IC-7851

Design advances developed by the Icom HF engineers for the Local Oscillator (LO) enable the IC-7851 to set a new benchmark for amateur radio receivers. The goal was to dramatically reduce the phase noise that degrades the target signal due to the sum of the entire signal present. The result was a RMDR of 110dB*. Below is a comparison of the improvement over the IC-7800.

*At a 1kHz offset frequency
Receiving frequency: 14.2 MHz Mode: CW, IF BW: 500 Hz
Roofing Filter IC-7800 = 3 kHz, IC-7851 = 1.2 kHz

RMDR
RMDR (Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range) is the relative level of an undesired signal, offset “n” kHz from the RX passband, which will raise noise floor by 3 dB. The local oscillator phase noise will mix with strong unwanted signals and unavoidably generate noise which masks a wanted signal.

Breaking the boundaries of traditional designs, the IC-7851 employs a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) along with a Phase Locked Oscillator for the LO. The C/N ratio excels beyond the IC-7800 and other similar class HF transceivers. This design significantly reduces noise components in both receive and transmit signals.

Receiving Frequency: 14.2 MHz Mode: CW 1st LO frequency: 78.655 MHz
SPAN = 20 kHz, RBW = 30 Hz, VBW = 10 Hz

Phase noise is coherent in radio circuit design and the new LO design introduced
in the IC-7851 makes some major breakthroughs while utilizing the 64MHz, up-conversion receiver design introduced in the IC-7800.
An impressive 20dB improvement is seen with the IC-7851's 10 kHz measurement
and more than 30dB improvement at a 1 kHz measurement in comparison to the IC-7800.

Receiving Frequency: 14.2 MHz Mode: CW 1st LO frequency: 78.655 MHz

Following the design linage of the IC-7800, the IC-7851 uses a dedicated DSP unit for the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectrum. The 2250 MFLOPS DSP processor enables a new dual scope function and significantly faster sweep speeds and better accuracy than in the IC-7800.

Scope Comparison

The audio scope simultaneously shows an oscilloscope and FFT for receive and transmit audio. Adjust your transmit audio by watching your compressor level, equalization and mic gain settings to give you the audio you want for SSB. The oscilloscope shows the CW waveform. On receive, you can see the power of your filtering by watching filtering adjustments take out interfering signals including filter width and notch filter placement. The processing power in the IC-7851 allows for dual mini band scopes as well as the audio scope.

• Attenuator: 0 dB, –10 dB, –20 dB and –30 dB
• FFT scope with waterfall and FFT scope without waterfall
• Waveform color and drawing (outline or fill) settings for the FFT scope

• Level: 0dB, –10 dB, –20 dB and –30 dB
• Sample rate: 1ms/Div, 3ms/Div, 10ms/Div, 30ms/Div 100ms/Div and 300ms/Div, 5 Div width
• Waveform color setting

While you can watch both receivers on the scope of the IC-7800, within the limits of the scope bandwidth, the IC-7851 introduces the new dual scope – the ability of watching both receivers in separate spectrum scopes. Scroll mode automatically keeps the operating signal within the scope range. The dual scope function is vital for watching for multipliers or band openings in contests, or working all bands/modes on a DXpedition.

The IC-7851 continues the +40dBm, 3rd order intercept point and 110dB receiver dynamic range benchmark set by the IC-7800. To achieve this superb receiver performance, the entire analog circuitry and components have been re-engineered to match the DSP units. A newly designed LO amplifier generates high output while keeping flat frequency characteristics over a 60MHz wide range.

The IC-7851 has multiple AGC loops. The AGC voltages detected in front of and behind the digital IF filter in the DSP unit. The first AGC loop prevents saturation of the 1st IF amplifier. The other AGC loop detects the AGC voltage at the digital IF filter output which has only passed the intended signal and draws the full potential from the digital IF filter. Combining the digital IF filter, manual notch, and the 1st IF stage, these are all controlled by the DSP unit. 110dB of ultra wide dynamic range in the receiver means the IF amplifier is distortion free from strong signals.

Simple receiver system configuration is the best way to eliminate sources of the spurious signals and distortion from transceivers.
The IC-7851 uses a double conversion system composed of a D-MOS FET 1st mixer and image rejection mixer for the 2nd stage. The 1st mixer stage is driven with a signal from the highdrive Local Oscillator with excellent C/N.
The image rejection mixer for the 2nd stage reduces signal distortion through IF processing and provides a high-fidelity signal to the DSP unit. This system provides wide dynamic range, reducing the distortion from strong signals and lower intermodulation.

