ICOM IC-PCR1000

[merlin]

Hey, anyone having used the PCR1000, with CW and SSB modes, there isn't the typical noise expected. Like it is squelched or muted.
Any record of failure with the IFs or hoping an alignment problem.
Is this junk box fodder or is there hope for it ?
TYIA
73s

 

[PACNWDude]

Will have to dig mine out and see how it is on CW and SSB now. Has been a few years since using it, but VHF/UHF worked well. I had it installed in a car for a while, using a Palm Pilot as a remote control head.

Watching thread to see where this goes.

 

[merlin]

Well, I did find that the scope running when using the panel mode the CW and SSB go mute.
VHF and up FM works good. 30 to 60 Mhz seems hurting. Below 30 is awful, but I blame that on a poor antenna.
Looks like all the other SDRs, you just need a very good antenna.
SWLing below 60 Mhz with this is my goal but starting to look like some alignments and mods are in order.
A T2FD antenna and a preselector should help.
The DSP works great, maybe too good.
73s

 

[Ubbe]

The DSP works great, maybe too good.

It works to automatically find and notch out tones but for noise reduction only the lowest settings are useful as it otherwise makes voices sound too robotic and hard to understand.

/Ubbe

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Well, I did find that the scope running when using the panel mode the CW and SSB go mute.
VHF and up FM works good. 30 to 60 Mhz seems hurting. Below 30 is awful, but I blame that on a poor antenna.
Looks like all the other SDRs, you just need a very good antenna.
SWLing below 60 Mhz with this is my goal but starting to look like some alignments and mods are in order.
A T2FD antenna and a preselector should help.
The DSP works great, maybe too good.
73s

I think that is normal operation that the scope mutes CW and SSB.

 

[merlin]

Some historical reading, it seems that the HF can deteriorate over time.
I live in an area that doesn't like HF skip. AM broadcasts are all buried in noise. searching the ham bands from 630 meters through 6
I have yet to hear a single signal. No WWV or CHU.
Now I have an RX-888 MkII and with the same antenna, I copied a good number of usable signals during a contest.
This tells me the PCR is near deaf below 60 Mhz, so I will be benching this with a full alignment.
Above 60 Mhz seems to work fine, compares to my bearcat with the whip antenna.
Just that I expected a bit more in spite of a bad area and bad antenna.

 

[w2dsx]

I loved mine, and have helped a few others prolong theirs. It was my first real SDR and blew away what I was using with the Softrock kits. They do have a problem with the EEPROM getting corrupted and aligning the receiver requires a program (ex2099.exe) and conventional equipement, as opposed to adjusting trimmers inside the gear. Also, it was prone to getting damaged by ESD, etc. and would zap the front end of the HF module. I've moved on SDRPlay and Airspy SDR's which blow away the PCR 1k in terms of HF performance. If you can find someone locally who can do the EEPROM alignment, then go for it, it's still great for VHF and above.

 

[Ubbe]

You can probably align by just listening and tweaking to best reception, if static charges hasn't burned the filter switch diodes, which it probably have as HF are dead. And its not a Software Defined Receiver, its a 25 year old conventional triple conversion superheterodyne receiver that are software controlled.

/Ubbe

 

[merlin]

I loved mine, and have helped a few others prolong theirs. It was my first real SDR and blew away what I was using with the Softrock kits. They do have a problem with the EEPROM getting corrupted and aligning the receiver requires a program (ex2099.exe) and conventional equipement, as opposed to adjusting trimmers inside the gear. Also, it was prone to getting damaged by ESD, etc. and would zap the front end of the HF module. I've moved on SDRPlay and Airspy SDR's which blow away the PCR 1k in terms of HF performance. If you can find someone locally who can do the EEPROM alignment, then go for it, it's still great for VHF and above.

