Posted: 3/1/2015 9:29:27 AM EDT
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I managed to program my cheap chinese HT but this Icom radio, even with the software, make little sense. Does anyone have a guide for programming this? I am excited to get into DSTAR and pulled the trigger on this 50th Anniv edition.
Hamfest is next weekend (Birmingham Al), maybe someone is offering to upload all the local stuff... Help! |
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A few friends have the 51 and love them. I don't have one, but I'm very familiar with D-STAR and have an ID-880 and ID-5100, so I may be able to help. Do you have the manual for the 51? If not, it can be downloaded from the ICOM site.
ID-51 Manual |
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In the manual I have, the instructions are in section 12 page 4 (12-4). The critical part is to be in VFO mode when you start. Is this the procedure you're using? What's not working for you?
Here's the text part of the ICOM manual page: Push [V/MHz] to select the VFO mode. Set a desired frequency and operating mode: Rotate [DIAL] to set a desired frequency. (Example: 146.030) [This is the repeater's output frequency] Push [MODE] one or more times to select a desired operating mode. (Example: FM mode) Set the duplex direction, frequency offset, tone squelch, and so on, if needed. [More knob twisting. They don't explain this very well] Hold down [S.MW] for 1 second to enter the Select Memory write mode. • 1 short and 1 long beep sound. • The memory channel number blinks, and memory contents are displayed. Rotate [DIAL] to select a desired channel to be programmed. (Example: Channel 11) Hold down [S.MW] for 1 second to program, and then return to the VFO mode. • 3 beeps sound. • Before returning to the VFO mode, the programmed memory contents are briefly displayed. • The Memory channel number automatically increases when continuing to hold down [S.MW] for 1 second after programming. Don't do this: NOTE: Push [CLR] to cancel the program and exit the Select Memory write mode before memory programming. ETA: I also found this: 
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"Set the duplex direction, frequency offset, tone
squelch, and so on, if needed. [More knob twisting. They don't explain this very well] " That is my problem. All the skipping over the commands. Now I have a screen with the frequency and "FM" but no indication of how to set the other stuff. I can find the menu for them but does it apply to the frequency I am displaying or just generally. I'm sure this will be simple once I get the hang of it and WRITE it down somewhere. 
I did watch that video last night and he is only somewhat less confused sounding than I am. He skips over the details as well. |
| This is really ridiculous. I set the tone, and offset and it doesn't show on the screen. Nowhere obvious to set the negative offset. Too bad there are no readily available elmers in Birmingham. After I passed each exam (different club gave them), each told me about the OTHER club, no invite to their club. Crazy old guys...... |
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It looks like the auto repeater function will override your offset direction when auto repeater is turned on.
15 REPEATER AND DUPLEX OPERATIONS 15-6 ¦¦Auto repeater function When the operating frequency falls within the repeater output frequency range, the Auto Repeater function can automatically sets the repeater settings (duplex ON/OFF, duplex direction, tone encoder ON/OFF). The Auto repeater function uses the preset repeater tone frequency and frequency offset. See page 16-16 for details of the setting. Push [MENU] . Push D-pad(?) to select, then push D-pad(Ent). Push D-pad(?) to select, then push D-pad(Ent). DDFrequency range and offset direction • U.S.A. version FREQUENCY RANGE SHIFT DIRECTION 145.200–145.495 MHz “DUP–” is set 146.610–146.995 MHz “DUP–” is set 147.000–147.395 MHz “DUP+” is set 442.000–444.995 MHz “DUP+” is set 447.000–449.995 MHz “DUP–” is set • Korean version FREQUENCY RANGE SHIFT DIRECTION 439.000–440.000 MHz “DUP–” is set Here's a screen shot of the manual page I'm looking at. 
I'm surprised that no ID-51A owners have chimed in yet. |
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Quoted:
Me too. I've got one in the sight picture in my cart, and no one has chimed in and told me to spend my money. 
