Icom: Help with the Basics Icom 7100

[jason78]

Hello, got an Icom 7100 a while back. Finally got a second 70cm/2m antenna up and trying to get started with this radio and I must admit I'm a bit overwhelmed. Most of my experience has been with Business type radios so all of the menus, submenus, softkeys and abbreviations are kind of throwing me for a loop. I watched a couple Youtube videos to get through basic tuning, and saving some favorites but still trying to figure out how to get in to and stay in memory mode. Right now I saved a repeater and then the memory name remains when I change the tuner to a different selection. Some frequencies automatically show the offset at the bottom and some don't. I'm wondering if maybe some programming software might help me get all the local repeaters programmed. I want to get in to Dstar as well but I need to get this figured out first. Any Youtube video or software recommendations would be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks Jason

 

[AK9R]

Hello, got an Icom 7100 a while back.

Congrats! I actually have two. One for home use and one will be going into my vehicle sometime...

Most of my experience has been with Business type radios so all of the menus, submenus, softkeys and abbreviations are kind of throwing me for a loop.

Going from Kenwood mobiles and Yaesu handhelds to an Icom base radio, like I did, is a bit of a learning curve. Icom kinda does things "backwards". Though that depends on your frame of reference.

...but still trying to figure out how to get in to and stay in memory mode.

The V/M soft button on menu M-1 switches between modes. What makes this challenging is that if you are in memory mode ("MEMO" displayed above memory number), you can still turn the VFO knob and change your operating frequency. Nothing on the display, other than the operating frequency changes to let you know that you've done this. If you press and hold the SPEECH button below the VFO knob until a key symbol appears on the display, you can lock the VFO knob from changing your frequency.

Right now I saved a repeater and then the memory name remains when I change the tuner to a different selection.

That's probably because of the "VFO knob changes frequency while in memory mode" issue that mentioned above.

Some frequencies automatically show the offset at the bottom and some don't.

That's because the radio has an automatic repeater shift.

I'm wondering if maybe some programming software might help me get all the local repeaters programmed.

Yes, it might. RT Systems is probably the gold standard when it comes radio programming software and they have a package for the IC-7100 (IC-7100 Radio Programming Software Cables | USB Radio Programming Cables). I haven't purchased it yet, but I might.

I want to get in to Dstar as well but I need to get this figured out first.

First find out if there are any D-STAR repeaters in your area. If there aren't, you'll have to invest in a hot spot which is a whole 'nuther kettle of fish.

Any Youtube video or software recommendations would be welcomed and appreciated.

Here's a link to a series of (mostly) short videos from a guy who walks through each step of using the IC-7100: IC7100 A-Z

Note that there are two manuals for the IC-7100. There's an "Instruction Manual", aka "Basic Manual", that's about 96 pages long and a "Full Manual" that's about 387 pages long. The Full Manual has everything that's in the Instruction Manual plus a lot more. IC-7100 | Products | Icom America.

 

[jason78]

Congrats! I actually have two. One for home use and one will be going into my vehicle sometime...

Going from Kenwood mobiles and Yaesu handhelds to an Icom base radio, like I did, is a bit of a learning curve. Icom kinda does things "backwards". Though that depends on your frame of reference.

The V/M soft button on menu M-1 switches between modes. What makes this challenging is that if you are in memory mode ("MEMO" displayed above memory number), you can still turn the VFO knob and change your operating frequency. Nothing on the display, other than the operating frequency changes to let you know that you've done this. If you press and hold the SPEECH button below the VFO knob until a key symbol appears on the display, you can lock the VFO knob from changing your frequency.

That's probably because of the "VFO knob changes frequency while in memory mode" issue that mentioned above.

That's because the radio has an automatic repeater shift.

Yes, it might. RT Systems is probably the gold standard when it comes radio programming software and they have a package for the IC-7100 (IC-7100 Radio Programming Software Cables | USB Radio Programming Cables). I haven't purchased it yet, but I might.

First find out if there are any D-STAR repeaters in your area. If there aren't, you'll have to invest in a hot spot which is a whole 'nuther kettle of fish.

Here's a link to a series of (mostly) short videos from a guy who walks through each step of using the IC-7100: IC7100 A-Z

Note that there are two manuals for the IC-7100. There's an "Instruction Manual", aka "Basic Manual", that's about 96 pages long and a "Full Manual" that's about 387 pages long. The Full Manual has everything that's in the Instruction Manual plus a lot more. IC-7100 | Products | Icom America.

Thanks for this awesome, detailed response, its very helpful! I'll go through this tonight with the radio and see if I can work through some of my issues. Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed response! I believe I do have Dstar repeaters near me so I should be able to connect using them.

 

[kk9h]

I have an IC-7100 for my portable operations and I absolutely love it. I took it on vacation this summer and teamed up with an LDG antenna tuner it was wonderful while using a multi-band end fed antenna. Having owned other Icom HF radios, the menu system while complex, is pretty much in line with the other Icom rigs’ settings. Most of them you set once and you’re done.