This R7100 is over my head

[shortride]

I haven't got the slightest idea how to operate the Icom IC-R7100 receiver I inherited. The only thing I've figure out so far is how to receive WFM on a 6' wire antenna. I've ordered a D3000N antenna but I thought I would see what I could receive with a short wire antenna.

[W9BU]

How do you have this 6 foot wire connected?

Depending on how far away you are from the transmitter, you should be able to receive the NOAA weather broadcasts in the range of 162.400 to 162.550 MHz. You will have to change the mode from WFM to FM. The NOAA weather stations are usually a quick and easy test that the receiver and antenna are working.

From there, you should be able to find aircraft in the 118-136 MHz range in AM mode, amateur radio in the 145-148 MHz range in FM mode, railroads in the 160-162 MHz range in FM mode.

[shortride]

Originally Posted by W9RXR

How do you have this 6 foot wire connected?

Depending on how far away you are from the transmitter, you should be able to receive the NOAA weather broadcasts in the range of 162.400 to 162.550 MHz. You will have to change the mode from WFM to FM. The NOAA weather stations are usually a quick and easy test that the receiver and antenna are working.

From there, you should be able to find aircraft in the 118-136 MHz range in AM mode, amateur radio in the 145-148 MHz range in FM mode, railroads in the 160-162 MHz range in FM mode.

I've got a ground wire attached to the back of the unit. The 12ga. wire antenna is soldered to a PL259 and then connected to a SO239-N adapter.

I have been able to listen to the NOAA weather station very clearly.

Is there such a thing as a list or chart of frequencies and what they are for, like railroad, aircraft, etc? What about this? Does it cover everything?
http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/spectr...e/fcctable.pdf

[N8IAA]

Originally Posted by shortride

I've got a ground wire attached to the back of the unit. The 12ga. wire antenna is soldered to a PL259 and then connected to a SO239-N adapter.

I have been able to listen to the NOAA weather station very clearly.

Is there such a thing as a list or chart of frequencies and what they are for, like railroad, aircraft, etc? What about this? Does it cover everything?
http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/spectr...e/fcctable.pdf

Have you checked the RR database for your area Might give you some frequecies to plug in
Larry

[shortride]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Have you checked the RR database for your area Might give you some frequecies to plug in
Larry

Sure have! Only the local scanner frequencies.

[k3cfc]

Originally Posted by shortride

Sure have! Only the local scanner frequencies.

Just google icom r7100 and download the PDF file manual. it will show you all you need to know about this receiver.

Good luck

K3CFC

[W9BU]

Originally Posted by shortride

Sure have! Only the local scanner frequencies.

What did you expect?

The IC-R7100 is a VHF/UHF receiver. You use it to listen to the same frequencies you'd hear with a scanner.

[shortride]

Originally Posted by k3cfc

Just google icom R7100 and download the PDF file manual. It will show you all you need to know about this receiver.

Good luck!

K3CFC

I've already done that. The information there is greek to me. I don't understand most of it.

I am a disabled veteran and was hoping this receiver would give me something to do. Unfortunately the meds that VA has me on makes it a little difficult to concentrate.

Thanks!

[Squad10]

Program Steps:

1. Use MEMORY- CH DOWN & UP buttons to select what channel number (000-099) to be programmed.

2. Enter frequency (162.55)

3. Make certain FM N is displayed, if it isn't, press the FM/N key

4. Press ENT (yellow) key

5. Hold MW (Memory Write) button down for three seconds, doing so will cause (162.55) to be retained for selected channel number in step 1.

After you've entered multiple frequencies, use the DOWN & UP to select the channel/frequency you want to monitor.

Practice entering all weather frequencies into different channels using the same above steps.

[k3cfc]

Originally Posted by shortride

I've already done that. The information there is greek to me. I don't understand most of it.

I am a disabled veteran and was hoping this receiver would give me something to do. Unfortunately the meds that VA has me on makes it a little difficult to concentrate.

Thanks!

I am sorry to hear that. let me say this my hat is off to you and thank you for your service.
i will help you all i can.


K3CFC

[shortride]

Originally Posted by Squad10

Program Steps:

1. Use MEMORY- CH DOWN & UP buttons to select what channel number (000-099) to be programmed.

2. Enter frequency (162.55)

3. Make certain FM N is displayed, if it isn't, press the FM/N key

4. Press ENT (yellow) key

5. Hold MW (Memory Write) button down for three seconds, doing so will cause (162.55) to be retained for selected channel number in step 1.

