Icom IC-718 Instruction Manual - Page 11

3 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS s Unpacking After unpacking, immediately report any damage to the delivering carrier or dealer. Keep the shipping cartons. For a description and a diagram of accessory equipment included with the IC-718, see 'Supplied accessories' on p. 1 of this manual. s Selecting a location Select a location for the transceiver that allows adequate air circulation, free from extreme heat, cold, or vibrations, and away from TV sets, TV antenna elements, radios and other electro-magnetic sources. The base of the transceiver has an adjustable stand for desktop use. Set the stand to one of two angles depending on your operating conditions. s Grounding To prevent electrical shock, television interference (TVI), broadcast interference (BCI) and other problems, ground the transceiver through the GROUND terminal on the rear panel. For best results, connect a heavy gauge wire or strap to a long earth-sunk copper rod. Make the distance between the [GND] terminal and ground as short as possible. R WARNING: NEVER connect the [GND] terminal to a gas or electric pipe, since the connection could cause an explosion or electric shock. s Antenna connection For radio communications, the antenna is of critical importance, along with output power and sensitivity. Select antenna(s), such as a well-matched 50 Ω antenna, and feedline. 1.5:1 or better of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is recommended for your desired band. Of course, the transmission line should be a coaxial cable. CAUTION: Protect your transceiver from lightning by using a lightning arrestor. PL-259 CONNECTOR INSTALLATION EXAMPLE q Coupling ring w e 30 mm 10 mm (soft solder) Slide the coupling ring down. Strip the cable jacket and soft solder. 10 mm Soft solder 1-2 mm solder solder Strip the cable as shown at left. Soft solder the center conductor. Slide the connector body on and solder it. r Screw the coupling ring onto the connector body. 30 mm ≈ 9⁄8 in 10 mm ≈ 3⁄8 in 1-2 mm ≈ 1⁄16 in Antenna SWR Each antenna is tuned for a specified frequency range and SWR may be increased out-of-range. When the SWR is higher than approx. 2.0:1, the transceiver's power drops to protect the final transistor. In this case, an antenna tuner is useful to match the transceiver and antenna. Low SWR allows full power for transmitting even when using the antenna tuner. The IC-718 has an SWR meter to monitor the antenna SWR continuously. 9