September 29, 2008
Jan, PA0JED:

Several years ago i got myself a 2nd hand Icom IC-756, after about a year the horizontal line syndrome hit me too.
At first I thought I could escape it, by not switching off the machine, as it seems to be humidity related problem.
Ill thought, gradually the lines appeared, at first one or two, sometimes they would disappear.
But time approaching more lines came up and stayed. Up to 9 lines of several thickness's.
So I was very glad Richard PA7FA came with an affordable solution.

So I became a Beta tester for this project.
Short introduction: I'm not a fanatic home builder, I did some soldering in the past but not very experienced.
And the components where a bit bigger in those days, you could actually see them with the naked eyes.
Nowadays the components are a lot smaller and the eyes worse (53 years).
But I must admit did some SMD soldering about 10 years ago, so it's not totally unknown territory.
But removing SMD's (3 in this case) is much more easier than installing.
But you do need a very good magnifier lamp.
In the -30V PSU, R203 is a little tricky to remove you do need the magnifier lamp.
Heating up one side and very quickly going to the other side, you get the tombstone effect.
When installing you have to avoid this state, but when removing a SMD it's very handy.

Because one side of the component the solder is relatively soft (you heathed it up before),
when applying heath and a little pressure to the other side, the first side of the SMD is lifted up.
When the component is not stuck on your soldering iron, you can easily pick if of with a pair of tweezers.
 

Richard made a well documented on-line manual; I for my self, printed it out.
Followed it step by step and came across some little errors, but they were of no influence for completing the display change,
which was after all easier than I thought.

Effective working time 1,5 to 2 hours, in two sessions, first did the dismantling in waiting for the new Richard LCD,
the 2nd session was just installing the new LCD and assembling everything together.

The LCD came to live again, just a little less contrast than the original display.
I'm satisfied with it, better lesser contrast than no readout at all.
The new LCD is very sensitive for the view angle, I put a little piece of wood (about 1 cm) under both of the feet's to meet my view demands.

Summarize:

• Very good instruction manual.
• Great Kit, affordable price. Think Richard did put more money/time in it than we can imagine. True HAM spirit, Richard tnx.
• With the right tools it's possible to change the displays your self.
• Sometimes it's very rewarding to fix your equipment yourself, but Richard can do it for you.

IC-756 4ever

October 15, 2008
Mick Heywood, M0ICK

I purchased a second hand early serial number 756 a couple of years ago and immediately fell in love with the radio. Then the dreaded blue lines began to appear, this did not deter me from still using the radio but I found my self more reliant on another of my transceivers.

Enter Richards replacement LCD screen, I came across this via the excellent yahoo group relating to IC-756, registering my interest when Richard announced his intentions to build a replacement option to the original faulty Sanyo screen.

I took the plunge and decided to part with my hard earned pounds/euros and took the option of removing the front of the radio and sending it to Richard in Holland, this took approx 10 mins with a posi screwdriver and a 2mm allen key to remove VFO knob.

The front was then posted to Richard who kept me informed of the unit arrival in Holland, the progress of the mod and when he intended to mail the front back to me and details of how to pay for his services. The total turnaround for the whole process was approx 10 days door to door .

The front was replaced by myself in under 10 minutes and now I have my cherished IC-756 in pristine condition again.

The screen resolution is very crisp and works well in dim or bright lighting conditions, I have no trouble in viewing the screen from acute angles and I am extremely pleased with the outcome. The contrast and brightness are totally adjustable as in the original screen.

Richard provides a totally professional service and would be pleased to recommend him to anyone considering giving their IC-756 a "new lease of life"

73s and good luck, and hello to my bandscope again!

Regards,

Mick Heywood, M0ICK

23 October 2008
John P Slusser - WD7F

I purchased my ICOM IC-756 not long after the rig became available and for years I have been very satisfied with the performance. I don't remember when the first horizontal line appeared on the display nor when I began to read traffic about the display failure, however, a few months ago the bottom of the display became unreadable to the point that I didn't dare to use the function buttons.

I saw the QST article about the Radio Shack scanner USB interface that could be used with CAT controlled rigs and purchased one. I downloaded Ham Radio Deluxe and found that I could control the rig but in a very limited fashion and none of the functions for the display, etc., could be controlled. That was disappointing but understandable.