Usually you guys are way too fast in spending my money. Quoted:
Quoted:
--snip-- I'm surprised that no ID-51A owners have chimed in yet. Me too. I've got one in the sight picture in my cart, and no one has chimed in and told me to spend my money.
Usually you guys are way too fast in spending my money. Based on the experiences of friends who own them, I'd say go for it. I'm working in the dark here, because I don't have one myself. On friday, another ham and I were doing some site surveys for potential tower locations and he was able to connect to a D-STAR repeater that was 22.5 miles away without any trouble just using the rubber ducky. We also talk frequently using D-STAR simplex at 9.5 miles over hills and valleys. He's on his 51A and I'm on my 880H with an Arrow dual-band J-Pole at 15' AGL. |
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Quoted: This is really ridiculous. I set the tone, and offset and it doesn't show on the screen. Nowhere obvious to set the negative offset. Too bad there are no readily available elmers in Birmingham. After I passed each exam (different club gave them), each told me about the OTHER club, no invite to their club. Crazy old guys...... Tone & offset are in the "Quick Menu", but the offset freq and PL tone are in the regular "Menu" under "DUP/TONE". The Quick Menu is the bottom right button and the regular menu is the top left button. Go through both of those menus and figure out what is in both. You will find lots for cool stuff. To navigate the menus, use the toggle buttons to go UP and DOWN and the "CD" button (toggle left) to back out. Do you have a programing cable? The software is on ICOMs web site. In the main menu, go to "function" and then down to "charging" and turn that on. I think its off by defualt and will turn the radio off if you pull in the charger. Oh yeah, make sure the "weather alert" is off in the "quick menu" or you will have a 1/3 sec pause in RX every 10 sec while the radio checks the weather freq for alerts. Once you figure out the radio, its easy to use and has LOTS of options. Scott PS If you haven't registered your call sign for Dstar yet, go to the link below and sign up. Its a TWO PART deal. You sign up with a password and AFTER your call is approved (added to the dstar network) you log back in the same link and add your radio to one of the 8 IP's. and click the save button. Thats it. The link below has a "untrusted" security warning. It's been that way for a while but it's gtg. It doesn't matter that NARRI is in Vegas or who/where your call sign is added. Any group anywhere can add you to the system. Sometimes it can take 24-48 hours to get you call approved, but if you IM me after you do it, I can get it in the system in 10 min.  https://n7arr.dstargateway.org/Dstar.do Here is a link to the instructions. In the instructions, number 9 is VERY important and is worded incorrectly IMO. Check the box left of the number one, then click in the next box under "Initial" and hit your "space bar". Thats it. Now click in the "pcname" box and put your callsign-radio. (KK7ZZZ-ID51) After that, click update then your done. Your radio will work on the local Dstar repeater without being registered will you will not be able to go through the gateway to be heard be others on the network outside your local area. You would hear them, but they will not hear you. http://www.dstargateway.org/D-Star_Registration.html |
| I gave up keyboard programming the radio. I had a spare sd card laying around and ended up just using the software that icom provides and transfer it back and forth using the sd card. And a bonus is that you can set up the radio to record to the sd card any conversations so you have a log for later. I have the older version of the radio and would love to have the anniversary or plus version so I can connect it to my andriod tablet. |
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Quoted:
What is the difference to the anniversary model Quoted:
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An ID-51A+ is in route. What is the difference to the anniversary model $20.00 
Other New and Enhanced Functions (Compared to the ID-51A original version)
GPS position data can be sent simultaneously with the serial data communication Enhanced D-PRS functions: receiving only Base/Object/Item/Weather formats Altitude data added to the GPS memories CI-V commands can be sent through DATA connector CI-V commands added such as GPS TX mode, DV data TX and GPS ON/OFF settings Callsign, repeater list and GPS memory import and export in the CSV format http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/handheld/id51aplus/default.aspx Mainly I picked that one for the faster data and repeater search function. |