FTdx9000 Mark 2, Yaesu USA released its PEP-9000 Performance Enhancement Program for all FTdx-9000 radios

FTdx-90000 PEP-9000 Version (aka Mark 2), Yaesu USA released its Performance Enhancement Program for all FTdx-9000 radios. La sfida delle performance degli apparati “flagship” si riaccende con questo evento!!

Anteprima, in Maggio 2008: Dal BOLLETTINO DI VENDITA - Divisione Prodotti Radioamatori N. 08-0513b del 13 maggio 2008. Si annuncia ai soli rivenditori il Programma Yaesu per il miglioramento delle prestazioni dell’FTdx 9000. “Il meglio del meglio ancora migliore”!  omissis …… “Questa notizia attesa da tempo  sarà di grande interesse per tutti gli esistenti e potenziali acquirenti della nostra radio ammiraglia FTDX 9000 serie”

Finalmente, a Novembre 2008: In USA l’Upgrade “PEP-9000″ ha inizio dopo mesi di test presso la casa  del produttore in Giappone! Notizia ufficiale da Vertex Standard del 10 Ottobre 2008 (riveduta il 20.11.2008): Si inizia il programma di rafforzamento delle performance per i proprietari della serie FTdx9000 il 10 novembre 2008 ….  La “PEP-9000 Version” ( Also Known As: Mark 2), Negli USA la V/S Yaesu ha rilasciato il suo programma di miglioramento delle prestazioni per tutta la serie dei Transceiver FTdx-9000. Ciò include l’inserimento dei nuovi firmware dopo la sostituzione/modifica di varie schede: CNTL-UNIT; TX-DSP-UNIT, SCP-UNIT, RX-1-UNIT, RX-2-UNIT (per il D e MP), e lo strumento Power Meter. Il progetto sarà offerto per un anno e scadrà il 31 dicembre 2009. Vertex Standard (Yaesu USA) fornirà tutti i pezzi di ricambio e la manodopera per i miglioramenti a sue spese negli USA per soli proprietari residenti negli Stati Uniti.
(I Proprietari fuori degli USA devono contattare i rispettivi Uffici Intenazionali della Yaesu Vertex Standard).

The firmware addresses the following items (Il nuovo firmware migliora i seguenti punti):
DNR… superior SSB mode noise reduction
DNF…greater reduction of beat tones
AGC… attack time fine-tuned
Digital Filter… increased Sharp/Soft differentiation
SSB speech processor audio augmented
Higher Band Scope refresh rates
Faster CAT COMMAND communication
CW side tone clarity ( Side tone più limpido in CW)
Activate RTTY monitor while transmitting
Ringing during CW super narrow receiving

This modification includes replacement of the items below: CNTL-UNIT - TX-UNIT - DSP-UNIT - SCP-UNIT - RX-1-UNIT - RX-2-UNIT (for D/MP version) - Power Meter. Note: The number of boards replaced is dependent on each Radio.

ENG: Official news by Vertex Standard 10/28/08 (Revised 11/20/08): We will begin the Enhancement upgrade for owners of the FTdx9000 radios on November 10, 2008….
The PEP-9000 Version (aka Mark 2): Yaesu USA released its Performance Enhancement Program for all FTdx-9000 radios. This includes all new firmware and replacement/modification of CNTL-UNIT, TX-UNIT, DSP-UNIT, SCP-UNIT, RX-1-UNIT, RX-2-UNIT (D/MP), Power Meter. The project will only be offered for one year and will expire December 31, 2009.
Vertex Standard will provide all parts and labor for the Enhancements at our expense, for owners within the continental United States. (Owners outside the United States should contact their respective International Yaesu or Vertex Standard Office.)

IC-7200 USB port for PC control. Software Update: Type “USB Driver” Ver.1.00, Icom Support update 17.09.2008

The IC-7200 can be controlled by a PC through a USB port using the CI-V data format. In addition, modulator and received audio can also be transferred over the USB cable. By using appropriate external software, you can record incoming call and/or transmit preprogrammed messages from your PC.

