Icom 7610 and Icom 7300 Week in Review | Firmware, Video, Screen Captures
Icom 7610 Firmware Do-Over
The release of v1.10 caused a problem with software monitor scopes. From Tom, N1MM, "Icom introduced an error in the CAT responses that return the spectrum data via the USB port. In the Icom protocol, each response is supposed to be prefixed with X’FEFE’. They dropped those bytes with the latest firmware upgrade. This in turn caused third party programs following the CAT spec to display spectrum data to fail."
Not long after the release of v1.10, Icom released v1.11 (See links below). All is well and users are reporting the third party software monitor scopes are working again.
IC-7610 Technical Report Vol. 3
Just out! Vol, 3 of the IC-7610 Technical Report is now on the Icom Japan website.
This is a very interesting read on splitter and switching circuitry, digi-sel, and main/sub receivers.
Links to all 3 Volumes are on my IC-7610 page.
Icom 7300 Firmware
Unlike Icom 7610 owners, the Icom 7300 firmware release went flawlessly for most. There were no problems reported with the firmware, but users sometimes forget a step when updating.
Sometimes we just need a reminder how to update the firmware and I have a video here that walks users through the process. It is an older video and I do things a little differently these days, but the video is still helpful and reminds us of a few important steps. (Click on the links below to go to that part of the video.)
- Save your settings and you can even copy them to your PC if you like.
- Format the SD card in the radio, not the computer.
- Copy the firmware file into the IC 7300 folder on the SD card, not the root directory.
- Press down the "Yes" button for 1 second for it to start the update process.
I would upload a replacement video, but YouTube does not allow me to replace the old one without losing significant video views and search ranking. That would be detrimental to my channel.
In the near future, look for a video (addendum) showing a quick firmware update. Updating firmware is not hard and following my YouTube videos are safe because I follow the manual.
Icom 7610 and Icom 7300 Screen Captures
Coming soon...look for the IC-7300 screen captures page and IC-7610 screen captures page on this website to be updated, reflecting the new firmware enhancements.
Thank You Icom 7610 and Icom 7300 Subscribers
A big thanks to subscribers and everyone who posts questions, comments and sends emails to me with ideas and suggestions. I sincerely appreciate it and hope this website helps Icom 7610 and Icom 7300 users.
If you have a question please comment below. I will do my best to answer it and your experience will undoubtedly help others as well.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Sources
Ham Radio with K0PIR on Facebook
Vorrei imparare ad usare IC7610 con i modi digitali , in particolare con FT8 e usare i software per CW RTTY etc.
Ci sarebbe qualche manualetto epecifico solo per questi digitali ?
Grazie e 73 , Sal I8TSL
Hi Salvatore,
Nice to hear from you. For WSJT-X and the 7610 it is pretty simple. This is on the 7300, but very similar to the 7610. See here.
There is a manual for WSJT-X here.
I like this operating guide, it is here.
What software do you want to use for RTTY and CW?
Rich, K0PIR
Really appreciate the videos on the 7300 and FT8 mode. I just got my license in 2017, and just started using FT8 in the past week when I got my first antenna put up (end fed half wave at a summer home), and am quickly becoming “addicted” to this. Especially useful are the reception reports at pskreporter.info, where I can quickly check how well my signal is getting out. So far I am limiting power output to 10W, until I fully understand what I am doing and why with the radio and software.
73s,
Bruce
KX4AZ
Hi Bruce,
Thank you for commenting and it’s nice to see you here. You have a nice station and that’s a good idea to be cautious.
You bring up a good point. PSK Reporter is a very nice tool. I’ve been using it with my Elecraft KX2, PSK31 and running 5 watts. After I make a few transmissions I can look on PSK Reporter and see if any of the monitors are hearing me. I have been trying a few different antennas with the KX2 and PSK Reporter is very helpful.
Thanks again and I hope to hear you on the air.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Your videos have been helpful setting up my 7300 for FT8. I just use a single USB cable between the 7300 and computer. I’d like to see a video on setting up the 7300 with WinWarbler for rtty using a single cable, too, if that’s even possible.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for commenting and great to hear from you.
I have thought about that one and maybe I can shortly. You’ll have to use something like VSPE.
Let me see what I can do. I’ve noticed Hams looking for more DXLab info.
Thanks for the suggestion, best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich,
I followed your youtube video to update my 7300 and it worked perfectly, thanks for all your info.
On my computer the audio was a little low, but I could hear everything by using a headset.
73 K6KDX
Hi George,
I think I just saw you on YT 🙂
Thanks for commenting and it’s nice to hear from you. I appreciate the input.
Yes, it’s one of my first videos and I’ll be making a shorter one very soon covering an easier way of doing it. We’ve had some practice 🙂 Basically I use a separate card for firmware now and eliminate saving data and settings to the PC.
Thank you for bearing with me.
Take care, best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
Another great informative post. You might mention that the firmware download must be un-zipped. You then just drag the un-zipped .dat file over to the 7610 folder of your SD card or thumb drive so it will be copied into the 7610 folder. Icom has made it easy. Keep up the great posts! 73, Ray AA4EZ
Hi Raymnond,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the input. That’s a very good point! Did I forget to mention that?
I noticed on my iMac the other day that it is not zipped when downloaded. Interesting…
I have a 7610 firmware video that I did just more recently and I think it is much better. I like using the USB stick with the 7610.
Thanks for commenting and always great to hear from you.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
I am not clear on the capabilities of the two cables – CI-V and USB.
With one USB cable can I use N1MM as a spectrum display and a rig controller?
Or is a CI-V cable also needed in this case.? I will not be doing RTTY or CW from the software.
Hi Dick,
Good question. Yes, use the USB cable and you will be able to have rig control and view the spectrum display.
Thank you and best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Hello Dick,
I have a question for you. I currently have an ICOM 7600. I run it with Ham Radio Deluxe and HDSDR which gets a tap off the IF using an RTL-SDR dongle. I get rig control though HRD so when i click on a signal i see in HDSDR it changes the frequency on my 7600. My SDR dongle also tracks the frequency show on the ICOM dial since it is getting its signal from the IF of the 7600. This works very well for me. I also play with SDRPlay with the SDRUno software. I read your blog about taking a feed off the antenna input on a 7300 so you can have a setup simular to mine.
Here is my question: Since the 7610 and the 7300 are SDRs, why doesn’t ICOM (or someone else) come up with a GUI similar SDRUno or HDSDR or SmartSDR (Flex) for the 7300 and the 7600. This could provide the RF spectrum display, the waterfall, the audio spectrum display and waterfall all via a single USB cable like is done with a Flex and SmartSDF. Have you thought about this? Am I missing something? I’m gonna hold off upgrading my 7600 to a 7610 until this happens. If ICOM came up with this, I think it would make the 7610 blow away the Flex.
Dave Daniels W4EIP
Hi Dave,
Nice to hear from you and thanks for the post. Good thinking on the radios.
The IF coming from the USB port on the 7300 is only 12kHz, which is not very useful. That’s why I (and many others) tried the additional SDR (dongle) and splitter in the back. Similar to what you have on the 7600.It does work good.
The 7610 does have a high speed USB3.0 port, but it is not enabled with the firmware yet. Hopefully soon and then we will know more. I would love to use that port and SDR software. Stay tuned, maybe it’ll happen 🙂
Thanks again and 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Thanks Rich. Big Help.
Wes AI4FH
Thanks for posting back Wes. Nice to hear from you – Rich, K0PIR.us