IC-7300 Memory battery replacement

Some time in 2019 we exachanged few e-mails with Zaba OH1ZAA, about internal memory battery issue in IC-7300. Some of  7300 owners perhaps did not noticed anything is wrong, but many more ( reading e-mails sent to me ) suffering internal clock failing after every OFF period. This is rather minor issue, but can be very annoying when You are using audio recording feature during Es openings, or just internal clock set to UTC to have correct time. Loosing time/date settings causing recorded files to have wrong time stamp when saved on SD card. This could be very important when on dxpedition, and we want to recover some QSO's.

Below is my successful attempt to solving this issue, [ thanks for pushing me Zaba :-) ] fast and easy to made but of course, be warned :    

Any mistake can cause serious damage to your radio. So if You are not experienced in SMD soldering or using soldering iron at very FRAGILE environment - do not try to perform the operation! I will be not responsible for any damage You can make doing the MOD.   

Start with placing the RIG upside down and unscrew bottom cover. 
You'll see whole radio - take look at lower right part marked by red arrow.

There's very small button battery, according to Zaba's research it's only 1mAh capacity.

 

In usual conditions when radio is powered daily there's small amount of current ( ~6mA) charging the battery. But when left unpowered - battery voltage degrading soon. After 1 month without power, found mine has only 0,63V which is way below voltage needed to keep clock running well.

In next steps we will replace it with ordinary CR2032 Li-Ion battery.
Start with preparing new battery socket. No matter new or salvaged from old PC motherboard, any type will do. And of course we'll need CR2032 or similar battery. It's not critical what type of battery we'll use, except it's 3V one. Standard PC clock battery is thousand more times capable than factory one.

Next - prepare some wires and solder it to the socket.

Be very careful removing old battery - it's SMD one, and we need to be very fast and very carefull doing this. First - avoid too much heat, secondly it's close to uPC.

 Battery pads cleaned after removal

Now we are ready to install new battery. In my radio I did it this way - socket is glued safely with double sided adhesive tape onto uPC. Do not put the battery first. In case something is wrong this could damage your radio. After soldering the wires and checking for any short circuit, mistake with polarity slide the battery into socket.

This operation completes the mod. No more clock failure, at least for next 5-10 years :-)

73,  QSH / OCV

NOTE: 

I AM THE RIGHTS OWNER OF THIS DOCUMENT. 

ANY UNAUTHORIZED COPYING WITHOUT ASKING IS DENIED. 

IF YOU WANT TO PUBLISH THE MOD ON YOUR SITE/BLOG YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO, POINTING THE ORIGINAL SOURCE. 

THANK YOU.  

      

Recent F/SP3RNZ winter activity @JN08XW - addendum.

Although it's been quite sometime this activity took place, I want to share some pics and summary of my QRP activity as F/SP3RNZ and ofc somehow thank to all, who patiently made QSO with me ;-)

Portable Hotel setup ;-)

I was using FT-817 mostly battery powered, sometimes with external switching PSU causing tremendous noises over HF bands. One reason is the EFHW (End Fed Half Wave) antenna used has no countepoise, or better to say coax shield acting as the second leg of antenna. Using CMC choke usually helps to minimize noise pickups, but this time did not.

80/40/20 EFHW antenna and QRM sources on the rooftop

Additionally runnning ham radio in Hotel building can be limited only to daylight hours, or even impossible because of man made noise concentration. The reason is, there are LED lamp installed almost everywhere for safety reasons, some of them are broken, making more noises when wet after rain, or in cold temperatures and lot's of small switching devices as phone/laptop chargers etc.
Anyway every dxp can teach something new, I've got my lesson - will be prepared next time.    

During limited time of operation 40+ QSO were made on FT8, and only 2 CW unfortunately, but I was happy to get Ted SP3OCC on CW and all other modes :-)

Many more can be worked, but guys running big power on FT8 are usually DEAF for QRP signals. At least I am sure QRP worked well being heard daily across EU, and even EA8. 

