My Icom IC-7300 recently displayed the the following message when powered on: "DSP/FPGA firmware is wrong version. Retry updating the firmware." The firmware version was 1.40 so I updated successfully to version 1.41 but the error message still occurs. If I cycle the power off and on a few times, the radio will eventually come on and work. But something is wrong. Does anyone have any ideas what may be causing this? I contacted Icom tech support any they said to send the radio in for repair. The radio is over 6 years old so I am trying to determine whether to have it repaired or not. The repair could get quite costly if the main board would have to be replaced. If anyone has an ideas on what may be happening it would be greatly appreciated. I don't what to spend good money after bad if the repair would be too costly and not worth it. Thanks and 73
Icom: Problem with Icom IC-7300
- Thread starter sammywala
- Start date
devicelab
Whacker Extraordinaire
What happens if you perform a full-reset? Does the error still occur? MENU - Set -> Others -> Reset -> "ALL RESET"
Thanks for the reply. Input from knowledgeable Icom user did not recommend a full reset but said only do a partial reset.
Got a reply from Icom tech support they said "Based on your description the radio likely has internal component damage or failure requiring repair. There is no way to determine the cost of repair without looking at it." There's the rub! It can get expensive to take the chance and ship it to Icom (which is a significant cost) to possibly find out the repair cost could be expensive. It would be a gamble without having any guidance as to minimum to worst case scenario if the main board or some other major component would have to be replaced.
devicelab
Whacker Extraordinaire
Well that's fine and dandy but you just said the repair will likely cost $$ so why not try it. If it fixes your issue then you can send me $200 for the tech support fee.
Hit_Factor
Member
Yep, full reset if the partial didn't fix it.
Or send it in, pay whatever, and always wonder if the full reset might have worked.
Full reset did not work. Really need input from someone who knows the radio and what the DSP/FPGA firmware entails (i.e. chip set, circuit card, module, etc.) so as to isolate what component(s) would be suspect that cause this error message. Thanks anyway
Hit_Factor
Member
I encountered the same error about a month ago on my 5 year old 7300. After about three weeks, it was no longer intermittent. My radio is now useless. Tech support would only tell me that labor is $125 per hour. The main board was estimated to cost $600 or $800. I did not get a firm price. I'm very dissatisfied with Icom right now. A $1000 repair on a $1000 radio seems unreasonable. I have a Yaesu FT-891 that I bought used for $400. I'm starting to like it more and more as I use it more and more. We'll see about the 7300 some day, but not today. I'll be following this thread.
I contacted Parts@icomamerica.com and got this:
Part #98416846 – In Stock - $620.61 for the main board.
I also looked up the FPGA at Digikey. It looks like a $120 ball grid array part. I'm not certain that's the bad part and changing a ball grid array part requires specialized equipment.
I'm in no hurry to make a decision.
Part #98416846 – In Stock - $620.61 for the main board.
I also looked up the FPGA at Digikey. It looks like a $120 ball grid array part. I'm not certain that's the bad part and changing a ball grid array part requires specialized equipment.
I'm in no hurry to make a decision.
If there wasn't a problem before the flash, why is there a problem now?? And how can a defective part cause a former non existing problem (assuming there wasn't a probelm to begin with unless I missed something)??
I am having the same issue as the original post described. My 7300 is close to 5 years old and just recently started giving this error intermittently upon start-up. Like the original poster, I was running version 1.40 firmware, so I upgraded successfully to 1.41. The error persisted. I have since done a full reset on the radio and it has made no difference. So far, I can still push the "close" button on the error message and the radio then starts up properly, but I am worried that the issue will probably keep getting worse as it did for NZ1J. I wonder if this is an issue that is just starting to show up in these radios or if there are any others experiencing this?
Is the rechargeable small battery on the mother board failing? On other blogs I've seen this as an issue for 5+ yo ICOM rigs (9700, 7300, etc). There are youtube mods on swapping out the battery with a CR2032 carrier to make future battery needs simple.
My thinking is that the symptoms would be different. However, you raise a very good point and it would be a great idea for me to check that in mine and possibly replace it either way and see if things change. Thanks for the idea.
Reading up on ball grid arrays, it looks like they can have issues with cycles of thermal expansion/contraction, especially when lead-free solder is used. Radios definitely go through thermal cycles. My problem seems to change a bit with temperature, but being that it is intermittent that is hard to verify as it could be a fluke. I'm thinking that you are on the right track with narrowing it down to this part. I pulled the main board out. Looking at that ball grid array, it boggles the mind trying to figure out how it is soldered in there in the first place, and boggles the mind even more wondering how anyone or anything alters that solder once it is in place.
Having the same issue. I've been on the 1.41 firmware for a couple of years running fine. Radio is about 5 years old. Pushing the "Close" button seems to clear the error, but there's no signal reception. After cycling the power off & back on (sometimes having to wait awhile) the radio comes back to life. I did try a reset & reload of my settings, problem persists. Hoping a simpler solution than the expensive repair comes up.
Yes sklyon, that exactly describes how mine is behaving. I tried changing out the internal battery as mine was dead. I know the battery is for the clock but I wanted to eliminate that as being a possible cause. No change. I am waiting on a new hot-air soldering station and I am going to attempt to re-flow the DSP ball grid array. I'm hoping that might help. Otherwise, I guess it could be a component failure in the DSP unit. I'm not sure what I'll do with mine if it looks like the expensive repair route. Almost tempting at that point to put the money into a different radio. I'll post back with any results here but that likely won't be for a couple of weeks.
VA6ok ... What? You mean we can't just put the radio in the oven for 30 min? ;-) Good luck, hope it works.
Just a quick ? from a newbie. With your upcoming attempt at hot air soldering... I assume you remove the board 1st, then is the hot air applied on the top or the bottom of the board?
Just a quick ? from a newbie. With your upcoming attempt at hot air soldering... I assume you remove the board 1st, then is the hot air applied on the top or the bottom of the board?
Good luck.
sargern1
Member
I'm having the exact same problem as the original OP. This is the 2nd time I've had this issue! I'm going to call ICOM in the morning and see what they say! The first time I had this issue I send my radio back to ICOM and they did whatever they did, no charge for whatever they did, and it has worked fine for another year or so. Thing is this SHOULD NOT keep happening. Yes, I've updated the firmware to 1.41 and also done a full reset. This is frustrating!!!!
Sarge
Sarge
sargern1
Member
Well, I had a DUH moment and went back and redid the entire firmware download process. Once I figured out that I had messed it up I got it working right! My screw up was NOT loading the ENTIRE file to my SD card! Once I got that straight the firmware upgraded correctly, and the radio is back to functioning as it should!!!
Guess this goes to prove that you REALLY do need to read the instructions ALL the way through!
Sarge
Guess this goes to prove that you REALLY do need to read the instructions ALL the way through!
Sarge
