ICOM IC-7760 HF/50MHz Transceiver

High Power & Clean Transmit Signal

In today's connected world, the IC-7760 introduces a new connected system consisting of a control head and RF deck, linked via a commercially available control (LAN) cable. This concept enhances station installation flexibility, freeing up desktop space by allowing the RF deck to be positioned closer to the antenna feed point. Beyond direct connect capabilities between the control head and RF deck, users can leverage their home network to operate from any tabletop, eliminating the need for a PC.

A professional photograph showcases the ICOM IC-7760 HF/50MHz Transceiver. The image features the main control head unit, a compact device with a large display screen and numerous buttons and knobs, positioned in front of a larger, black RF deck unit. Both units have the ICOM logo and 'IC-7760' branding.

Feature 01: Full Control Head with Separated RF Deck

The IC-7760 comprises a separate control head and RF deck, connected by a control cable. This design increases installation flexibility. A 3-meter (9.8 ft) control cable is supplied, and a commercially available LAN cable can be used to place the RF deck in a more remote location. This allows the RF deck to be situated in a rack or other area away from the main station desktop, creating a quieter shack environment by isolating the noise generated by the RF deck's cooling fan.

Note: LAN cable must be Cat5e or higher. Cable length can be a maximum of 100 meters (328 ft).

Feature 02: Supports In-house Remote Operation Through a Home LAN Connection

The IC-7760 can be connected to the control head and RF deck via a wired home LAN network. This provides users with even greater flexibility for RF deck placement. Due to its simple configuration that does not require a PC, the IC-7760's control head can be moved anywhere within the house and operated from the living room or other areas, provided a LAN connection is available.

An illustration depicts the concept of 'In-house Remote Operation'. It shows a two-story house, with the '1F' (first floor) and '2F' (second floor) labeled. This visual suggests that the IC-7760's control head can be operated from various locations within a home network, not just the primary radio shack.

Note: Communication between the control head and RF deck depends on the network environment. Gigabit Ethernet is recommended. The control head can operate on a different network segment than the RF deck, such as through a network switch.

Feature 03: Dual, Independent Receivers

The IC-7760 features independent MAIN/SUB receivers, extending from the antenna to the speaker. This separation ensures that one receiver section does not affect the other, enabling simultaneous reception of two signals on different bands or modes with identical performance. Similar to the IC-7851, dual spectrum scopes provide simultaneous display of the MAIN and SUB bands, allowing operators to monitor changing band conditions.

Receiver Block Diagram: This diagram illustrates the signal flow for the IC-7760's dual receivers. It shows separate paths for the MAIN and SUB bands, each including a DIGI-SEL, BPF (Band Pass Filter), A/D converter, and preamplifiers (PREAMP1, PREAMP2), feeding into an FPGA.

DIGI-SEL and Preamp

The DIGI-SEL (Digital Pre-selector) is highly effective at rejecting out-of-band strong signals, such as those from broadcasting stations or during multi-multi operations. In previous models (like the IC-7850/51 or IC-7610), the DIGI-SEL circuit was positioned soon after the RF input to prevent signal distortion from out-of-band interference. Even with the preamp engaged, the noise figure (receiver sensitivity) could not be improved due to DIGI-SEL's insertion loss from its narrow bandwidth. In the IC-7760, which uses a direct sampling system, DIGI-SEL prevents overflow (OVF) caused by unwanted out-of-band signals rather than signal distortion. The preamp utilizes the A/D converter to maximize its dynamic range. When the preamp is turned ON in the IC-7760, it enhances the intended signal first, and then DIGI-SEL filters out unwanted out-of-band signals, allowing the preamp and DIGI-SEL to work together effectively.

Advanced RF Direct Sampling System

The IC-7760 employs the RF direct sampling system, where RF signals are directly converted to digital signals and processed by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). This system eliminates non-linear distortions that typically occur in mixer stages during analog signal processing. Furthermore, by integrating DSP units in both the RF deck and control head, the IC-7760 efficiently handles complex audio path switching across various interface inputs and outputs, minimizing delay within a home LAN environment.

Block Diagram Overview: Two diagrams detail the signal processing. The 'Receive' diagram shows BPF, A/D, FPGA, and DSP components. The 'Transmit' diagram illustrates DSP, FPGA, D/A, ALC, BPF, and PA stages.

DIGI-SEL and Preamp Interaction: A simplified diagram shows the signal path with DIGI-SEL, BPF, and PREAMP stages, illustrating both 'Low Distortion' (DIGI-SEL ON, PREAMP OFF) and 'High Gain' (DIGI-SEL ON, PREAMP ON) configurations.

A Total of 15-separated BPF

While previous models utilized a 9-separated BPF (Band Pass Filter) for HF bands, the IC-7760 features an 11-separated BPF for HF bands. Additionally, by incorporating sharp filters optimized for each amateur band, the BPF effectively attenuates out-of-band interference signals at the RF stage, preventing overflow at the A/D converter.

BPF Characteristics Graphs: Two comparative graphs show the selectivity of Band Pass Filters (BPFs) for the IC-7760 and a previous model (IC-7610) across different HF amateur bands (1.8 MHz to 28 MHz). The graphs plot signal attenuation (dB) against frequency (MHz).

