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Author Topic: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII  (Read 319 times)

WB1ANA

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Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« on: October 03, 2022, 01:45:05 PM »

One of my rigs is a 756ProII, which I really like using for CW and SKCC contacts.  Nowhere in the manual is there any mention of how to zero beat a CW signal.  Perhaps I missed the notation, perhaps not.  If someone here knows the trick, please let me know.  Thanks!
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AC2EU

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2022, 02:25:00 PM »

One of my rigs is a 756ProII, which I really like using for CW and SKCC contacts.  Nowhere in the manual is there any mention of how to zero beat a CW signal.  Perhaps I missed the notation, perhaps not.  If someone here knows the trick, please let me know.  Thanks!

Use SSB mode, then switch to CW or just make sure the tone frequency is what the radio is set for .
External CAT apps like HRD will display the tone frequency.
I can get within 50 HZ or better by ear, so it doesn't make that much of a difference .
Why is it important to zero beat?

KE6SLS

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2022, 02:40:51 PM »

Why is it important to zero beat?

So the two (or more) stations are on the SAME frequency. 

I have a kenwood 590 and it's delightfully good at rapid zero beating.  There is nothing more impressive then seeing a number of stations QSO all within a few hz of each other.  Really makes it ez to listen to as my filters are pretty steep.

73
j
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AC2EU

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2022, 03:47:57 PM »

Why is it important to zero beat?

So the two (or more) stations are on the SAME frequency. 

I have a kenwood 590 and it's delightfully good at rapid zero beating.  There is nothing more impressive then seeing a number of stations QSO all within a few hz of each other.  Really makes it ez to listen to as my filters are pretty steep.

73
j


Would 50 hz really be that objectionable?
A little off topic, but The FTDX10 has a zero beat meter to get right on frequency in case he might want to go that way...

AF5CC

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2022, 03:49:09 PM »

The sidetone frequency should be the same as the offset.  Turn off the break in, hit the key so you hear the sidetone but don't transmit, and match it to the CW stations tone.

73 John AF5CC
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AF5CC

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2022, 03:50:16 PM »

50hz should be more than good enough!
I am sure the zero beating meters have 50hz within their margin of error.

73 John AF5CC
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W6MK

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2022, 04:19:58 PM »

You can switch your rig on receive between CW and CW reverse and tune so that both positions have the same sidetone frequency. Probably a little easier for the tone deaf than trying to match sidetone frequency to received signal audio frequency.

Back in the day receivers (separates) usually had variable BFO knobs so that one could easily tune
to "zero beat" in the exact center of the two CW sidetones. "Zero beat" meant exactly that, zero beating sound. No doubt much easier for the tone deaf.
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WA3SKN

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2022, 06:21:02 AM »

You don't usually "zero beat" a transceiver since you normally use the same VFO for both transmit and receive.  And you use split VFOs when you want separate transmit and receive frequency operations.

-Mike.
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AE0Q

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2022, 10:30:33 AM »

Why is it important to zero beat?
So the two (or more) stations are on the SAME frequency. 
I have a kenwood 590 and it's delightfully good at rapid zero beating.  There is nothing more impressive then seeing a number of stations QSO all within a few hz of each other.  Really makes it ez to listen to as my filters are pretty steep.

Please, PLEASE don't try on purpose to be exactly on the same frequency as OTHER stations that are CALLING someone !!!  Is this meant to be a joke??  Really??

Anyone that has ever been DX, or has activated a WWFF / POTA park on CW (and that is now hundreds of people every week!) will tell you they do NOT want two stations on the same frequency calling them.  That just turns into one solid tone.  Being at least 50 Hz off the CWing station is much better than using that evil DSP function on newer radios that matches their freq exactly.  70 or 100 Hz off is even better.

I can't count how many times I have been at a park this summer and had to just listen to 2 or 3 signals exactly zerobeat that turned into one long tone, what a waste of time, theirs and mine.  Then if I get one or two letters clear at the end of the mess and I ask for that partial call, both (or more) call again, OK, I won't even start on THAT rant.  THAT bad practice is becoming very prevalent, but that's another topic.

So please don't use the Zerobeat function on DX or park stations with a chance of more than one station calling, please.  That is NOT a joy to listen to....

Glenn AE0Q
« Last Edit: October 04, 2022, 10:48:25 AM by AE0Q »
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WB1ANA

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2022, 10:39:56 AM »

I didn't intend to open up a can of worms - just wanted to know if this older rig had a ZB function.  My new FTdx10 has the nifty little ZB meter that makes it easy.  But I like using my "new to me" older transceivers as well and am trying to learn all that I can about them.  Thanks for the inputs.
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AE0Q

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2022, 10:50:21 AM »

I didn't intend to open up a can of worms - just wanted to know if this older rig had a ZB function.

Too late :-)  They should take that evil function out of the firmware...
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AC2EU

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2022, 11:00:22 AM »

I didn't intend to open up a can of worms - just wanted to know if this older rig had a ZB function.

Too late :-)  They should take that evil function out of the firmware...

Naw, it's completely benign- sort of like a modern "magic eye" tuning tube, but with a meter instead.
I don't know why the OP can't just 'adjust to pitch" , ie; if the radio off set is 700Hz, adjust to that pitch and you're there.
Another benign zero beat was to use ssb to get a zero.
Seems like an unnecessary extra step, though...

N2SR

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2022, 11:22:36 AM »

I didn't intend to open up a can of worms - just wanted to know if this older rig had a ZB function.

Too late :-)  They should take that evil function out of the firmware...

Naw, it's completely benign- sort of like a modern "magic eye" tuning tube, but with a meter instead.
I don't know why the OP can't just 'adjust to pitch" , ie; if the radio off set is 700Hz, adjust to that pitch and you're there.
Another benign zero beat was to use ssb to get a zero.
Seems like an unnecessary extra step, though...

Agreed.  Some radios have a pitch control that you can adjust to something that like.  Then you adjust the receiver for the transmitted pitch of your CW note (and not the internal sidetone of the untransmitted signal). 

It's not rocket science. 
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AE0Q

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2022, 02:36:56 PM »

Naw, it's completely benign- sort of like a modern "magic eye" tuning tube, but with a meter instead.

It's not "benign" when 3 people use it at the same time :-)
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AC2EU

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2022, 02:49:43 PM »

Naw, it's completely benign- sort of like a modern "magic eye" tuning tube, but with a meter instead.

It's not "benign" when 3 people use it at the same time :-)
No emissions, just a tuning indicator. What's the harm, unless someone tunes to deliberately QRM a QSO?
It's not the radio's fault if the operator goes "key down"!   :(
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