Icom: ID-51A series - experiences with no keypad?

[N8SHA]

My current HT is getting long in the tooth and I'm looking to upgrade. One under consideration is Icom's ID-51A. One thing that struck me, though, is lack of a keypad. I guess I've just become so accustomed to using a keypad, it seems odd to think of not having one.

I'd be curious to know of people's experience stuff that I'm accustomed to like:
- Direct frequency entry
- DTMF encoding

Thanks!
-Matt
N8SHA

 

[KE5MC]

Matt,
I don't use my 51 much, but no number pad only means doing things different with the keys that are there.

In VFO mode you select which digit you want to change, then use one of the dual stack knobs to select 0-9 then move to the next digit.

I had to do a quick scan of the manual as I never use DTMF tones. You program the number string into a memory 'register' and save it. When you want to sent the string select the memory 'register' by number then send it.

The above is a very brief outline. Manual is available online at Icom America in PDF format. When purchasing the radio it comes with a CD manual application. In that application I have a Quick Start and Advanced manual. I'm not sure what you will find online, but I have in the past always had access to any of the major brand radios to research the manual.

Mike, KE5MC

 

[pinballwiz86]

I have an Icom ID-51+. You get used to not having the keypad. Did I wish it had one? Yes. But it won't hamper your ability to use it.