Feature 04: DPD (Digital Pre-Distortion) Technology

The DPD function corrects non-linear distortion in the final amplifier by applying inverse distortion in advance. This ensures clean signal transmission while delivering 200 W of high output power. The DPD function is also operational at the 1 kW output when used in conjunction with the IC-PW2.

Note: The DPD feedback cable OPC-2501 is required when using with the IC-PW2.

DPD Functionality: Two screenshots labeled 'DPD OFF' and 'DPD ON' (Signal Received on the IC-7300) demonstrate the effect of Digital Pre-Distortion technology, with the 'DPD ON' version noting 'No spurious emission observed'.

100% Duty Cycle at 200 W Output

The IC-7760 utilizes a 450 W-class 65 V LDMOS-FET in its PA section, combined with a large heatsink and an effective cooling system, to achieve a substantial 200 W full power, full duty operation. Continuous FT8 mode operation is also supported. Furthermore, modulation and frequency conversion are handled through digital signal processing, with the D/A converter directly outputting the transmit frequency, resulting in the purest transmission C/N.

Note: 200 W and 1 hour continuous transmission is supported with a 100 V AC input (at an ambient temperature of 25°C).

Internal Components: Images showcase the robust construction, including a 'PA Unit with a Large Heatsink', the 'RF Deck Front', and an 'Effective Cooling System with Four Fans'.

Built-in Automatic Antenna Tuner

The IC-7760 incorporates a mechanical relay type internal antenna tuner, a first for ICOM's 200 W models. This tuner offers faster tuning compared to conventional variable capacitor types. Once tuned, the matching information is automatically recalled the next time the frequency is selected, facilitating smooth band changes and multi-band operation.

Automatic Antenna Tuner: An image displays the 'Antenna Tuner Unit', highlighting its mechanical relay type design.

Feature 05: Dual Display Control Head

The IC-7760's control head features main and sub dual displays. The main display is a 7-inch wide WVGA screen (800 x 480 pixels), while the sub display is a 2.4-inch screen (320 x 240 pixels). Both displays are touch-enabled. The main display provides essential operational information, including MAIN/SUB operating frequencies and the status of various functions. The 2.4-inch sub-display can show filter effects, various meters, and a band stacking register. The filter effect screen can display the IF filter passband width and shape superimposed on the IF filter passband signal, offering visible representations of twin PBTs and manual notch effects. This enhanced visibility improves operability and ensures smoother operation.

Dual Display Examples: Visuals present examples of the IC-7760's dual displays, including a 'Filter Effect Example' showing IF filter passband and shape, and a 'Various Meters Example' displaying S/Power, ALC, COMP, SWR, and Id readings.

Dual Spectrum Scope and Waterfall

The dual Spectrum Scope offers excellent sweep speed, resolution, and a wide dynamic range of 100 dB, powered by combined FPGA, DSP, and CPU processing for both main and sub bands. It allows monitoring of two different bands simultaneously, which is beneficial for tracking conditions and during contests. In Continuous SCROLL mode, a wide bandwidth exceeding 1 MHz can be viewed on the scope screen. The waterfall display visually represents changes in the frequency spectrum vertically, aiding in the detection of weak signals that might be missed by the spectrum scope alone. This feature enhances QSO possibilities by preventing the loss of weak DX stations.

Spectrum Scope Examples: Two examples illustrate the 'Dual Spectrum Scope and Waterfall' feature, showing 'Top-to-bottom Dual Scope' and 'Left-to-right Dual Scope' views, enabling simultaneous monitoring of two bands.

Feature 06: Dual Speakers

The IC-7760 is equipped with dual speakers. By separating the MAIN/SUB audio into left and right speakers, the distinction of audio during Dualwatch operation is improved. The MAIN/SUB audio can be configured for stereo or mono output from both speakers.

Dual Speakers: An image shows the 'MAIN/SUB Dual Speakers' setup.

PRESET FT8 Menu

Introduced with the IC-7300, the FT8 mode is widely used globally for everyday operation and DXpeditions. FT8 can be easily set up by simply selecting it from the [Preset] memory, configuring all necessary items at once. Returning to normal settings from FT8 is also straightforward by selecting the [Normal] memory. Additionally, up to 3 [Preset] memories can be configured for SSTV and future digital modes.

FT8 Mode Preset: A screenshot displays the 'FT8 Mode Preset' interface, allowing quick setup for FT8 operation.

Automatic Contest Serial Numbering

This function is highly beneficial for CW and RTTY contests. Each time a pre-programmed memory is transmitted, the serial number automatically increments from 001. The serial number can be set in multiple locations to ensure reliable copying during contests.

Contest Serial Numbering: An example illustrates the 'Automatic Contest Serial Numbering' feature in use.

Audio Scope Flexibility

The Audio Scope screen displays the frequency components of transmit and received signals on an FFT scope, along with their waveform components on an Oscilloscope. This makes it easy to monitor signal characteristics such as microphone compressor level, filter width, and notch filter. Received CW keying waveforms can also be monitored in the Oscilloscope.

