundcard input and output.
Then you’ll see the waterfall (Wide Graph) come alive.
Have a look at this: https://k0pir.us/icom-7300-wsjt-x-ft8-easy-way/
73!
Rich, K0PIR
Hi, on FT-8, the vertical meter on the bottom left is in the green, but is floating right at the 70db mark, not the 30db that it supposedly likes best. Is this hurting my performance? If so, how do I adjust this with my IC-7300?
Hi Steve,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
In Windows you can use the sound properties to adjust the microphone recording level for the USB Audio Codec. That’s a good way.
I have a video coming out on YouTube today and even though it is on JTDX it shows in there how to adjust that level in Windows.
I hope this helps and I’m working on that video right now.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
I am having trouble with FT-8 linking to WSJT-Alert and HRD together. HELP PLEASE
Thanks for your videos. Great help to a newbie
Whoops- Icom 7300 and Windows 10
Hi Francis,
Try to get HRD working. Then try to get WSJTX working. Finally try JT alert. What error message are you getting?
See https://k0pir.us/a-new-spin-on-jt-alert-hrd-logbook-and-wsjt-x/
Rich