Programming a really old Icom radio

[Gavin7]

So recently a buddy of mine showed me two Icom IC-H19 radios. They have garbage batteries so because he knows I program and work on radios he asked me if I could figure out a new pack for them and or just rewire them to run in 12v. I probably have a battery pack figured out but what I need to figure out is how to program them.
And before everyone goes just throw them out. These aren’t his daily driver radios but he would like to have them as backups and or emergency radios he can leave at his cabin or in the car also although they are old they are built like tanks and I gotta say they don’t make them like they used to.
So I’m looking for any help or info on them. I’ve done a fair bit of digging and it’s pretty hard to find anything on them. Even a manual would help.

 

[K9KLC]

Do you have the radios? If so post a pic. I'm wondering how close they are to the H16?

 

[kayn1n32008]

Do you have the radios? If so post a pic. I'm wondering how close they are to the H16?

They are not FPP capable. They have a channel selector, but no display if I remember right.

 

[K9KLC]

They are not FPP capable. They have a channel selector, but no display if I remember right.

Ok thanks, I just can't remember it's been a LONG time for this old mind.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Yes, me too. Last one I saw was in 2001. Not bad radios, but the H16 was definitely more my thing with FPP. It used the same batteries. I had some 12v 1A packs. Monster batteries.

 

[Gavin7]

Here’s a couple pics of the radio, he gave me one to work with. It has no display has a 16 channel selector and 2 rockers for monitor and for scan
Definitely an old radio lol the charger says 1997 on it. The original batteries are huge but they were supposed to last like 30 hrs.
I’m just curious what if any options I have for programming them. Also would be really handy to source an old manual or even some photos of one. Anyone who has any idea what does what let me know I’m open to just about any info

They are big radios and super old but he said they work and quite honestly they are kinda the perfect thing to throw on a shelf in an old cabin or something for that just in case situation. The odds of them breaking because you drop them or they say too long are a lot lower than with these new cheap radios I am usually programming

 

[kayn1n32008]

Honestly, the battery rails are the weak point. While they are solid radios, it's a lot of mass, and they are fairly fragile believe it or not.

The problem you are going to have, is that I think they can only be used in amateur radio service, they are 5kHz deviation only, and ONLY do CTCSS, they are not capable of DCS.

I don't honestly remember how they were programmed. I'll try amd see what I can dig up on them. Not too often I see them these days.

Good thing, those batteries can be disassembled and repacked with new cells. You're going to have to figure something out because they are NiCad packs, you will probably want to go to Lipo or LiIon, and will need to figure out a new charging method. The old chargers were only meant for NiCad charging.

 

[kayn1n32008]

You are going to have to aquire an ICOM EX-704 external programmer. These are not computer programmable AFAIK, from what I have been able to determine by searching on line.

 

[Gavin7]

Honestly, the battery rails are the weak point. While they are solid radios, it's a lot of mass, and they are fairly fragile believe it or not.

The problem you are going to have, is that I think they can only be used in amateur radio service, I don't believe they are 2.5kHz deviation capable. Only 5kHz.

I don't honestly remember how they were programmed. I'll try amd see what I can dig up on them. Not too often I see them these days.

Good thing, those batteries can be disassembled and repacked with new cells. You're going to have to figure something out because they are NiCad packs, you will probably want to go to Lipo or LiIon, and will need to figure out a new charging method. The old chargers were only meant for NiCad charging.

Lots of good stuff to work with. They are ex fire department radios which is how he got them as he’s a current firefighter they seemed to hold up pretty well which has to say something to the quality as being a firefighter myself I know what we put our gear through lol.
I do see the rails would definitely be a weak point so something to watch for.
As for the deviation I guess we’ll find out hopefully. They would mostly be for emergency’s anyway so would probably have a few local ham repeaters the calling frequency and maybe our respective departments main frequency to give options in case of an emergency.

I’m thankful for anything anyone can dig up on these for sure!

Yeah my plan was to repack the battery packs preferably with 18650s if I can fit them and a small built in bms. If not probably Lipo soft packs. Definitely a new charger and the built in bms will simply the options for that. If that doesn’t work a set of alligator clips or a 12v cigarette lighter plug for direct power would allow for a lot of options.

 

[Gavin7]

You are going to have to aquire an ICOM EX-704 external programmer. These are not computer programmable AFAIK, from what I have been able to determine by searching on line.

Hey that’s a start. I’ll look into that. If I can’t find one for a reasonable price (if I can find one at all) I’ve considered hooking up my spectrum analyzer to see what’s already programmed in.
Any idea what the scan feature allows? Does it scan all 16 frequencies or a section of the spectrum?

 

[kayn1n32008]

They would mostly be for emergency’s anyway so would probably have a few local ham repeaters the calling frequency and maybe our respective departments main frequency to give options in case of an emergency.

Sorry, I edited my post. They are only capable of +/-5kHz deviation, so only amateur service. No LMR at all, if you are in the USA.

 

[Gavin7]

Sorry, I edited my post. They are only capable of +/-5kHz deviation, so only amateur service. No LMR at all, if you are in the USA.