Previously, I had contacted Scott Malcom (MTS), a very talented ICOM specialist, who informed me that the display was no longer supported by ICOM. I searched the web and found replacement procedures but no display and finally contacted Jamie Rose, an ICOM rep in the UK who said the display could be returned to Sanyo for refurbishment. However, it was he who referred me to Richard - PA7FA, saying that Richard was developing a replacement display.

I contacted Richard and he confirmed that he was in the final development phase and asked if I would review the procedures. I did so and asked that I be informed when the display would become available and was soon informed that he had displays on hand. So, I elected to send the front panel of the IC-756 to Richard for display replacement.

Removing the front panel is simple and required unplugging two ribbon cables, two audio cables and removing four screws. I removed the VFO knob and packed the panel up and sent it to the Netherlands and a week later, Richard informed me that he had received it and had completed the mod. A few days later, I had the panel which I quickly installed.

The display works fine and it is very nice to be able to see the entire screen. My first impression is that the new display is not as pretty as the original with the bright blue color and high contrast. I adjusted the contrast and backlight and finally settled on a satisfactory setting, however, the back light appeared to flicker slightly. Richard said that if you turn up the backlight too high that it may flicker and to decrease the level. As it turns out, my best setting is 18% contrast and 30% backlight. I can't detect any flicker at those settings and for the last week I have been becoming more satisfied with the less glamorous display.

I am very happy to have my radio restored to a fully operational condition. In my opinion, the IC-756 was not worth having the display removed and sent to Sanyo for reconditioning. The shipping, labor and display cost would have been more than the rig is worth, let alone considering the long turn-around time. Overall, I give the new LCD display a thumbs up.

Thank you Richard for coming up with this solution which saved my IC-756 from the junk pile and I'm hoping to get many more years of service from my beloved rig.

John P Slusser - WD7F

Tucson, AZ

www.wd7f.com and http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/163

Bonjour de FR1AN

Depuis 1997 jai un IC-756 premiere version et au bout de 1 ans plus tard j ai eu des lignes horizontale sur LCD et plus temps passe plus il y en avait pour finalement ne plus pouvoir lire les divers info.
Apres plusieur recherche sur internet cetait pas un cas isolé mais la maison mere na pas prevu de reparation standard il faut donc 400 euros de plus pour le probleme cest en parcourant internet que j ai trouver le site de richard PA7FA.
Apres contact je lui envoi ma facade de IC-756 et 4 jours apres il me fais un email pour me confirmer que cest reparer. Apres reception du colis ici en Reunion je branche tout et cest vraiment du tres bon boulot et pour moitié moins cher.
MERCI RICHARD POUR TON TRES BON SERVICE '73s, Jules de FR1AN (Reunion)

Good day de FR1AN

Since 1997 I have an IC-756 classic, After 1 year I got horizontal lines on the LCD and in time more lines appeared in a way I was not longer able to read the various info. After several searches on the Internet I discovered it was not an isolated
case, and Icom expected the reparation must be 400 Euro's or more.
I browsed the Internet and I've found the site of Richard PA7FA.

I sent him my front IC-756 and 4 days later I got an e-mail to confirm that it was repaired. After receiving the package here in Reunion I plugged in everything and that is really very good job and half less expensive.

RICHARD THANKS FOR YOUR VERY GOOD SERVICE '73s,

Jules de FR1AN (Reunion)

04-12-2008
GianFederico Madruzza IK0AZG

All started few years ago when turning on my IC-756. The display showed two small horizontal stripes which disappeared during the progressive heating of the TRX. This phenomenon happened again for several days and I ascribe it to a temporary rise of environmental humidity. Yet the stripes began to increase day after day either as number or as thickness but they continued to disappear with same procedure, until the situation collapsed when the display obscurement became a permanent phenomenon which did not allow to read a lot of information on the screen (see pictures ).

