Some time ago I purchased a used IC-7300 as a secondary rig and have enjoyed operating it, mainly on CW but also on SSB. Because I like to make modifications when they are useful, I have made the following three mods, based on info available on the internet.
I often find Molex power connectors annoying because they are bulky and can be difficult to disconnect, so I changed the Molex connector to a PowerPole connector. That also makes the rig compatible with the rest of my DC power setup. Christopher, HB9FIY, helpfully posted his 3-D printing file on the IC-7300 group.io, and a local ham printed it for me. It is available in two versions - flush mount, and one that protrudes a bit. I used the flush mount as this was the only one available initially. (If you do this, be sure to incorporate fuses in your power cable.) I find this much more convenient and elegant than the original connector.
Some users complain of fan noise. It didn’t bother me a lot but the whir at the beginning of a transmission can be a bit annoying. I replaced it with a Noctua quiet fan as described in several YouTube videos and now don’t notice the fan at all. I’ve monitored the temperature and the rig always runs cool, at least on CW and SSB, and I’ve not seen any complaints from others who have done this. To make it easy to switch back to the original fan in case I didn’t like it, I added a connector in the fan’s power line.
A frequent complaint about the 7300 is the limited range of the ATU. SP9SOY has determined that by adding one resistor, the tuning range can be extended without affecting the built-in SWR protection level. In theory it’s a simple mod that can easily be undone if desired. However, one end of the resistor must be soldered to a tiny spot on an SMD. I was a bit nervous about trying it - not sure my 80-year-old eyes and hands were up to it. However, using a fine tip and magnifying glasses I had no trouble. My antenna is tuned for the CW band but now I have no problem tuning the SSB end of 75M. Here is a link to a description of the mod, including photos:
The main thing I miss on the IC-7300 is the CW peaking filter available on my other modern rigs. Now if someone would have a modification for that…….
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