Thanks for the info. I’m in Canada and odds are it’s the same rules but worth a check I don’t recall what the standard for LMR here is.
Question where did you get the data? Not questioning it but if I could lay eyes on a spec sheet or manual that would be awesome
Oh also the lack of dcs wouldn’t be an issue as like nothing up here uses that. Mostly ctcss or nothing at all. Most radios have the option but I’ve never actually had to program a radio system that required it.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Hey that’s a start. I’ll look into that. If I can’t find one for a reasonable price (if I can find one at all) I’ve considered hooking up my spectrum analyzer to see what’s already programmed in.
Any idea what the scan feature allows? Does it scan all 16 frequencies or a section of the spectrum?

Honestly, I don't remember. It's been way too many years, and I didn't do much with them besides monthly bench tests for a client. They had static programming, that didn't change until they replaced the system they had at the time.

They were a 'dumb' radio that the client used for operations thay didn't need to use any of the networks features, except local repeat. It was a T1 leaseline linked system that used DTMF for control of linking repeaters and telephone interconnect. With out DTMF, you could only utilize the repeaters as stand alone machines.

This was one of about 4 portable radios in use, including IC-H28(29 maybe), IC-F3 and GE MPD portables(at the time). There were 3 or 4 different mobiles in use on the network as well at the time.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Thanks for the info. I’m in Canada and odds are it’s the same rules but worth a check I don’t recall what the standard for LMR here is.
Question where did you get the data? Not questioning it but if I could lay eyes on a spec sheet or manual that would be awesome
Oh also the lack of dcs wouldn’t be an issue as like nothing up here uses that. Mostly ctcss or nothing at all. Most radios have the option but I’ve never actually had to program a radio system that required it.

Honestly, Google. Some good info came from a Russian ham operator web site, that I had to translate.

You may be okay in Canada, depending on what you put in it, and what the licenses say for deviation. ISED is starting to license stuff for 11k0 rather than 16k0 for analogue. If you are in BC, you can't put any of the Resource Road channels in them, but the LADD1-4 would be okay.

 

[Gavin7]

Honestly, Google. Some good info came from a Russian ham operator web site, that I had to translate.

You may be okay in Canada, depending on what you put in it, and what the licenses say for deviation. ISED is starting to license stuff for 11k0 rather than 16k0 for analogue. If you are in BC, you can't put any of the Resource Road channels in them, but the LADD1-4 would be okay.

Thanks for all that. Definitely got at least some idea of what I’m working with. Definitely plenty of research to do on them. Unfortunately not in bc as many those road channels are an awesome thing. Having all that infrastructure and all those rigs already listening in it’s similar to CB but with slight regulation and the fact that it’s VHF.

 

[Gavin7]

Honestly, I don't remember. It's been way too many years, and I didn't do much with them besides monthly bench tests for a client. They had static programming, that didn't change until they replaced the system they had at the time.

They were a 'dumb' radio that the client used for operations thay didn't need to use any of the networks features, except local repeat. It was a T1 leaseline linked system that used DTMF for control of linking repeaters and telephone interconnect. With out DTMF, you could only utilize the repeaters as stand alone machines.

This was one of about 4 portable radios in use, including IC-H28(29 maybe), IC-F3 and GE MPD portables(at the time). There were 3 or 4 different mobiles in use on the network as well at the time.

I think honestly the reason he’s so interested in having them considering he already has personal radios and his department issued radio is because they are just that “dumb” radios.
These new radios with the buttons and screens all the very sensitive circuitry they break very easily when dropped and don’t even mention water around them. These older beasts even if say the battery rail broke both him and I could easily improvise either a fix or an alternative power supply

 

[K9KLC]

I didn't do much with them besides monthly bench tests for a client

That was all I ever did with them. Put it on the IFR, verify frequency, receive and output, put a tag on it and send it out. I never had the programmer, for some reason they brought them to me to check and do minor repairs on, (broken antenna connections and etc) but someone else did the programming. I remember that radio now, honestly this was in the late 90s and that is a log time ago for me. Lots has happened since then. Thanks @kayn1n32008 for finding and remember what I couldn't.

 

[kayn1n32008]

I think honestly the reason he’s so interested in having them considering he already has personal radios and his department issued radio is because they are just that “dumb” radios.
These new radios with the buttons and screens all the very sensitive circuitry they break very easily when dropped and don’t even mention water around them. These older beasts even if say the battery rail broke both him and I could easily improvise either a fix or an alternative power supply

There are some decent radios out there now that have some real capabilities, but are 'dumb'

Both the XPR3300 and the XPR7350 fit the bill nicely, and while are discontinued, are both solid radios.

I have an XPR3300 it's 16 channels, o display, scans, supports PL/DPL, and can be programmed with a modern computer. It's also got a ton of other features, but at its core, it's a good analogue radio. It's also way lighter, very durable, and is less than half the weight and way smaller. Down side is the antenna connector.

I miss TNC/BNC connectors on portables.