Audio Scope Examples: Two examples show the 'Audio Scope' and 'CW Keying Form' displays, used for monitoring signal characteristics and waveforms.

RC-28 for a Second VFO Knob

By connecting the optional RC-28 via USB, the SUB band tuning of the IC-7760 can be conveniently controlled with your fingertips. The MAIN/SUB switching buttons can be assigned to the F-1 and F-2 buttons on the RC-28, allowing it to function as the main dial for both MAIN and SUB bands.

RC-28: An image shows the optional 'RC-28', a second VFO knob for convenient control.

SD Card Slot

An SD card slot is provided for data storage. This includes voice recordings of calls, RTTY/PSK decode logs, captured display images, user settings, and firmware updates. Voice memories for Phone modes and message memories for CW/RTTY/PSK modes can also be stored. This feature allows operators to easily load their preferred settings when switching users, enabling immediate operation.

SD Card Slot: An image highlights the 'SD Card Slot' for data storage.

Touch Screen and Multi-Dial Knob

The combination of the touch screen and the multi-dial knob provides easy access to various settings. Pressing the multi-dial knob displays menu items on the right side of the display near the dial. Touching a menu item and then turning the multi-dial knob adjusts the level, offering faster access to functions like RF power, microphone gain, DIGI-SEL, and notch settings.

Multi-Function Menu: An example shows the 'Multi-Function Menu' appearing on the display when the multi-dial knob is pressed.

RS-BA1 - Internal Server

The RS-BA1 Version 2 software enables remote operation of the IC-7760, whether from your home QTH or a remote location worldwide. Dualwatch operation and dual spectrum scopes with waterfall functions can be utilized on your remote PC. With an Ethernet connector, a base station computer is not required.

I/Q Signal Output

I/Q signals received by the IC-7760 can be output from a dedicated I/Q signal connector (USB on the RF deck) to a PC for digital output. Using these I/Q signals with software like HDSDR allows listening to received signals or displaying the spectrum scope on the PC. In conjunction with software such as CW Skimmer or N1MM Logger+, it's possible to virtually decode all Morse signals in the operating band. This function is particularly useful for contesting and DX hunting, and for effective callback during split operation.

Note: The USB I/Q driver package can be downloaded from the Icom website. HDSDR, CW Skimmer, and N1MM Logger+ software are not supplied by Icom.

I/Q Signal Output: An image shows the 'USB Connector on the RF Deck' used for I/Q signal output to a PC.

External Display Connection

The IC-7760 features an external display connector (DVI-D) on the control head, allowing digital signals from the main display to be output to an external display without signal degradation. The main display can be mirrored on a larger external display.

External Display: An image illustrates an 'External Display' connected to the control head.

Rear Panel Connections

Control Head Rear Panel: Detailed diagrams show the rear panel of the Control Head with numbered ports indicating various connection types: 1 RF Deck Connector, 2 External Display Connector (DVI-D), 3 USB Connectors, 4 External Keypad Jack, 5 Electronic Keyer Jack, 6 SEND Control Jack, 7 LINE IN/OUT Jacks, 8 External Speaker Jacks, 9 DC IN Jack.

RF Deck Rear Panel: Detailed diagrams show the rear panel of the RF Deck with numbered ports indicating various connection types: 1 Antenna Connectors, 2 Transverter Connector (BNC), 3 RX Antenna IN/OUT Connectors (BNC), 4 Reference Frequency Input (10 MHz), 5 Tuner Control Socket, 6 Control Head Connector, 7 LAN (Ethernet) Connector, 8 CI-V Remote Control Jack, 9 Key Jack, 10 ALC Input Jack, 11 SEND Control Jack, 12 Accessory Sockets, 13 USB Connector (I/Q OUT), 14 Ground Terminal, 15 AC Power Socket, 16 Main Power Switch.

Specifications

Optional Accessories

Some options may not be available in some countries. Please ask your dealer for details.

• External Speakers: SP-33 (Wooden box speaker), SP-41 (Two input lines, High/low filters, Max. 5 W input)
• Desktop Microphones: SM-30 (Compact, lightweight electret microphone), SM-50 (Dynamic microphone with [UP/DOWN] switches and a low cut function)
• Hand Microphone: HM-219
• HF + 50 MHz 1 kW LINEAR AMPLIFIER: IC-PW2
• HF + 50 MHz AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER: AH-730 (Covers 1.8 ~ 54 MHz with a 7 m, 23 ft or longer wire antenna. Max. input: 150 W PEP, 100 W continuous. Controller cable (10 m, 32.8 ft) is supplied with the AH-730.)
• Remote Encoder: RC-28
• AC ADAPTER (for control head): BC-267A/E (Same as supplied)
• DPD FEEDBACK CABLE: OPC-2501 (3 m, 9.8 ft. For use with the IC-PW2)
• IP REMOTE CONTROL SOFTWARE: RS-BA1 (Note: USB I/Q Package for HDSDR: Install this package onto a PC to control the IC-7760 from the PC using the HDSDR application. Freely download from the Icom website.)