IC-R7100 Help

[commscanaus]

Just managed to get a nice IC-R7100 to add to the shack.
After a bit of cleaning, it is almost as new.

I am really liking this set but the only thing that is majorly irritating is the constant clicking of the remote recording relay when the squelch opens and closes.
This is particularly annoying at night when listening at low volume to busy ATC frequencies.

Reading through the manual does not seem to offer any information as to how to disable it.
I guess desoldering and removing it is not out of the question as it will never be used to switch a tape recorder, because a P.C. does all the recording duty.

Anyone else find the relay annoying?

I also realize that relay clicking is an issue when scanning banks of different frequencies due to the band modules switching in and out. I don't intend to use the 7100 as a scanner.

Being used to an IC-R7000 has conditioned me to notice the relay in the IC-R7100!

Regards, Commscanaus.

[ted]

is the relay activated with the squelch or when it changes frequency ranges? You might replace the relay with a reed relay.

[commscanaus]

Hi Ted,

Thanks for the reply.

The relay will open as soon as the squelch is broken and closes after about 2 seconds after the squelch closes.
It is only a minor annoyance- but since I will not require the relay to switch a tape recorder or transmitter, I am very tempted to just pull it from the board. First I will check the service manual to ensure it will not cause any issue with it being out of circuit.

A reed relay may be a good substitute if removal proves to cause problems.

Otherwise the IC-R7100 is proving to be a great receiver, with some recent sporadic E openings bringing plenty of VHF signals from interstate.

Regards, Commscanaus.

[ShawnInPaso]

I haven't tried it yet - but supposedly if you put the reciever in clock mode(time display)no more clicks...

[Fast1eddie]

Pull the relay and you lose reception of the given frequency range. Nice radio, don't f***k it up.

[W9RXR]

Mine's had the relay click since it was new (15 years ago). I try to not let it get to me.

[Bill_White]

Wait until you program and scan a bank with mixed bands
with frequencies above and below 512 MHz.
Mechanical relays are used in place of diodes
to switch the 4th bandpass filter in/out.
Nothing like the sound of clacking relays...

[commscanaus]

Many thanks for the replies!

I had the feeling that pulling the relay would likely do nasty things- so it has been left intact.
ShawnInPaso was correct- switch to time display and the relay stops actuating.

Now that I have had the radio for a few weeks and it has been installed into the radio rack- the relay noise is far less noticable.
As far as scanning mixed banks of frequencies is concerned, I really use the Icom's as spotting receivers or for sitting on a particular channel. The PRO2006's get used for entering found frequencies into memory and doing the scanning work.
Eventually I will build a CIV interface and program the Icom's by computer.

The IC-R7100 can hear things clearly that my IC-R7000 cannot detect on the same antenna- looks like the R7000 needs a tune up.

Regards, Commscanaus.