Discarding first the hypothesis to dispatch the IC-756 to ICOM for the replacement of the display (not an easy and cheap way to go,hi!) I started immediately a detailed research on Internet but the the founded alternative solutions were not competitive! Although having disposal of reserve RTX I was desperate since in any way my DXer's life had become considerably limited. An emergency solution has been interfacing the IC-756 to a PC through CI-V cable, using a specific software (HamRadioDeLuxe) and reading the desired informations on external monitor: good idea but unfortunately all became more complicated having in the same time to use a Notebook for usual Log and several Ham programs. However this my Odyssey reached now with a happy end having the opportunity to take again new life to my IC 756: what's happened? Following a suggestion of a good friend of mine I have visited web page of Richard Rosemberger, PA7FA and immediately i have been convinced on excellence of his proposal: in few words, dismantled the Front Unit,dispatched to Netherland and come back home, only in a week!
The result? Remarks are needless in front of below picture (many thanks, Richard!!!).

By the way, if we want to spit hairs: the only remark to put forward (in my opinion moreover negligible in comparison of global advantage) is that in presence of poor ambient lighting the grey color –less incisive than the original violet- can induce some tiredness to the eyes of elderly persons that have over all limited capability of fitting.

GianFederico Madruzza, IK0AZG

12-12-2008
Ed N5JEH

Richard. I,like the others have had my 756 from the time they became available.It worked very well for many years. Then i started to notice a line or two across the screen. About 2 years ago they had covered most of the display. This now made it imposible to see anything. I had already known that a replacement was not available. I had contacted Icom and was told that a replacement could be bought for 3$300.00. I ordered one only to be told a week later that there were none left.
So the radio was operated with an Icom control software program. This worked OK, but you could not access the Scope function. I use this radio on 6 meters and the display scope is very important to see any activity on the band. So i boxed up the radio and put it away.
This past summer i ran an ad on QTH.com asking if anyone knows of a sorce for the 756 display. Some one sent me your web site and the rest is history.

It took me about 2 hours to replace the display and do the circuit mods. All worked great where finished. Like the others,it will take awhile to get used to the Gray color and the lesser contrast. But at least the radio is a working and useable one again.
Thank you for making this display available.
I placed my order on Nov 20 2008. The display arrived on December 2 2008.

Ed N5JEH

15-06-2009

hola Richard.

Hoy dia 15 he recibido la pantalla del Icom 756, todo muy bien, la he instalado, y funciona perfectamente, solo veo, que no tiene mucho contraste, dime si tiene
solución,  este pequeño problema.
Te diré, que aqui en España, funciona muy bien  la agencia Estatal, de Correos Post.
Lo que pasa, esque, algunas veces el reparto lo hace  otra agencia  particular, y hay problemas para su entrega.

Un saludo....Antonio

Translation:

Hi Richard.

15 Today I received the screen Icom 756, all well and good, I have installed and works perfectly, just see it, that does not have much contrast, tell me if you have
solution, this small problem.
I tell you that here in Spain, it works very well the state agency, the Post Post.
What happens, esque, sometimes sharing another agency makes it particularly, and there are problems in delivery.

Un saludo ... Antonio

14-06-2009

Richard boa noite, gostaria de te comunicar que recebi o ldc e já coloquei no radio estou muito contente pelo equipamento este e meu depoimento e agradecer por tudo ter dado certo obrigado e felicidades.

Translation:

Richard good night, I would like to inform you that I received the ldc and has put on the radio I am delighted by this equipment and my testimony and thank you for everything just worked thanks and congratulations.

01-07-2009
IZ1HIV Mauri

I confirm I have received today the 756 display kit,
has already been replaced, all works very well.
Thanks you very much.

best 73

IZ1HIV Mauri

19-07-2009
ian G5WQ

There are many 6m operators who will be using or will have an IC-756 classic and they will all suffer the screen lines problem and perhaps cfl backlight failure at some point .

The IC-756 is probably the most popular 6m tcvr used , in all its versions .
The classic IC-756 has a better noise blanker than the later versions.

My own IC-756 classic i purchased used about 11 years ago and since then it has always had a line or more appear across the screen at some stage .

More recently though the problem became worse and the lines increased in number and also the cfl backlight would go out after the tcvr had been switched on for some time .
i tried changing the lcd and backlight to used ones that a friend gave me , which was fine for a few months, and then the screen line problem appeared again and got worse as time went on .