My initial test shows this thing is just not right. If I can source the alignment software, that will tell me a lot.
What I see most with the eeprom is saving the machine state through power cycles. That part works.
I think Ubbe mentioned this is not an SDR like today. It is a computer controlled black box receiver. That part true.
Advanced technology for its day, no doubt there are "soft pots" for alighnments.
I do have all the needed bench test equipment and strong background with radio troubleshooting and embedded control.
My point in messing with this is for SWLing below 60 Mhz. My liability there is a sad excuse for an antenna.
I have dozens of radios from air band to 1 Ghz that work. (even RTL-SDR)
The bottom band has the typical little noise then great noise connecting an antenna so presuming the front end works.
There are a few AM BC stations near, but tunning to one, the noise is greater than the signal. not right.
If my RX-888 would work decent, I would use that. HDSDR is awful and spikes and birdies everywhere.
I am at the dismantle point on the bench, so lets see whats up.
73s

 

[merlin]

You can probably align by just listening and tweaking to best reception, if static charges hasn't burned the filter switch diodes, which it probably have as HF are dead. And its not a Software Defined Receiver, its a 25 year old conventional triple conversion superheterodyne receiver that are software controlled.

/Ubbe

Like a CBer, Tune for maximum smoke.

 

[Ubbe]

I do have all the needed bench test equipment and strong background with radio troubleshooting and embedded control.

Then it shouldn't be a problem to check if there's an issue in HF. I've never tried HF with my PCR1000 so can't say how well it works but it sounds as if there are some problem with yours.

IC-PCR1000_serv.pdf

drive.google.com

EX-2099 (Service SW for IC-PCR1000).zip

drive.google.com

/Ubbe

 

[merlin]

Well, I am about 2/3 the way through the BPF alignments. Looks like they all went neutral at 128. (centered) so hope the eeprom is not failing.
There is a boost circuit in the power section with a capacitor very hot. I'll know more when I scope it.
I bought a dead BCT15X for $20 and that was the problem with it.
All of the VCO test points passed, Voltages pass, so I see hope for this.
73s
PS, thanks for the software link, I already have that installed and running.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I almost forgot I had one of these great receivers in a box. It would be cool to get it working with a tablet computer of some sort for use in the car. I bought it for some automated signal measurements and used it for a while scanning local PD channels.

 

[Ubbe]

I've kept one of those Palm Pilots to be able to have a small remote control, some day.

JJ's IP1kC Program to fully control the ICOM PCR1000 & PCR100, right from your Palm PDA... (geocities.ws)

/Ubbe

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I've kept one of those Palm Pilots to be able to have a small remote control, some day.

JJ's IP1kC Program to fully control the ICOM PCR1000 & PCR100, right from your Palm PDA... (geocities.ws)

/Ubbe

What magic does it take to keep a Palm Pilot running these days?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Ubbe That link takes me to some malware. Beware.....

 

[Ubbe]

I virus scanned the files so there's no virus anyhow. What file do you think contains malware?

I use IOBit Malware Fighter and are the best I've used so far, no slow down of PC no false positives and still get all the viruses. It's also free but to get the bit defender functions you'll need a license code that people can share with 100 other people so I always managed to find a working code.

/Ubbe

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Opening the link to the article I get a redirect to some sketchy sites and a pop up for downloading virus protection. This in an android tablet and Firefox.

 

[PACNWDude]

Will have to check links on my own computer as well, was blocked by corporate firewall. I had two Palm Pilots connectect to my Icom -PCR-1000 at one point. One was a dark blue metal case and color display unit that was rechargeable, while the other was a monochrome plastic cased Palm III? That monochrome Palm Pilot just needed good batteries in it to function, and with a small piece of Velcro, lived on my car dash as a "head unit" for the PCR-1000 mounted in the trunk and connected to a better dual band antenna (I only really used VHF/UHF back then). Whomever made the software sold a cable that would connect to the Icom serial port and Palm Pilot cradle connection. I need to dig up both the Palm unit and the PCR-1000 and still see if they work, they have been stashed in a closet after changing employers, the Icom was great for VHF/UHF comms monitoring with a PC or Palm device, and even with Bonito software, seemed to hold the interest of people walking by in an office setting, and oil spill response/drills. Now, I just use a SDR USB stick and a spare computer and the waterfall display does the same thing.

 

[merlin]

I have a Motorola MC-55 I keep for GPS stuff. It runs winXP mobile (CE). I won't live long enough to code an app for that.
Android tablet ? I already have RTL-SDR software for the field.

No matter, I got the performance up above 50 MHZ with bandpass filter adjust but botched the S-meter as my generator has a minimum output of 0 Dbm. a 30 Db attenuator is not enough. Forces me to fix my IFR or get a generator that goes down to -117 Dbm out.
Still nothing below 50 Mhz, so suspecting switch diodes in the front end bandpass or dead preamp.