All QSL's were sent already in January 2020, so if You worked me, You'll have another, if not - look for me in August/September ( if we ged rid of this CORONA-shit until then )

If by any chance You'll hear me calling CQ somewhere on HF/6m in August/September 2020, don't hesitate to call me :-)

73, QSH and OCV... 

Happy New Year 2020 for all !

Happy New Year for all, with special french wishes to my followers and readers !

CU on the HF bands CW/FT8 this time QRP ;-)

Honorary badge of Polish Radio Union #139

Last week of October, during recent "ARISS" Poland conference in Ostrów, I had the honor to be awarded with Gold Honorary Badge of Polish Radio Union #136 for all activities for PZK Association, and all the development of ham radio.  

President of the OT27 PZK branch, and Coordinator ARISS - Sławomir Szymanowski SQ3OOK, me :-), and President of Polish Radio Union Waldemar Sznajder 3Z6AEF.    

More about ARISS Poland and conference LINK  (Polish)

President of ISSfanclub Micol Ivancic IU2LXR report on ISS fanclub page LINK (English)

OZ9KY #JO57 70MHz log

Here's the news from Danish group in JO57.

OZ9KY antenna setup

Ole OZ2OE in action at OZ9KY :-)

"Guys, all ready to... open (another) beer" supervisor OZ8ZS

Worked stations @4m :
October 17 :
OZ8ZS, OZ5KM, GM4VVX, OH3MHA, SP8SN, GM4JTJ, G4CLA, DH9FAC, OH8MGK, OH7TE,
October 18 :
DL5WG, DK5EW, OH3BCX, G4BWP, ON4FI, S57TW
October 19 :
SP9HWY, PA2IP, LA4YGA, GI4OWA, DK2GOX, DJ4MN, GD0TEP, M1BXF, PA3ECU, PA2J, GM4FVM, DF6HT. OH7TE, SM4KYN, 

ARRL EME contest and 70MHz rare #JO57 by OZ's group

Below info I am honoured to pass to all 4m community - on behalf of my friend Henrik OZ8ZS :

Danish Group of operators will be QRV in ARRL EME Contest, both 2m and 23cm during 3rd weekend of October, 19-20 under the call OZ9KY.

More info in Danish ----> HERE

Activity will take place from OZ1GWD summer QTH #JO57GG square, who is also one of the crew.
Other well known operators are :
Bent OZ1DLD, Ole OZ2OE, Anders OZ3Z, Verner OZ5TG and Henrik OZ8ZS.

 

Although Contest will start Saturday, according to info passed by Henrik OZ8ZS the group will activate 70MHz also, starting October 17, late afternoon. using SSB/CW and digimodes on 4m.
Operation will be ceased Sunday October 20 late afternoon (as planned).

More info and pics to be posted after group arrival.

GL !

SP7VC/2 Autumn MS activity #JO94AA and #JO93AX

On behalf of Mek SP7VC :

I will be QRV coming weekend, October 04-06 from Northern Poland. Operation will start Friday Oct.04 from ~17UTC in JO94AA and will end Oct.05 ~10UTC. Later in the day after short trip I will set up the station in JO93AX, and will be QRV around 16UTC till Sunday Oct.06 ~10UTC.

I will not be on KST chat, so please note I will transmit ALWAYS 1st period, using 70.174 for MSK144, 70.154 for FT8 and 70.160 for SSB on 4m. 

JO94AA log: DF6HT, OZ1JXY, OH7TE, OZ8ZS, S57TW, PA2IP, G4BWP, LA4YGA, OZ2OE, OH7LMQ, OZ5KM, ON4FI, PA3ECU.

JO93AX log: OH1MLZ, LA4YGA, DK2GOX, G4BWP, M1BXF, OH7TEE, OZ1JXY, DK1MAX, S57TW, OZ2OE, SM4KYN.

GL All!