Eventually the radio became unusable and i was looking for a repair solution.

Icom don't really carry any lcd and cfl light spares for the older 756 and so this radio is more or less scrap if the original display goes completely .

I think the internal HV dc-dc converter is also on its last legs at this stage anyway and so replacement to another original lcd display and backlight may prove useless for most owners .

After trolling the web forums for information about repairing my own IC-756 i saw your website with the new lcd display modification kit details and i was thinking of looking into having my radio fitted with your LCD conversion ..

I wanted the radio to work again and it was worth spending some money on it because it was only the original screen and backlight that had a problem , everything else was fine in the radio itself .so i decided to get it sorted .

I opted to remove my front panel from my tcvr and send it to you for modification although i know you also supply a do it yourself kit too , so on the monday i posted my radio to you , then you mailed me on the Thursday to say my lcd screen was fitted and you would send it back to me as soon as i paid for everything , i paid on thursday night using paypal and i received the parcel back here on the next Tuesday.

This was only one week and one day after i sent the panel to you that i received it back in my hands here .

It took me about 30mins to reassemble the front to the main chassis, you cant really get it wrong connecting the cables anyway , and the vfo knob was reset in place with just on allen key .

I switched the radio on and all worked perfectly, all controls and adjustments are exactly same as before on the display screen .

The display is slightly greyer in appearance to the original and the charachters slightly thinner in body but yippee the lines are gone and the backlight doesn't go out .

I am running the brightness at about 70% with the contrast set to suit my own preference .
This radio will now last for another 10 years and more if i look after it , and im very happy with richards modification kit .
I would recommend richard to anyone who has an original IC-756 suffering with the screen lines and lighting problems, and who needs it repaired/modified .
Richard is very helpfull and fast in both his work and delivery time
Thanks Richard ad i hope you can develop more products to keep amateur equipment running into the future .
This is the best €200 Euro's i have spent in a long time.

73
ian G5WQ

14-08-2009
Vlado s57kv

Today received front. Thank you. I have mounted it, and works, at mom.   Hi!
Other later!

FOTO: Vlado.JPG

73   de     Vlado/s57kv

17-09-2009
Johny, HL2SPZ

I got your mail well.
I waited for a long long time cute LCD
as soon as I received that LCD, I started modification with rework very safely.
after all I finished and my IC-756 survived from the darkness.
thanks very much
I'll introduce your product to Korea amateur radio operator's website.

bye,

Johny, HL2SPZ

19-08-2009
Gyuri, HA7EG

The packet arrived in the morning on a Friday. I exchanged it afternoon on Sunday it's working new display.

73'DX

Gyuri, HA7EG

24-11-2009
Herbert HB9CUK

Bin mit deiner "Erneuerung" am IC756 sehr zufrieden! läuft Einwandfrei kann die Erneuerung nur empfehlen!!

Herbert HB9CUK

21-01-2010
Manuel, EA7EGU

The screen on my Icom 756 was virtually useless for the lines on your screen, making it nearly impossible to work. After visiting the website of Richard, and read carefully, I send the front of my Icom, and after a few weeks, I've been working perfectly. Initially, takes some getting used to the new color of the screen, but after a while one gets used and is no longer strange.
My 756 is alive again!.
Good work, Richard

Manuel, EA7EGU

24-01-2010
Louis, KG4QPQ

Wow! 
 
The new display is fantastic! Just beautiful! You have come up with a greater mod and a great way to extend the life of a very fine rig. Thank you!
 
I was very careful with it and there were no issues and it looks great. The only thing I did that might make it easier for folks is a couple little spots of hot glue on the jumpers to hold them in place before soldering. The whole project went very smoothly.
 
Thank you very much.
 
73,
Louis, KG4QPQ

25-01-2010
Harry,  G5HF

Many thanks for your quick repair of my Icom 756 Display.
I am very happy with the results.  It is true that the background is not quite as bright as the original, but that is no problem for operating
The transceiver is now back to 100% and I am very grateful to you for your help. You may quote me as you wish!
 
Best wishes,
 
Harry,  G5HF