D-Star ID-51A and ID-31A Handheld

ID-51A Video by AmateurLogic.tv

Using and Programming the ID-31A video by ICOM America

ID-31A or ID-51A Gateway Operation

To set an ID-31A or ID-51A radio for Digital Voice (DV) and use Reflectors through a local repeater gateway:

The Icom ID-31A and Icom ID-51A handheld radios have an auto mode which sets call sign data based on internal GPS as well as internal memory repeater data, however call sign data can also be set manually. The easy way to communicate through the gateway in the Cincinnati / Dayton area, with the Icom ID-31A and Icom ID-51A, is to use the D-Star Repeater (DR) button. The result of holding the "DR" key held for one second is that the Digital Voice (DV) mode and display is achieved. More on this below.

The "DR" button is held down. "DV" is visible on the display in place of "FM". The radio is now in DV mode with the corresponding display. Next, the "TO" field needs to be highlighted by momentarily pressing RX->CS (the up function) and DR (the down function). Once the "TO" field is highlighted, press the blue button which brings up the "TO SELECT" menu, and rotate dial knob to select "Your Call Sign" on page 1/2. Press blue button, rotate dial knob to select " Use Repeater", and press blue button. "Use Repeater CQCQCQ" will appear in the "TO" field. If only CQCQCQ appears, repeat process until the "TO" field contains "Use Repeater CQCQCQ".

Highlight the "FROM" field by momentarily pressing RX->CS (the up function) and DR (the down function). Once the "FROM" field is highlighted, rotate dial knob to select the desired repeater. If the repeater is not found, press the blue button, and rotate dial knob to select "Repeater List". Press the blue button, rotate dial knob to select the desired Repeater Group. For example, rotate dial knob to select USA Northeast to find Ohio repeaters, then press blue button rotate dial knob to select the desired repeater, then press the blue button.

Once "Use Repeater CQCQCQ" is in the "TO" field and the desired repeater is in the "FROM" field, the radio is ready to communicate through the local repeater gateway.

Checking an Contents of Call Sign Fields

Some hams may be experienced D-Star operators and owned several of the earlier Icom D-Star transceivers. Standard operating procedures on these legacy transceivers involved setting of four call sign fields -- [ UR: RPT1: RPT2: and MY: ]. Setting the fields is not difficult, but was tedious. The latest generation of Icom D-Star transceivers, the ID-31A, ID-51A, and IC-7100 use a more efficient operating procedure to input call signs. The DR mode along with selection of the "TO" and "FROM" fields, while making it easier to control, hides the raw call sign fields from the operator. A legacy Icom D-Star transceiver operator may occasionally seek help on setting call sign fields from an operator using the ID-31A, ID-51A, or IC-7100. The ID-31A, ID-51A, or IC-7100 operator can provide call sign settings to the legacy Icom D-Star transceiver operator once call sign contents are displayed. A procedure to view call sign contents on the Icom ID-31A and ID-51A transceivers follows below.

Method 1 ("CS" button): When in DV mode, press and hold "CS" button for one second and the "CALL SIGN" display appears to view all four "Call Sign Display" fields. If call sign "Name Display" format is desired, momentarily press "QUICK SPCH" button, then the blue button once "Name Display" appears. The call sign display may be alternately toggled between the "Call Sign Display" and "Name Display" formats by momentarily pressing the "QUICK SPCH" button, then the blue button again and again.

To exit the "Call Sign Display" or "Name Display" press the MENU, or "CD", or the V/MHz buttons.

Method 2 ("MENU" button): When in DV mode, momentarily press "MENU" button. Rotate dial knob to MENU 2/4 "Call Sign". Momentarily press the blue button. The "CALL SIGN" display appears to view all four "Call Sign Display" fields. If call sign "Name Display" format is desired, momentarily press "QUICK SPCH" button, then the blue button once "Name Display" appears. The call sign display may be alternately toggled between the "Call Sign Display" and "Name Display" formats by momentarily pressing the "QUICK SPCH" button, then the blue button again and again.

To exit the "Call Sign Display" or "Name Display" press the MENU, or "CD", or the V/MHz buttons.

Editing an Existing Entry in the Repeater List

Example of Manual Programming the ID-51A with the correct W8RNL__C VHF Frequency

The factory load has the W8RNL__C frequency incorrectly entered as 145.160.00.

The correct frequency is 145.150.00. The following instructions will guide you through the menus to correct the frequency in the programmed memory of the radio. Experience gained by using the menus can also be useful in changing other settings in the radio.

===================== ID-51A Controls for Programming: ====================

When an instruction mentions "dial", it is referring to the small knob on top of the radio.

The cursor position is the location of the current highlighted setting position and can be navigated with the mini "mousepad as described below.

The ID-51A has a mini "mousepad" in the center of the radio keypad.

The 5 mousepad functions are listed below:

When an instruction mentions "cursor up", it means momentarily press the "RX->CS" button.

When an instruction mentions "cursor down", it means momentarily press the "DR" button.

