[amsat-bb] Possible trouble with new Icom IC-910H

Sat Aug 12 13:47:43 UTC 2017

Peter,

The IC-910H is a great radio...but it has a reputation for being picky
about any DC voltage drop from the power supply / power cable when you're
attempting to achieve rated power output.

Until you've achieved the results you'd expect, I'd make sure that you have
a stout 20 amp power supply that maintains 13.8v at full load, and that
your power cable connects directly to the power supply.   If you've got any
power cable extensions, power pole distribution blocks, or extra connectors
in line with the power cable, they may add some resistance which can impact
the transmit power output on the radio.  There may be no impact, best to
make sure if you're not satisfied with the transmitter performance.

Use a dummy load in your testing to ensure that the transmitter has a 50
ohm load and the transmitter protection isn't reducing power if the
connected antenna isn't a perfect match (which few are).

The Bird is an averaging meter, and SSB is low in average power output
(unless the audio is compressed) so, you're not going to see a lot of power
in SSB on that meter.   Thats the reality measurement.

While the transmit audio quality isn't what I prefer when used, you can
enable the 'Comp' which is the compressor, which will increase the average
transmit power which will produce a higher average reading on the Bird
meter.  Doubtful you'll want to use that feature in your on air pursuits in
the long run, but, may offer insight in your testing.

As for CW, you can find in the manual how to enable the up/down buttons on
the microphone to be the keyer  in CW mode.

If you want to hear your 145.000 Mhz transmit, connect VHF to a dummy load,
tune to VHF to 145.000 tune UHF to 435.000 set both to USB, Transmit on 145
Mhz and you should hear the 3rd harmonic just fine and get an idea of your
transmit audio.

HOPEFULLY you'll conclude that you've got 10-15 watts average saying
FIIIIVVVVEEE slowly on SSB into a dummy load, and conclude things are
reasonably good and we'll find you on the air soon.

Hope this helps,
Mike
W4UOO

On Sat, Aug 12, 2017 at 12:46 AM, Andrew Rich <vk4tec at internode.on.net>
wrote:

> Average power meter vs peak power meter
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 12 Aug 2017, at 10:08 am, Peter Pauly <ppauly at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > SDR Dongle says I'm getting out.  And if I whistle, I can deflect the
> Bird
> > meter. Thanks everyone for your help. I was worrying for nothing.
> >
> >> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 3:45 PM, Zach Metzinger <zmetzing at pobox.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> On August 11, 2017 1:19:46 PM CDT, Floyd Rodgers <kc5qbc at swbell.net>
> >> wrote:
> >>> Try AM mode and the meter should register or get another meter that can
> >>> measure ssb
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Friday, August 11, 2017 8:15 AM, Andrew Rich
> >>> <vk4tec at internode.on.net> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I talked my test equipment mate
> >>>
> >>> You would have to whistle fairly loudly to get a swing on the bird
> >>>
> >>> Andrew
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>
> >>>> On 11 Aug 2017, at 10:28 pm, Peter Pauly <ppauly at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> I do have a little USB SDR. I plan hook that up tonight to see if I
> >>> can see an indication of signal. I don't want to furiously try to
> >>> contact someone via satellite and find out I'm not putting out any
> >>> power.
> >>>>
> >>>> I've never owned this rig until a couple days ago so there's always a
> >>> possibility I'm doing something wrong.
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 8:23 AM, Andrew Rich
> >>> <vk4tec at internode.on.net> wrote:
> >>>>> Peter are you speaking loudly
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The energy in an fm envelope is way larger than a side band
> >>> transmission
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The fact that your reaching an alc level seems to indicate the radio
> >>> is doing its job
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Pity u don't have USB rx
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Do you have a software defined radios ?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Andrew
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On 11 Aug 2017, at 10:02 pm, Peter Pauly <ppauly at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I bought a used IC-910H on ebay for satellite work an am having a
> >>> possible
> >>>>>> issue with it.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I tested the 2m and 70cm transmitter and receiver in FM mode with
> >>> my
> >>>>>> handheld and they work fine. I hooked up a Bird 43 wattmeter with
> >>> a 50E
> >>>>>> slug (50W, 400-1000Mhz) and when I transmit on 440Mhz FM I get an
> >>>>>> indication of power output on the meter.  So far so good...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Then in USB/LSB mode however, I get no indication on the meter,
> >>> despite
> >>>>>> turning the mic gain up and talking into the mic. I've also up'ed
> >>> the RF
> >>>>>> power with the little knob and that doesn't help. The red light
> >>> flashes on
> >>>>>> the rig (ALC indication) and the meter on the rig moves. I can
> >>> also hear
> >>>>>> distorted audio on my FM handheld (as expected since it's FM and
> >>> not USB)
> >>>>>> but I'm worried about the lack of power indicated on the Bird.  I
> >>> haven't
> >>>>>> been able to try CW yet because I don't have the right sized plug.
> >>> Should I
> >>>>>> be concerned about the lack of power?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Summary:  Bird wattmeter shows power out on FM, but not on
> >>> USB/LSB.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Peter
> >>>>>> W9KG
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum
> >>> available
> >>>>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> >>> Opinions expressed
> >>>>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official
> >>> views of AMSAT-NA.
> >>>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> >>> program!
> >>>>>> Subscription settings:
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> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> >>> Opinions expressed
> >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
> >>> of AMSAT-NA.
> >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> >>> program!
> >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> >>> Opinions expressed
> >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
> >>> of AMSAT-NA.
> >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> >>> program!
> >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >>
> >> If your rig has a RTTY mode, switch to that and key down. You should
> get a
> >> full power tone with no actual data modulating it.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >>
> >> --- Zach
> >> N0ZGO
> >> --- Zach
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions
> >> expressed
> >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> >> AMSAT-NA.
> >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> program!
> >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions expressed
> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> program!
> > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>

-- 
Thanks,
Mike Sprenger
(37.9167N  81.1244W is the Summit)