IC-9700 High Stability Kit

The IC-9700 High-Stability Kit bundles a LBE-1420 GPSDO with a Reference Injection Board allows locking the Icom IC-9700 radio transceiver internal frequency reference to an external 49.152MHz signal. This configuration enables 1Hz stability on all bands If the internal reference is locked to a GPS signal.

Installing this module inside the IC-9700 does not require any soldering or modification to internal circuitry, is completely reversible and should not affect your warranty.

Includes one high-quality Wurth Elektronik SMA | SMA cable to connect the GPS Clock to the IC-9700.

Installation

• Disconnect all external cables and wires connected to the IC-9700
• Place a soft cloth on your working surface to avoid scratching your IC-9700
• Remove 12 cross-head screws holding the bottom cover - three on each side and six on the bottom
• Turn IC-9700 upside down and remove the bottom cover
• Unscrew the nut holding the SMA connector on the back marked "REF IN 10MHZ"
• Disconnect the small U.FL connector, remove and save the cable. Alternatively, leave U.FL side connected, place SMA connector, nut and washer into a small plastic bag and securely tape it inside the IC-9700
• Remove black airflow protection sponge and stick it elsewhere inside the IC-9700
• Remove two screws on the main PCB, marked "10" and "11" and place into holes on the injection board for storage
• Install injection board using two supplied longer screws
• Install the supplied SMA extension cable between the injection board and the connector previously used by "REF IN 10MHZ"
• Reinstall bottom cover with twelve screws

IC-9700 Setup

• Configure your GPS clock to output 49152000Hz signal with full power (32mA setting)
• Connect the clock source to SMA connector on the back of IC-9700 (cable not included)
• Turn IC-9700 on and let it warm up for 5-10 minutes
• Switch to a SSB mode and tune to a reasonably stable CW signal you can hear and see on the waterfall
• Press MENU button then tap (1), SET, Function, REF Adjust
• Turn on external 49.152MHz reference and observe CW signal frequency shift.
• Adjust sliders so that frequency shift is within 10Hz on 2m band (30Hz on 70cm band or 100Hz on 1200MHz band)
• Exit the menu and test IC-9700 operation.

If the IC-9700 does not lock:

• Make sure external reference is switched on, has correct 49.152MHz frequency and 10-20dBm power level
• Verify that REF Adjust is set correctly (coarse scale should be roughly in 40-50% range - follow fine adjustment procedure above)
• Lock range for proper set up is wider than 100Hz (2m band), 300Hz (70cm band), 800Hz (1200MHz band) in both directions - about two times wider than extreme excursion during continuous transmit and receive periods
• View an excellent installation video.

Wurth Elektronik SMA Male to SMA Male RF RG-58 Cable is part #65503503530501 304 mm (12") SMA male | SMA male.