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Author Topic: IC-7300 clacking relays?  (Read 615 times)

N1BBR

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IC-7300 clacking relays?
« on: June 16, 2020, 05:51:56 AM »

Hi all,
I heard the IC-7300 is a very well liked rig.
But that some cw ops are de-soldering or replacing a certain (clacking) relay.

Years ago I ran a rig that had a loud cw relay which drove me absolutely bonkers.
I couldn't possibly live with that situation again.

Is Icom planning on resolving this issue with the IC-7300?
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W9KY

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2020, 06:10:58 AM »

Check " youtube.com " for a video on how to make the "putty mod" by Steve Elliott. The putty can be purchased from most stores for less than 3 bucks.  Got mine from Target. The main relay of concern in located close to the Fan while the other relay is closer to the main display. One of the cheapest and best mods I've ever made to my 7300!  Good luck,  Mike W9KY       
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K0UA

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2020, 06:11:14 AM »

Hi all,
I heard the IC-7300 is a very well liked rig.
But that some cw ops are de-soldering or replacing a certain (clacking) relay.

Years ago I ran a rig that had a loud cw relay which drove me absolutely bonkers.
I couldn't possibly live with that situation again.

Is Icom planning on resolving this issue with the IC-7300?

Answer:  No. The amplifier key line relay at the back of the rig is fairly loud. Of course it is only "clacking" when and if you attempt to use full break in on cw. It isn't a problem on semi-break in as it only "clacks one as you start sending and maybe as as stop. But sure if you never wanted to use an amp you could disconnect this relay to make the rig quieter. You can also take some plastitac and put over the relay to make it quieter. This is the "putty" you use to hang things on the wall. This will help, but does not eliminate it totally.  Remember things are an "issue" only if you perceive it as an issue. The Icom 7610 has an option in the setup menu for keying the amplifier line with a mosfet instead of a relay. The 7300 and other rigs in this price class do not have this option.

Again, if you don't operate full break in or you use headphones it isn't an "issue".
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73  James K0UA

WA2ONH

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2020, 06:38:56 AM »

Check " youtube.com " for a video on how to make the "putty mod" by Steve Elliott.

This video is at ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYyb4fqBa8k

Other sites with various IC-7300 MODS are ...
The G3NRW IC-7300 Resources Page
http://g3nrw.net/IC-7300/

Welcome to G4IZH.Co.UK (Noisy Cooling Fan Mod)
http://www.g4izh.co.uk/
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73 de WA2ONH  <dit dit> ... Charlie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never be satisfied with what you know, only with what more you can find out."
   Dr David Fairchild 1869-1954 US Scientist

K7JQ

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2020, 07:02:04 AM »

I never understood all the fuss about the 7300's relay clacking and fan coming on whenever PTT is activated. To the extent that people are replacing the fan and putting insulating material on the relay.

I have two 7300's, and use them extensively in contests, semi break-in on CW, and VOX on SSB. I imagine QSK might be bothersome, but that's not my preference. I do wear over-the-ear headphones, and the relay/fan noise doesn't bother me at all. Even without headphones, not enough of a hinderence that I'd perform modifications/replacements on the radio.

But I guess it's all in one's perception of tolerance...to each his own.  And in all honesty, I'm 74, and my hearing is certainly not what it used to be. Eh, what'd you say ;D?

73,  BOB K7JQ

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K0UA

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2020, 09:37:02 AM »

I never understood all the fuss about the 7300's relay clacking and fan coming on whenever PTT is activated. To the extent that people are replacing the fan and putting insulating material on the relay.

I have two 7300's, and use them extensively in contests, semi break-in on CW, and VOX on SSB. I imagine QSK might be bothersome, but that's not my preference. I do wear over-the-ear headphones, and the relay/fan noise doesn't bother me at all. Even without headphones, not enough of a hinderence that I'd perform modifications/replacements on the radio.