When an instruction mentions "cursor left", it means momentarily press the "CD" button.

When an instruction mentions "cursor right", it means momentarily press the "CS" button.

When an instruction mentions "Blue button", it means momentarily press the square blue button in the center and is like left clicking a mouse.

====================== Step-by-Step Instructions: =========================

1. Place radio in DR mode by pressing and holding the DR button for 1 second.

- The display will have a "TO" and "FROM" the left hand side.

2. Press and hold "MAIN / DUAL" button repeatedly until viewing a Single display.

- Display will alternately cycle between Single display and Dual display.

3. Momentarily press the "cursor down", "DR" button

- The FROM should be highlighted.

4. Rotate dial until a repeater other than W8RNL__C is showing in FROM setting

- Note: Radio will not accept changes to a setting the radio is currently displaying.

- "Hamilton 442.625 W8RNL__B" is a good choice to select for this step.

5. Momentarily press the "MENU / key" button.

6. Rotate dial until "DV Memory" is highlighted.

- "DV Memory" is on page with title of "MENU 2/4"

7. Press Blue button.

- Now on page with title of "DV MEMORY 1/1"

8. Rotate dial until "Repeater List" is highlighted.

9. Press Blue button.

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER GROUP 1/5", with "01:Africa" highlighted.

10. Rotate dial until "17:USA Northeast" is highlighted.

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER GROUP 3/5"

11. Press Blue button.

- Now on page with title of "RPT LIST GRP 17 1/39"

- Note: The highest numbered page may be different than "39"

12. Rotate dial until "Hamilton" for the "W8RNL__C" repeater is highlighted

- Start looking starting at page 25

- Notice that the repeaters are in order by state on the bottom left.

- When Hamilton is getting close, the bottom of the display will show state, "OH".

- There are two Hamilton repeaters in the radio memory.

- The repeater call sign is on the bottom right, "W8RNL__C"

13. Press "QUICK / SPCH" button

- A new menu pops up with six choices.

14. Rotate dial until "Edit" is highlighted

15. Press Blue button

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER LIST EDIT 1/5"

16. Rotate dial until "FREQUENCY: 145.160.00" is highlighted

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER LIST EDIT 3/5"

17. Press Blue button

- Cursor will be blinking to left of " 145.160.00"

18. IMPORTANT: "cursor right" with the "CS" button until "6" is highlighted

- IMPORTANT: Do not rotate dial for this step

- If dial is rotated by accident, "cursor left" 2 or more times with the "cursor left", "CD" button, until "Cancel edit?" pops up. Then, rotate dial to "Yes" to cancel edit. Next, press Blue button and restart edit at step 12.

19. With blinking cursor on "6" rotate dial one click so that the blinking cursor shows "5"

20. Press Blue button

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER LIST EDIT 3/5"

- "FREQUENCY: 145.150.00" is highlighted

- Make sure "FREQUENCY: 145.150.00" is in the display or go to step 17 and retry.

21. Rotate dial to the end until "<<Overwrite>>" is highlighted

- Now on page with title of "REPEATER LIST EDIT 5/5"

22. Press Blue button

- A new menu pops up with "Overwrite YES / NO"

23. Rotate dial until "YES" is highlighted

24. Press Blue button

- Now on "Hamilton" with "OH" "W8RNL__C" the bottom of the display.

25. Press Press Blue button to check the "Hamilton" "W8RNL__C" information

26. Rotate dial to scroll through pages "REPEATER LIST 1/5" to "REPEATER LIST 5/5"

- Make sure information recently entered is correct.

27. Press "cursor left", "CD" button 5 times to get back to DR display

- "FROM" should be highlighted

28. Rotate dial until "Hamilton 145.150 W8RNL__C" is showing in FROM setting

29. "Cursor up" by pressing "RX->CS" button

- The TO should be highlighted.

- "Use Repeater" should be displayed with "CQCQCQ" below it, if not go to steps A to H below, then return here.

29. Test with Push-To-Talk to make sure radio keys up the repeater.

30. Radio is now programmed with the correct frequency for W8RNL__C VHF repeater.

======== Display "Use Repeater" with "CQCQCQ" below it in the TO setting: =========

A. Use the following steps to display "Use Repeater" with "CQCQCQ" below it in the TO setting.

B. "Cursor up" by pressing "RX->CS" button.

- The TO should be highlighted.

C. Press Blue button.

- Now on page with title of "TO SELECT 1/2"

D. Rotate dial until "Your Call Sign" is highlighted.

E. Press Blue button.

- Now on page with title of "YOUR CALL SIGN 1/40"

- Note: The highest numbered page may be different than "40"

F. Rotate dial until "Use Repeater" is highlighted.

- "CQCQCQ" is on bottom of display

G. Press Blue button.

- "Use Repeater" should be displayed with "CQCQCQ" below it in the TO setting

H. Go to step 29 and test.

Adding a New Entry in the Repeater List

TBD