Wednesday 20 February 2013

Tips & Tricks for your Icom ID-51



ID-51 Tricks and Tips

The New ID-51 supplied by Icom UK is pre-programmed by us with the latest available programming file.

This file contains D-Star repeaters by geographic area: SE, SW, Mid, North, Scot, Wales, NIreland.  These areas are fairly arbitrary.

The current list of Analogue VHF and UHF repeaters (as on UKRepeater.net) is also included and there is a pre-programmed example bank of our local Kent Repeaters to get you started.

All you need to do is add your own callsign to the Digital section of the ID-51 configuration and you should be able to work through your local D-Star repeater.  Press <Menu>, <My Station>, <My Callsign>, <Quick>, <Edit>, then change each character in turn.  When finished, press the centre button to save.  See page 3 of the basic instruction manual.
In the cloning software, it is found in <Digital>, <My Station>, <Call Sign>.

Don't forget if you wish to work through the D-Star network, beyond your local repeater, your callsign needs to be registered on the network.  This is best done with your local D-Star repeater gateway keeper but can be done by any gateway-connected repeater keeper. A list of the UK D-Star repeaters can be found here:
http://www.ukrepeater.net/d-star.htm

You can see the current activity on the D-Star network at:

Some tips for setting up your ID-51

Increasing the Microphone audio level
You can increase the internal microphone level in both the radio menu and clone software.
By default it is set at “3”  and we recommend you increase it to “4”  for use in the UK. This adjustment can be found in the <menu> <function> <Mic Gain (internal)>. Alternatively you can adjust the level in the cloning software in “Common Setting”.

Bass and Treble for D-Star transmissions
You can also change the Bass and Treble for D-Star transmissions. For the UK you may wish to try increasing the treble. This can be found in the menu <DV Set> <Tone Controls>.

SD Card
You can save all the clone data, Voice recordings etc. in the radio to a mini SD card and then read them on your computer. The clone data is saved to a .icf file.

If you have any comments on these matters, please email marketing@icomuk.co.uk

Thank you

Thursday 14 February 2013

Icom ID-51 now available




£479.95

Icom Inc. have shown a prototype of a new dual band D-STAR handheld radio at the Tokyo Ham Fair 2012 which is being held between August 25th and 26th 2012 in Tokyo.
The ID-51A/E series D-STAR handheld radio is an evolution of Icom’s ID-31A/E UHF D-STAR Handheld and will be capable of both VV / UU 144MHz + 430MHz dual band operation. The ID-51A/E will also include the much praised menu-driven user interface of the ID-31A/E series with a much bigger LCD screen. The ID-51A/E will also feature integrated GPS & D-STAR as well as IPx7 waterproofing, SD-Card slot and slim body found on the ID-31A/E.
Other planned features include
• VV / UU capable 144MHz and 430MHz dual band (Only one DV signal can be received, similar to the manner as the IC-2820H/E2820 series).
• Limited wideband receive for AM/FM broadcast (no bar antenna), 118-137MHz (AM air band), 137- 174MHz and 380-479MHz
• Larger full dot matrix LCD
• Broadcast mode LCD indication (rather than VFO only, station name can be shown)
• Enhanced logging function. The ID-51A/E records frequencies, time, position and other operation related information on the SD Card.
• Improved automatic response function. The radio may be programmed to have an automated response self call sign for unique reply in addition to regular call sign
• Voice recorder function (not the communication logging function but a simple digital voice recorder function which records your voice).
• One touch voice play back function for contest transmissions
• Frequency and mode of operation speech and specific frequency beep function helps blind hams for easier operation.
• Enhanced RX call sign memory records up to 50 past received call signs, which can be exported to micro SD card.
• Increased memory channel for repeater list (750)/ GPS memory (200).
• Approx 10mm taller and 1mm thicker than the ID-31A/E (weight TBA) • 5 Watts output (tx)

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