After you've entered multiple frequencies, use the DOWN & UP to select the channel/frequency you want to monitor.

Practice entering all weather frequencies into different channels using the same above steps.

There is only one weather channel 162.450 in my area. Can you mix ssb, am/w, wfm, fm/w within the same scan? Not sure if I'm asking that question correctly.

[Squad10]

Originally Posted by shortride

There is only one weather channel 162.450 in my area. Can you mix ssb, am/w, wfm, fm/w within the same scan? Not sure if I'm asking that question correctly.

Yes.

Use aw/w for aircraft band frequencies 112-118 and military bands, fm/w for fm broadcast band 88-108 and fm/n for pretty much everything else.

Be certain to perform my step 5 or frequencies will not be retained.

[mass-man]

The R7100 is a great receiver! You can program whatever freq or whatever mode(FM FMN AM SSB) into any channel. You may not scan as much as have your favorites in memory and quickly be able to monitor them. It comes close to specs of a commercial grade receiver.

Read these reviews and pick up bits of info about its use and features...
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/872

While you only have one NOAA weather channel in use in your area, you have 1000 memories in the radio. Go ahead and put all the weather frequencies in, as once you add the Discone, you may find signals from other areas and can keep tabs on approaching weather or events not in your immediate area...

[ridgescan]

Learn it, know it, love it. You got a real good one there. Give it a good antenna, it deserves one. It'll pay back in outstanding pro receive quality void of all that front end overload crap.
Icom R-7100 Product Reviews

You lucky dog you

If I were you, I'd sneak a discone outside.

[Squad10]

If Air Force One is ever in your area, the R7100 SSB and TS 0.1 may come in handy. It's the reason I bought one in the 80s.

[shortride]

I'm not sure where to start saving the channels. There are three smaller digits to the right in the display that start at 000. Is this where I should save the first frequency? If not what are the 000 for?

One thing I haven't been able to figure out is that I can't seem to get any local 11 meter reception. The 11 meter band should be on AM correct?
I should also be able to receive 10 meter SSB as well right? Is it because I don't have the correct antenna?

[shortride]

Originally Posted by mass-man

The R7100 is a great receiver! You can program whatever freq or whatever mode(FM FMN AM SSB) into any channel. You may not scan as much as have your favorites in memory and quickly be able to monitor them. It comes close to specs of a commercial grade receiver.

Read these reviews and pick up bits of info about its use and features...
Icom R-7100 Product Reviews

While you only have one NOAA weather channel in use in your area, you have 1000 memories in the radio. Go ahead and put all the weather frequencies in, as once you add the Discone, you may find signals from other areas and can keep tabs on approaching weather or events not in your immediate area...

Thanks for the link. It appears there are lots of satisfied R7100 users.

[shortride]

Originally Posted by k3cfc

I am sorry to hear that. let me say this my hat is off to you and thank you for your service.
I will help you all I can.


K3CFC

Thank you Sir! It didn't turn out like I had planned. I was a career soldier with 7 years active duty. I was going for 20 years of service but the combat related disability put a stop to that. I have not been very prepared for it but I've got to make the best of it.

[W9BU]

Originally Posted by shortride

One thing I haven't been able to figure out is that I can't seem to get any local 11 meter reception. The 11 meter band should be on AM correct?

It could be your antenna or just a lack of activity in your area. Do you live near a major highway or a truck stop? Yes, CB is AM with some SSB.

Originally Posted by shortride

I should also be able to receive 10 meter SSB as well right? Is it because I don't have the correct antenna?

Yes, your radio should be able to receive the 10m amateur radio band. Activity on 10m is generally sparse unless propagation is good.

If your interest is 10 or 11m, a dipole antenna (which has horizontal polarization) or a vertical antenna like an Antron 99 would be better than the discone you said you ordered. Most 10m amateur radio activity is horizontally polarized while most CB activity is vertically polarized.

Maybe we should take a step back. What exactly do you expect to use this radio for? What are you interested in hearing? The radio covers 25 to 2000 MHz, but no one antenna is going to be effective over that entire range.

[shortride]

Originally Posted by Squad10

Yes.

Use aw/w for aircraft band frequencies 112-118 and military bands, fm/w for fm broadcast band 88-108 and fm/n for pretty much everything else.

Be certain to perform my step 5 or frequencies will not be retained.

Thanks for the reminder about step 5. I practiced with 4 of my favorite FM music stations but I sudden realized it doesn't do much good to try scanning channels like that.