Hams in Space!

73 Review by Joe Holman KA7LDN
Number 9 on your FeedblM:k card
The ICOM IC-970H
VHF/UHF Multiband
All-Mode Transceiver
A great rig for both satellite and local communications.
ICOM AmeriCa
2380 1161h Avenue N E
Bellevue WA 98004
(206) 454-8155
Price Class: $300()
Recently I had the opportunity to use an
ICOM 1G-970H VHF/UHF (i.e .• 2m and
7OCm) multiband transceiver. This is a fullfeatured
multi-mode rig designed with the
satellite operator in mind. II's also a fine rig for
terrestrial contacts both on SSBJCW and FM.
Dimensionsand Front Panel Layout
The IC·970H is a big rad io: 16.7 " W x 5 .9 ~ H
x 16.0· 0, approximately the same size as
tCO M 's IC·765 HF radio.
The trent panel altha radio supports " bigger-the-belter"
controls. The tuni ng knob is 2 "
in diameter, and the basic control knobs are
0.75" in diameter. In the center of the lront
panel, there is a 4 ,5" x 2.5 " black-on-yellow
LCD display which provides the following information:
- Main and sub mode of operation .
- Main and sub operating frequencies.
- General coverage RX on/off.
- RIT Change of frequency (only for main).
- Main and sub VFO (A or B) selection.
- Main and sub memory channels.
«Sub receiver S-meter.
- Tuning pitch indicators.
- Main and sub duplex ind icator.
- scan indicator.
- Tonefsquelc h/beep indicator.
- Split operation ind icator.
Also, the rad io has a large S meter, 2 .75 ~ x
1 .75 ~ , that is placed directly 10 the left of the
LCD display.
On the very left side of the radio, you can
find the SA TELUTE switch which provides the
following six tracking configurations (and
which proved to be very useful during my
satellite experimentation and operation with
the radio):
- OFF- Main and sub frequencies do not
track.
- ,. (Normal)- M ain and sub frequencies
change in same direction.
- R (Reverse}-Mai n and sub frequencies
change in opposite direction.
- SAn - Used for programming uplink and
downlink pa irs to memory, no tracking takes
place.
- sAn -N- Allows selection 01 uplink/downlink
Photo. The fCOM-970 multiband VHF/UHF transceiver.
memory channel, tracks in same direction.
- SATL·R- Allows selection of uplink/downlink
memory channel, tra cks in opposite direction.
I'll discu ss more about the SATELLITE switch
in the "Satellite Memories" section.
Manual
The manual is 48 pages long , The majority
of the man ual describes what each of the control
functions and connections on the front and
rear panels do . The remaining sections of the
manual provide general operating procedures
for packet and satellite operation, and provide
details (with many internal views of the radio
and replaceable components) abou t how to
install optional accessories and modify factory
set internal controls. I was impressed with the
level of detail presented in this manual. It is
one of the best that I have seen ICOM produce.
See Table 1 for a complete listing of the
1G-970H's specifications.
Receiving and Tran smiu ing
During my voice communications, I spent
most of my time operating on AQ-13 , I made
OSOS on this satellite for just about threefourths
of the entire pass on two different
days. This allowed me to test the 1C-970H
during various operating conditions, such as
when the squint angle of the satell ite 's antenna
was greater than 20 degrees, less than 20
degrees, and on the two major modes used:
Mode B (70cm up and 2m down) and Mode J
(2m up and 70cm down).
For antennas, I used the KLM 18C (12.0dBi
gain) for 7OCm, and an old beat-up Cushcraft
10-element beam (10.5 dBi gain) on 2m . The
preamplifiers were the ICOM AG-3S (15 dB
gain, NA noise) for 70cm, and the ICOM AG·
25 (15 dB gain, NA noise) lor 2m , mounted at
the antenna feedpoint. For leedline, I used an
SO-foot run of Belden 9913 (2.6 dB loss per 100
feet) for 7OCm , and a 5O-100t run of RG-.8/U
foam (2.0 dB loss pe r 100 feet) for 2 meters.
Most of my AQ-13 OSOs were made on
Modes B and J . Wh ile operating on AQ-13, I
worked the following stations (all contac ts
were on Mode B, unless otherwise noted):
AA6PJ, KC71T, DD5LO, ON1LST, PE1H XD ,
FC1GNV, PAflSTE, OE5WHN, SM2SW U,
JA9WMS, UA00B (both B and J), J R2UOE,
and VK4KZR (Mode J only). As you can see, I
made contacts with many locations around
the world.
In addition, I used my 1C-275H and 1C-475H
during these passes to compa re the versatility
of the IC-970H's uplink and downlink systems.
The first thing that caught my attention wa s
the IC·970H's audio. Its audio is much more
robust (better bass) tha n what my 1C-275H or
1C-475H produces . Good audio always makes
satellite communicat ions more enjoyable.
For receiving, the 1C-970H has compa rable
sensitivity to both the IC·275H and the
36 73AmateurRadiO Today - March. 1991