ICOM 706 Mk II G

© N6GCE - Good Computer Engineer 2000 - 2013
ICOM 706 Mk
                  II G
ICOM 706 Mk
                  II G



Why the 706?
Antenna for HF transmit & receive
13.8 VDC Power Supply
Microphone
Computer Control
ALE
Links

Why the 706?

With my upgraded General ticket I wanted an HF  radio that: has computer control capability, that might be used for Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), that could be used for a beacon system, Small to fit into the Light Weight Beacon  back pack.
The Ten Tec Pegasus and ICOM 706 were on the short list below for PC-ALE.  The Pegasus currently has no front panel, but a FP model will be out in a few months. For computer use the front panel is of little value, but for programming (my interest) it sure makes life easier.  The SGC - SG-2020 would be an excellent radio for this project, but it does not have computer control capability at this time.  There is an SG-2020 Club. The Harris RF-3200 is another ALE capable mil radio as are the Harris 5020 series radios (like the PRC-138), or the Motorola Micom.

Icom has a land mobil (not ham) HF radio with built-in ALE.  There are two versions I know of, the IC-F8100 and the IC-F8101.  There is a difference in how external connections are made, the F8100 used an optional adapter box to end up with a few DB type connectors but the IC-F8101 has those same connectors all on cables coming out the back and so does not require an additional adapter box. A bigger difference is that the IC-F8100 needs that external box to hold the RapidM card, but the IC-F8101 holds the card inside the main chassis, so a much more compact solution.

1.6 to 29.9... Tx and receive 0.5 to 29.9.... MHz.  Built-in ALE, but as of Nov 2014 it may or may not work.  There's an optional RapidM third party data modem module that can be installed internally that also supports many flavors of ALE.
Yahoo IC-F8100 group.

Antenna for HF transmit & receive

13.8 VDC Power Supply

Microphone

Icom HM-100N

Icom HM-100N Condenser Microphone w/RJ-45
Icom HM-100N Condenser Microphone w/RJ-45
The Motorola mike did not work out because the wiring is complex.

D-104

After upgrading to the Heil HC5.1 dynamic element I'd like to use this mike, but will need a blocking capacitor to (1) keep from overloading the DC mike drive circuit in the 706 and keep DC from effecting the magnetic properties of the dynamic element.


Computer Control

ALE

PC-ALE Project by Charles Brain
US Army Military Affiliate Radio System HF Automatic Link Establishment Information Site - based on the Brian program
ALE Automatic Link Establishment (MIL-STD-188-141; FED-STD-1045) - Details on the 8 tones and their meaning and timing
WUN - Digital Signals FAQ V5.3 - Digital Sounds - ALE -

Links