The IC-7851 incorporates two completely independent receivers, from the antenna inputs all the way through to the stereo headphone and individual external speaker outputs. All the performance of the first receiver is duplicated for a perfectly matched set of “Twins”. When connected to external stereo headphone, main and sub receiver audio can be mixed or separated to the right and left.

HF operators marvel at how well DSP reduces interfering signals and noise. Signals such as heterodynes and AM Carriers can be eliminated with automatic notch filter technology.
Making interference from RF sources such as beat signals and RTTY signals is a thing
of the past. Additionally, the filter shape of the manual notch can be adjusted in three steps – with more than 70dB of attenuation!

Once the IF filters have been “tweaked,” the operator has additional control with the digital twin passband tuning (PBT). The digital twin PBT allows flexibility of both the IF shift and narrowing of the digital IF passband by moving the IF passband. With the digital IF filters, PBT performance allows you to cut away all the interference and noise to hear the actual signal.

The digital noise reduction separates a target signal from noise components and noise suppression level is variable in 16 -steps, depending on the noise level. The low latency digital noise reduction is achieved by applying an adaptive filter using the high speed DSP computing power.

While most noise blanker reduces pulse type noise, the IC-7851 introduces a new automatic digital noise blanker circuit. While using the 15/9/6kHz roofing filters, the digital noise blanker gives you full control. When the 1.2kHz Optimum Roofing Filter is activated, the best blanking level is automatically selected. Additional adjustments allow you to tweak the threshold level, blank time and attenuation level parameters.

With the flexibility of DSP-based waveform shaping, transmit and receive audio quality is adjustable to suit your preference. Three user-adjustable transmit filters, Wide/Mid/Narrow, allow you to set both the low and high cut-off frequency limits. (100, 200, 300, 500Hz for lower and 2500, 2700, 2800, 2900Hz for higher frequencies.) In addition to the TBW filter, the IC-7851 has an equalizer to digitally tweaks your transmit audio with separate bass and treble controls (11 steps each for bass and treble). The receive audio can be tailored with modespecific Bass/Treble or audio passband settings.

The DSP controlled RF speech compressor provides additional punch while maintaining the original tone quality of the operator. The IC-7851 utilizes the 32-bit DSP for the RF speech compressor, providing the maximum punch without the fuzzy sound. It's great for breaking through the noise and hash to complete the QSO.

Whether operating phone, CW, RTTY or PSK31/63, the IC-7851 has a convenient
memory keyer to ease operations. Record your CQ, station information or other items in one of 8 keyer memories for the CW and digital modes; 4 memories for phone operation. For CW, the memory keyer has timesaving functions like auto repeat, contest serial number counter and short Morse number functions. For phone operation, you have a voice-saving auto repeat function.

The automatic antenna tuner utilizes tunesetting memories to record the best tuner configuration for the lowest SWR. This allows a faster response time when jumping bands or moving around in the same band.

With six antenna ports – two receive-only and four receive/transmit – the IC-7851 enables the operator to have fingertip control over a vast array of antenna configurations. Switch to 80/160m and you want to use your beverage
antenna for receive, but transmit on your vertical. Not a problem: the antenna switch
memory will automatically switch antennas when you select the band you want to operate.
This is very convenient when using the RS-BA1 for remote base operation.

The IC-7851 has various computer interfaces, giving you maximum connectivity between your computer and radio. Digital modes become a snap when controlling with the USB port. USB audio and some CI-V commands including USB send (DTR/RTS) and USB keying (CW and RTTY) are selectable. You can also interface your computer with the S/P DIF optical digital interface provides audio I/O.
The Ethernet jack allows you to connect the IC-7851 directly to your router and control your radio over your wireless Internet, or travel the globe and operate your station remotely over the Internet.

The IC-7851 can grow as feature and function enhancements become available via the USB or your SD Card.

Remote base operation is made easy as the IC-7851 operating system incorporates
the remote base server software. A computer is not required in the shack for audio or rig control. Up to three, unique user log-in/password configurations are part of the internal server. As the rig control has a priority of service, the controls will feel like you are right in front of your rig.