IC-7100 and 1258M

[Billmorton]

I have had an early IC-7100 up and running on Remote rig boxes since The 7100 came out (used an Icom 706 before that). I decided that I wanted to have a new spare 7100 so I bought one. I had read here that the 7100 old face units do not work with the new radios after serial number 3000 - I can confirm that. I have sent my old IC-7100 in for an update that they say will make either head unit work with either radio. I also see here where there is a small board 1258M to be placed in the control unit. Is this necessary if the radio is not used in FM? Some additional information on the 1258M board would be helpful.  I should point out that my new IC-7100 seems to be working fine without the 1258M board in the control unit - so I guess I am a bit confused as to its purpose. I have searched here on the forum and see almost no information on the 1258M board.

[sm2o]

If it still works then they have only changed the Radio part to accept the low levels from new frontpanels, they have not lowered the data signal level in the control panel. Here is described what they changed and what the 1258M does.

http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=2302

73 de mike

[Billmorton]

Thank you.
I had read this article and assumed the new head unit and radio would not work over the remote rig units  based on the article without using the strapping board in the control unit. To my surprise it works fine (while my old unit is off to Icom for updating) the audio is fine. Thus my confusion in the need for the board? It sounds like something changed again between serial number 3000 and my new unit which has a serial number in the 7000 's (sorry I don't have the exact serial number handy). So I guess the take away is - if it works don't worry about it??

[sm2o]

Again, if they only adapt the radio body to handle new front panels also this will be the result. If they had modified the frontpanel it had stopped working.

A new radiobody will work with both new and old front panels

73 demike

[Billmorton]

That is not what I found - my new radio body would not work with the old head. And my old radio body would not work with the new head. Only old with old and new with new. This was the case with or without a remote rig between head and body.  Both combos would work without the need of the 1258m board - but only old to old and new to new. So I still do not know why I would need the 1258m? 
I have not received back my modified old head and body from Icom so I cannot comment on what I will find once it is modified. The reason I contacted Icom was to have 4 pieces that would work with each other regardless of old to old or old to new so I could have two head units connected to 1258 control boxes at different locations so I did not need to move my head around.