IC-7200 USB port for PC control. Software updates Type: “USB Driver” Ver.1.00, Icom update 17.09.2008
Note: The USB Driver, it is installed in the PC connected to the radio via the USB port (tnx Adam va7oj)

Link to: Icom Global Support/Software Download/IC-7200
Link to: Icom Istallation Guide A-6668-3EX © 2008 Icom Inc.

When the transceiver is connected to a PC with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable (third party), the following operations can be performed:
- Remote control operation (CI-V: Icom Communication Interface-V) by the PC, software (third party) may be required;
- Receiver audio output to the PC, format: data 16-bit; Sampling rate 8/11.025/16/22.05/32/44.1/48kHz;
- Modulation imput from the PC, format: data 16-bit; Sampling rate 32/44.1/48kHz;
The receiver audio is always output regardless of the squelch condition (open/close) and output level cannot be adjusted with the [AF] control; The modulation imput can be used when SSB/SSB-D, AM/AM-D mode is in use. From the set  item (DataOFF/Data ON) and USB imput level see p. 77 on the IC-7200 istruction manual for details setting.
Note: Read the New Icom installation guide before installing the USB driver (A-6668-3EX © 2008 Icom Inc.)
Icom, Icom Inc. and the logo are registered trademarks of Icom Incorporated (Japan)

IC-7700: Firmware Updates new version, Ver.1.03, 02.07.2008 released

IC-7700 Firmware Updates; Model name: IC-7700; Download type: Firmware; Version: Ver.1.03; Update: 2008/07/02 ( Credit: Icom.co.jp/world/ Support)

Major points of update from Ver.1.02 to Ver.1.03: ” Improvements in the TX monitor audio“  The old FW (1.02) caused a great deal of background noise in the monitor audio and an AGC  characteristic that was difficult to listen to in the monitor audio.

Link to ICOM.co.jp-official Support web page 
Link to I0GEJ’s Ham Radio News IC-7700 page

Note: I would remind  that the update file must be placed in the “7700″ dir on the USB memory stick if the stick has been formatted in FAT32 by the 7700 previously, you can also format it on a PC, but it must be FAT32. To reboot turn off the front switch. NEVER turn off the power from the back without shutting down the radio first (front button). These radios should be run off a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Never cut off power supply while updating firmware! Before starting the download, please read through “Section 16 (UPDATING THE FIRMWARE)” of the IC-7700’s instruction manual. Please save the transceiver data content to an USB memory before starting the firmware update; If you want to update the firmware via LAN, please also download this Firmware update utility: 7700FirmUtl_v100.zip;
The Ethernet port update method, but it should work fine if you read the directions in the manual on that topic! 

IC-7800 Update Firmware Ver. 2.12, Improved the DSP Unit

Firmware Update on the IC-7800 Ver. 2.12; La Icom jp world support, ha rilasciato il 12.06.2008 la nuova Ver. 2.12 del Software per il transceiver IC-7800. Come si legge dalla immagine (da ingrandire) i miglioramenti interessano l’aumento delle performance del DSP Unit. Per aggiornare l’apparato leggere il manuale di istruzioni con cura, si suggerisce di inserire prima tutti i precedenti aggiornamenti rilasciati.
Utilizzare l’alimentazione con un UPS inserito, l’interrutore [ON] generale sul retro acceso, spegnere solo l’interruttore sul frontale  ed evitare così che manchi tensione durante la procedura di aggiornamento. 

Link to: Icom.co.jp official support web site    Link to: I0GEJ’s Ham radio News IC-7800 page

ENG: Major points of update from Ver.2.11to Ver.2.12: “Improved software performance for the DSP Unit“ 
NEVER turn off the power from the back without shutting down the radio first (front button). These radios should be run off a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply); Never cut off power supply while updating firmware! Before starting the download, please read through “Section  (UPDATING THE FIRMWARE)” of the IC-7800’s instruction manual.
NB: there are actually two versions of the IC-7800 manual on theirwebsite, and which version you get appears to be related to whether you usethe search facility or follow their links. The older version has a code on the bottom of the page which reads A-6328H-1EX-4-1. What I assume to be the newer version has the code A-6328H-1EX-8-1, but unfortunately it is still dated 16/10/2007.