User manual YAESU VX-7R

50/144/430 MHz TRIPLE-BAND HEAVY DUTY SUBMERSIBLE TRANSCEIVER OPERATING MANUAL VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD. VERTEX STANDARD 4-8-8 Nakameguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 153-8644, Japan US Headquarters 10900 Walker Street, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A. YAESU EUROPE B.V. YAESU UK LTD. P.O. Box 75525, 1118 ZN Schiphol, The Netherlands Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K. VERTEX STANDARD HK LTD. Unit 5, 20/F., Seaview Centre, 139-141 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong VERTEX STANDARD (AUSTRALIA) PTY., LTD. Normanby Business Park, Unit 14/45 Normanby Road Notting Hill 3168, Victoria, Australia Contents Introduction .................................................................. 1 Controls & Connections .............................................. 2 Display Icons & Indicators ......................................... 3 Keypad Function .......................................................... 4 Accessories & Options ................................................. 6 Installation of Accessories ........................................... 7 Antenna Installation .................................................. 7 How to Install the Quick Draw Belt Clip .................. 8 Installation of FNB-80LI Battery Pack ..................... 8 Installation of FBA-23 (option) Alkaline Battery Case .......................................... 9 Battery Life Information .......................................... 10 AC Operation Using NC-72 .................................... 10 Interface of Packet TNCs .......................................... 11 Operation .................................................................... 12 Switching Power On and Off .................................. 12 Adjusting the Volume Level .................................... 12 Squelch Adjustment ................................................ 13 Selecting the Operating Band .................................. 14 Selecting the Frequency Band ................................. 15 Frequency Navigation ............................................. 16 Audio Muting .......................................................... 17 BAND Link ............................................................. 17 Transmission ........................................................... 18 Changing the Transmitter Power Level .............. 18 VOX Operation ....................................................... 19 AM Broadcast Reception ........................................ 20 AM Aircraft Reception ........................................... 20 FM Broadcast/TV Audio Reception ....................... 21 Weather Broadcast Reception ................................. 22 Keyboard Locking .................................................. 23 Keypad/LCD Illumination ....................................... 24 Disabling the Keypad Beeper .................................. 24 Advanced Operation .................................................. 25 Setting the Frequency Display Image Size .............. 25 Changing the Channel Steps .................................... 25 Changing the Operating Mode ................................ 26 Repeater Operation ................................................. 27 CTCSS Operation ................................................... 30 DCS Operation ....................................................... 31 Tone Search Scanning ............................................. 32 CTCSS/DCS Bell Operation ................................... 33 Split Tone Operation ............................................... 33 Tone Calling (1750 Hz) .......................................... 34 ARTS (Automatic Range Transponder System) ..... 35 DTMF Operation .................................................... 38 Emergency Channel Operation ................................ 39 ATT (Front End Attenuator) ................................... 40 Receive Battery Saver Setup ................................... 40 TX Battery Saver .................................................... 41 Disabling the "STROBE" ....................................... 41 Automatic Power-Off (APO) Feature ..................... 42 Transmitter Time-Out Timer (TOT) ........................ 42 Busy Channel Lock-Out (BCLO) ............................ 43 MIC Monitor ........................................................... 43 Changing the TX Deviation Level ........................... 44 Memory Mode ............................................................ Regular Memory Operation .................................... Memory Storage ................................................. Storing Independent Transmit Frequencies ("Odd Split") ...................................................... Memory Recall ................................................... HOME Channel Memory ................................... Labeling Memories ............................................ Memory Offset Tuning ....................................... Masking Memories ............................................ Memory Group Operation .................................. Moving Memory Data to the VFO ..................... Memory Only Mode ........................................... Hyper Memory Operation ....................................... One-Touch Memory Operation ............................... Sort-wave Broadcast Station Memory Channels ..... VHF Marine Memory Channels .............................. Scanning ...................................................................... VFO Scanning ......................................................... Memory Scanning ................................................... Temporary Memory Skip ................................... How to Skip (Omit) a Channel During Memory Scan Operation ........................ Preferential Memory Scan .................................. Programmable (Band Limit) Memory Scan (PMS) . "Priority Channel" Scanning (Dual Watch) ............ Automatic Lamp Illumination on Scan Stop ............ Band Edge Beeper .................................................. Spectrum Analyzer Operation ................................. Smart Search Operation .......................................... Channel Counter Operation ..................................... Internet Connection Feature .................................... Sensor Mode ............................................................... Sensor Mode Option ............................................... Clock Set ............................................................ Selecting the Wave Form Display ...................... Selecting the Unit of Temperature Display ........ Selecting the Unit of Atmospheric Pressure Meter (Barometer) .......... Correcting the Atmospheric Pressure Meter (Barometer Offset) ............................................. Selecting the Unit of Altimeter ........................... Correcting the Altimeter Setting (Altimeter Offset) ............................................... Timer Operation ........................................................ Display Customization ............................................... Icon Mode ............................................................... Icon Selection ......................................................... Icon Editor .............................................................. Power-Off Display Mode ........................................ S-and TX Power Meter Symbols ............................ Font Editor .............................................................. Display Contrast ..................................................... Display Dimmer ...................................................... STROBE Customization ......................................... Reset Procedures ....................................................... Cloning ........................................................................ Set Mode ..................................................................... Installation of the SU-1 .............................................. Specifications .............................................................. 45 46 46 46 47 47 48 49 50 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 58 59 59 60 61 61 62 62 63 64 66 67 68 69 69 70 70 70 70 71 71 72 73 73 73 74 75 76 77 78 78 79 80 81 82 97 98 INTRODUCTION The VX-7R is a miniature 3-band FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing leading-edge features for VHF and UHF twoway amateur communications, along with unmatched monitoring capability. The VX-7R's small size allows you to take it anywhere ­ hiking, skiing, or while walking around town ­ and its operating flexibility brings the user many avenues of operating enjoyment. Besides 50, 144, and 430 MHz transceive operation, the VX-7R provides 222 MHz QRP (0.3 Watts) transceive operation, receive coverage of the AM (MF) and FM broadcast bands, HF Shortwave Bands, VHF and UHF TV bands, the VHF AM aircraft band, and a wide range of commercial and public safety frequencies! Dual In-band Receive (V/V and U/U) lets you keep track of two active frequencies. And the optional Barometer pressure Sensor Unit provides readout of barometric pressure and altitude while mountain climbing or hiking, and it also generates a Weather Forecast based on measured data. The transmitter section provides 5 Watts of clean power output on the FM operation on the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 430 MHz bands with the supplied FNB-80LI Battery Pack, and 0.3 Watts output on 222 MHz, and 1 Watt of carrier output for AM operation on 50 MHz. Both CTCSS and DCS tone signaling formats are built into the VX-7R, in addition to Yaesu's exclusive ARTSTM-(Auto-Range Transponder System), which "beeps" the user when you move out of communications range with another ARTSTM-equipped station. We appreciate your purchase of the VX-7R, and encourage you to read this manual thoroughly, so as to learn about the many exciting features of your exciting new Yaesu hand-held transceiver! VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 1 CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS ANTENNA Connect the supplied rubber flex antenna (or another antenna presenting a 50-Ohm impedance) here. MIC/SP This four-conductor miniature jack provides connection points for microphone audio, earphone audio, PTT, and ground. VOLUME This control adjusts the audio volume level. Clockwise rotation increases the volume level. DIAL The main tuning Dial is used for setting the operating frequency, and also is used for Menu selections and other adjustments. PTT ("Push To Talk") Press this switch inward to transmit, and release it (to receive) after your transmission is completed. EXT DC This coaxial DC jack allows connection to an external DC power source (10-16V DC). The center pin of this jack is the Positive (+) line. MIC The internal microphone is located at the bottom righthand corner of the display. SPEAKER The internal speaker is located directly below the display. STROBE The STROBE is the unique indicator which indicates the transceiver's status. You may customize the STROBE color setup via the Menu mode. MONI Pressing this key disables the noise squelching action, allowing you to hear very weak signals near the background noise level. (PWR) Switch Press and hold this switch for 2 seconds to toggle the transceiver's power on and off. KEYBOARD These 17 keys select many of the most important operating features on the VX-7R. This function of the keys are described in details on pages 4 and 5. 