New Icom M803 SSB

[ka4wja]

Coquina,
You are correct here...but, this isn't really Icom's fault, rather that of the operators....

Originally Posted by Coquina

IIRC, the IC-7300 is (in)famous for not liking being around other transmitters. This is likely only a ham thing, but something to think about.

You see direct sampling DSP radios (colloquially called SDR's) like all receivers do have certain max signal inputs / levels, but since they are taking in the whole HF spectrum at once (rather than a small slice, such as in a super-het, etc.) they become more intolerant of poor operator settings / being misadjusted.

The anecdotal reports of some has having their 7300's overloaded are almost exclusively from those that are unaware of how to use an HF receiver (you know the guys who run the gain wide open 100% of the time)....
And, while they can usually get away with this with a modern super-het or hybrid DSP rig (albeit because of this ignorance they're usually the loudest complainers regarding "noisy bands" or "all the splatter", etc.), with a open direct-sampling rig, they simply overload the A/D converters, and declare that Icom builds crap.


Now, please note that I'm not a fan of the 7300 (I'm not into touch screen radios, etc....and its transmit IMD is still rather poor!!), but fact is compared to other rigs in its price range it stacks up darn well...now, actually the Kenwood TS-590SG is twice the radio of the 7300, for the same $$$$....but, it's not as fancy / glitzy


So, to sum up....
As long as Icom has designed the M-803's firmware correctly, it should be fine....(although I'm still waiting to see how well they've incorporated a "VFO" mode, noise blanker/noise reduction, ease-of-using DSC functions, etc. etc. etc...)
But, I doubt we'll need to worry about an M-803 being overloaded? (but, heck Ford Motors made the Edsel)


Fair winds.

John


P.S. As for it needing a different cable for tuner control....I believe the "cable" is the same, just that Icom went back to a 4-pin straight Molex plug on the M-803??? So, existing AT-140's should work with the existing cable, just need to change the plug at the radio end?
(at least that is what it looks like to me)

[Gary Jensen-DSR]

DockSide Radio has M803's in stock, so here are a few top-line answers inquiring minds want to know:

1. Yes, the M803 has an amateur Mode
2. Yes, Noise Reduction
3. Yes, Auto Tune
4. Yes, TX/RX Speech Compression
5. Yes, Four power levels: High 150W, Mid-H 100W, Mid-L 60W, Low 20W
6. Yes, Pre Amp ON/OFF
7. Yes, VFO Mode

We've just gotten this info and the units, so don't know the specifics of how many of these attributes are implemented.


73's
Gary
AA1GJ
s/v Spiritress
Pactor-II/III Radio Modem sales, FCC License filing, Marine SSB & HAM Radio Net schedules &amp frequencies.

[Coquina]

#6 will be good to have

[PSea]

following

[ka4wja]

Well, was hoping for input attenuator....but as long as everyone leaves the pre-amp OFF (certainly below 20-25mhz, it should be off), I guess this is okay...

Originally Posted by Coquina

#6 will be good to have

Talk to all in March.
Fair winds.

John

[Dockhand]

I understand that the M803 doesn’t have a Headphone Jack like the M802 does in the Front panel controller. As for the speaker, it’s now built into the front of the Front panel controller. Now on the Main unit, it does have the Speaker jack for a remote speaker, but doesn't come with the speaker. I understand that the speaker in the Controller cuts out if you plug in an external speaker.
I also heard that Icom M803 has a problem with their email, internally not communicating correctly.

[AA3JY]

Built-in speaker in the Head or the Controller only..?

[Dockhand]

In the Controller only, also I believe it’s also missing the routine DSC button. They must have incorporated it into the emergency DSC button.
Note, I’m very far from knowing a lot about the SSB radios, but my M802 is not working up to par, so looking at replacing it with the new M803, I know it’s about 3” wider than the M802, I think it’s because of adding the speaker to the left side just above the where the microphone attaches to the face of the Controller.

[AA3JY]

Ok..maybe I’m missing something here..does the Head, the one with the display and knobs detach from the Controller, the main body? If what your saying the built-in-speaker is in the controller wouldn’t be my choice as the controller would be located way back in the stern of my boat, mounted on a bulkhead, near the auto tuner and having the built-in speaker back there wouldn’t make sense in my situation..

[Dockhand]

I’m using Icom’s terminology from their Instruction Manual so I wouldn’t use a slur name and hopefully not to confuse people, but I see that I may have. The speaker is in what Icom is calling the Controller, one with the Screen and knobs. The Main unit is where the coaxial cable, Tuner control cable, DC power, GPS and so on, all plugs into it on the Front and Rear of the unit. After spending 2 hours with a tech doing a conference call to determine what was wrong with mine. You learn real fast what everything is called.
Sorry for any confusion.

[tlavino]

As noted by a previous poster there is no headphone jack, useful in noisy environments or when you don't want to disturb sleeping crewmembers, as well as used by programming software. How would one access features only accessible by software?

[gjorgensen]

The USB port is used for dealer programming. But yeah, it's pretty strange that there's no headphone jack anywhere.

[Gary Jensen-DSR]

As with the M802, there is a speaker jack on the M803's main unit. In fact, the M803 main unit is built into/onto the M802 chassis & Cover.

[Gary Jensen-DSR]

In the FWW department, to my ears the audio quality of built-in speaker in the control head is not so good. I recommend buying an external speaker like the 4Ω Icom SP-24 when purchasing the M803, or using a spare third-party 4-8Ω speaker .

[Discovery 15797]

I personally am disappointed with the Icom M-803. As I stated in a previous post (https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3073812) the upgrades/improvements are rather lack-luster.

It seems Icom put more emphasis on aesthetics than on technical enhancements.

I cannot for the life of me understand why Icom would remove the headphone jack from the control unit. When operating the ham/ssb I use noise cancelling Heil Pro-7 headset with a custom made dongle from Associated Radio.