ICON America Mobile Radios ????

[ThrottleJockey]

I'm REALLY Interested in the IC 706 MKIIG and I have a couple questions. I know next to NOTHING about amatuer radio but I am interested in DX AM.



Is it possible to listen to various AM radio stations around the country with this rig in a mobile application and... ...



... If so, what would be the antennae requirements for it?



Thanks Guys, Brian

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I use one in my truck, and another in our 5th wheel - on receive, they will tune continuoualy from 100 khz clear on up to UHF - so sure, they will receive standard broadcast just fine - any antenna suitable for normal broadcast use should work fine - but a decent HF Ham mobile would probably do well too...



Check out the pointer in my sig below for a section on my Icom install in my truck using the 706...

 

[John - K5AWO]

A helping hand

To answer your questions, yes and yes.



The IC706MKIIG is one fine radio. A member of the DC-to-Light radios being manufactured by almost all, Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, etc...



The receiver selectivity makes these radios exceptionally good for DX listening. They pretty well ignore adjacent signals, far better than anything built for the dash of a vehicle.



Since the antenna input is a 50 ohm impedance, you will want to use an antenna tuner to help change the high impedance of a very short whip (relative to the actual wavelength of AM signals) into the low impedance value of 50 ohms. This is not to say that even without an antenna tuner you won't hear lots of signals. But, a resonant antenna situation will work much better, AND you did say you want to listen for DX broadcast AM signals.



I was thinking about suggesting a ferrite loop antenna but that would only work in a fixed situation where you aren't twisting and turning following the highway. Ferrite loop antennas have a tremendous null capability to get rid of unwanted interference.



I have never messed with anything lower than 160 meters and at that, I used very long wires for my receiving antennas. I found some links that you can pursue and occupy your spare hours.

-----------------------------------------------

http://www.mindspring.com/~brucec/dx.htm



Building Your Own AM Tuner

by Bruce Carter

http://www.mindspring.com/~brucec/amtuner.htm

----------------------------------------------------------

http://home.earthlink.net/~w9wi/

http://home.earthlink.net/~wb5rex/xtalman/literature.html

http://bellsouthpwp.net/w/b/wb9nme/

http://www.dobe.com/wts/resources.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/wi/dxing/

http://www.dxing.com/amband.htm





Best of luck,

John

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Awesome guys, thank you!



I don't understand what you guys said, but maybe someday I will!



Brian

 

[bulabula]

The 706 is a great radio, but taking your comment "Is it possible to listen to various AM radio stations around the country with this rig in a mobile application and... ... " literally, it will not magically be able to pull in each and every AM station in the world.



You still have to deal with atmospherics and RF propagation.

 

[dcscott]

Throttlejockey,



I've got a 706 mounted in my '03. The radio and antenna tuner are behind the back seat and the control head is mounted in the center dash cubby. Works really great but does pick up electrical noise from the injectors on some higher frequencies. Nothing that should cause problems in the AM broadcast bands however.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

A friend of mine just picked up one of these rigs... I haven't seen it yet - but he loves it so far.



I've always been weary of "DC-Daylight" rigs... but this is probably the best one out there for mobile use.



73's,



Matt

 

[John - K5AWO]

I have never had a problem with the DC-daylight radios. The tuning is all handled by filters as the amplifier circuits are all broadbanded.



I personally subscribe to their unique features because I can have everything I want in one box and minimize the cockpit clutter.



73,

John