But I guess it's all in one's perception of tolerance...to each his own.  And in all honesty, I'm 74, and my hearing is certainly not what it used to be. Eh, what'd you say ;D?

73,  BOB K7JQ

What? HUH?  speak louder Bob, the sun was in my ears... :)

The total thing is a non issue unless you use QSK (full break in cw)..
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73  James K0UA

K6SDW

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2020, 11:06:12 AM »

Anyone who has experienced QSK, full break-in, using a Ten-tec or Elecraft rig and many QRp rigs, its hard to go back to semi-breakin. QSK really shines during a busy contest, such as Field Day. I run my 7300 semi-break-in as I find full break-in distracting using the ICOM radio.

73
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N4KZ

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2020, 03:20:06 PM »

Wow. This is so interesting. After running my IC7300 for more than 2 years no one ever told me my rig's fan and relay were noisy. I'm in my 60s and my hearing is fine. The noise those items generate is no bother to me.
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K0UA

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2020, 04:22:27 PM »

Wow. This is so interesting. After running my IC7300 for more than 2 years no one ever told me my rig's fan and relay were noisy. I'm in my 60s and my hearing is fine. The noise those items generate is no bother to me.

Like I said, these things are a "problem" or "issue" only if you want to make one out of it.
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73  James K0UA

SWMAN

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2020, 07:45:31 PM »

Wow, I never really noticed it until you just now mentioned it. I do hear it but no bother to me at all, and yes I can hear perfectly out of both ears 100%, thanks God.
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K1VSK

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2020, 05:29:13 PM »

It’s to be expected in a low end radio to find a mechanical relay. For casual phone ops, it’s irrelevant until it requires repair.
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KF4ZGZ

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2020, 03:03:38 AM »

It does not bother me ....but .....
I saw my first 7300 in the wild a couple of days ago.
A ham buddy and I who do FD together met at his house to build an antenna and
discuss field day stuff.
He has a new 7300 and I played around with it.
We both own Ten Tec Jupiters and for the last 10+ years have contested with them.
He is the CW guy. I do it ....but don't like it, LOL.
We both run full break-in.
He turned on the rig and called CQ and first thing I noticed were the relays.
 
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Matt

WW5F

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2020, 12:20:58 PM »

I put together an electronic keyer out of one of the 1950s QSTs using a regulator tube and a 12AT7 in astable multivibrator mode (edit:  a couple years ago).  It used three independent relays to get the dits and dahs correctly out of it.  I built it because I like to hear relays clickin' and clackin'.

I had a 7300 for a while.  The relay noise didn't bother me a bit.  It's the receiver in it that bothered me.

Most new mechanical relays have a typical life span of between 1/2 a million and 1 million operations.  How long would it take to reach 1/2 million clicks sending morse code in full break in mode?
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KL7CW

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2020, 03:53:02 PM »

I built a QSK TR switch into an old boat anchor rig decades ago.  I used a vacuum relay, inside the rig and wrapped in foam.  I used it for many years and never had any problems.  I could not hear it with earphones on, and just barely without if I really listened.  I sequenced the events so the relay did not switch hot RF.  I used a "hot shot" circuit so the pull in time for the relay was minimized.  Worked well at over 40 WPM, and very occasionally I could even hear "echoes" of my own signal between dots or dashes.  I have no idea what the relay spec was.              Rick   KL7CW
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KN6GFG

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Re: IC-7300 clacking relays?
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2020, 11:58:27 AM »

Check " youtube.com " for a video on how to make the "putty mod" by Steve Elliott.

This video is at ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYyb4fqBa8k

Other sites with various IC-7300 MODS are ...
The G3NRW IC-7300 Resources Page
http://g3nrw.net/IC-7300/

Welcome to G4IZH.Co.UK (Noisy Cooling Fan Mod)
http://www.g4izh.co.uk/

Thank you THANK YOU for posting this info.  I will definitely try the putty mod when I have time.  Maybe now I'll actually start using QSK keying.

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I see many sunspots in your future...
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