8
Operation of the i-Box 7000
Because of the firmware inside the IC-7000, it does not
have a functioning SWR meter when the transceiver is in
the tune mode. That is very different from other Icom
transceivers.
In order for the transceiver to indicate an SWR, it cannot
be in the tune mode but must be transmitting in RTTY,
FM or AM.
So, in order to tune the antenna, push the ‘Mode’ switch
until the IC-7000 is in the AM mode. If you are in SSB,
that will take 3 pushes of the switch. Putting the
transceiver into AM will reduce power to about 35-40 watts. Think of the switch in the
control box as having an extra set of contacts that close when the switch is rocked up or
down. Each time you rock the switch the motor is turned on and the transceiver will
transmit an AM carrier and the SWR meter will indicate the SWR at the final transistors
as it should. When you have obtained an SWR of less than 2:1, release the rocker switch
and push the ‘Mode’ button 1 more time to get back to SSB.
The light on the control box will illuminate when the antenna’s coil is fully extended or fully
retracted.
The light may also blink when the antenna’s motor is started. This is normal and
expected. The lens on the light assembly may be red or green. It does not matter.
Installing the k-Box.
The k-Box controller should be mounted in a convenient
location since it will be used to tune the antenna.
The controller is prewired. Simply plug the 6 pin connector
into the back of your Kenwood
™
transceiver’s tuner jack
while it turned off. Power for the motor comes through
that jack.
We have provided the plug for the wires to the motor. You
can simply use butt connectors to make the connection to
the wires that go to the antenna’s motor.
Turn off your Kenwood
™
transceiver. Plug the 6 pin connector into the tuner jack on the
back of your Kenwood
™
transceiver. When the transceiver is powered-up, a signal from the
k-Box Controller tells the transceiver that an antenna tuner is connected.