2 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL DISPLAY ICONS & INDICATORS "Main" Band Frequency Control "Main" Band S- & PO Meter "Sub" Band Frequency Control "Sub" Band S- & PO Meter "Main" Band Frequency "Main" Band Operating Mode "Sub" Band Frequency "Sub" Band Operating Mode FREQUENCY CONTROL VFO: VFO Mode (page 15) MR: Memory Mode (page 45) MT: Memory Tume Mode (page 49) PMS: Programable Memory Scan Mode (page 61) WX: Weather Channel (page 22) Sea: Marine Channel (page 56) HYP: Hyper Memory Mode (page 53) OTM: One Touch Memory Mode (page 54) LST: Short-wave Broadcast StationMemory (page 55) OPERATING MODE NFM: FM WFM: Wide FM AM: AM ICON : Dual Watch Active (page 61) : Key Lock Active (page 23) : Repeater Shift Direction (page 27) : Minus (­) Shift : Plus (+) Shifh : Odd Splits : CTCSS/DCS Operation (page 30) : Tone Encoder : Tone Squelch : Digital Code Squelch (DCS) : TX: Tone Encoder, RX: DCS Decoder : TX: DCS Encoder, RX: Tone Decoder : DCS Encoder : Automatic Power-Off Active (page 42) : Low TX Power Selected (page 18) No Icon: High Power : Low Power 3 : Low Power 2 : Low Power 1 : Bell Alarm Active (page 33) : DTMF Autodialer Active (page 39) : Audio Mute Active (page 17) : VOX Active (page 18) : RF Front-end Attenuator Active (page 40) : Battery Saver Active (page 40) : Low Battery! (page 10) VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 3 KEYPAD FUNCTIONS Press Key Activates the "Alternate" key Function Frequency entry digit "1" Frequency entry digit "2" Press + No Action Activates the Scanner Activates the Dual Watch Feature Press and Hold Key Activates the "Memory Write" mode (for memory channel storage) Store the current setting Store the current setting into the into the Hyper Memory "1" Hyper Memory "2" Press Key Reverses the transmit and receive frequencies while working through a repeater Switches operation to the "Home" (favorite frequency) Channel Frequency entry digit "4" Frequency entry digit "5" Press + Activates the ARTS Feature Activates the Smart SearchTM Feature Press and Hold Key Activates the EMERGENCY Function Store the current setting Store the current setting into the into the Hyper Memory "4" Hyper Memory "5" Press Key Activates the Internet Connection Feature Frequency entry digit "7" Frequency entry digit "8" Press + Select the desired transmit power output Activates the Channel Counter Feature Activates the CTCSS or DCS Operation Press and Hold Key Activates the Key Lock Feature Store the current setting Store the current setting into the into the Hyper Memory "7" Hyper Memory "8" 4 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL KEYPAD FUNCTIONS Frequency entry digit "3" Moves operation to the next-highest frequency band Press Key Switches the "Upper" frequency to be the "Operating" (TX) Band Switches the "Upper" frequency display between the "Large Character" and "Small Character" mode Activates the Dual Receive Feature Recall the "Weather" broadcast channel bank Moves operation to the next-lowest frequency band Press + Store the current setting Moves operation to the into the next-highest Hyper Memory "3" frequency band Press and Hold Key Frequency entry digit "6" Frequency entry digit "0" Press Key Switches the "Lower" frequency to be the "Operating" (TX) Band Switches the "Lower" frequency display between the "Large Character" and "Small Character" mode Activates the Dual Receive Feature Activates the Spectrum Analyzer (Spectra-ScopeTM) Feature Enter the "Set" (Menu) Mode Press + Store the current setting Store the current setting into the into the Hyper Memory "6" Hyper Memory "0" Press and Hold Key MONI Key Frequency entry digit "9" Switches frequency control between the VFO and Memory System USA Version: Disables the Noise and Tone Squelch System EXP Version: Activates T.CALL (1750 Hz) for repeater access USA Version: Enters the Squelch level setting mode EXP Version: Activates T.CALL (1750 Hz) for repeater access Press Key Enters the "Special Memory" mode No Action Press + Store the current setting into the Hyper Memory "9" Activates the "Memory Tune" mode while in the Memory Recall mode Press and Hold Key No Action VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 5 ACCESSORIES & OPTIONS ACCESSORIES SUPPLIED WITH THE VX-7R FNB-80LI Battery Pack (7.4V/1,400mAh) NC-72B/C Battery Charger Quick Draw Belt Clip Hand Strap Antenna Operating Manual Warranty Card AVAILABLE OPTIONS FOR YOUR VX-7R CSC-88 CD-15A FBA-23 FNB-80LI E-DC-5B NC-72B/C E-DC-6 CT-91 VC-27 MH-57A4B CMP460A CN-3 SU-1 Soft Case Rapid Charger (requires NC-72B/C) 2 x "AA" Cell Battery Case (batteries not supplied) Battery Pack (7.4V/1,400 mAh) DC Cable w/Noise Filter Battery Charger DC Cable; plug and wire only Microphone Adapter Earpiece/Microphone Speaker/Microphone Waterproof Speaker/Microphone BNC-to-SMA Adapter Barometric Pressure Sensor Unit Availability of accessories may vary. Some accessories are supplied as standard per local requirements, while others may be unavailable in some regions. Consult your Yaesu Dealer for details regarding these and any newly-available options. Connection of any non-Yaesuapproved accessory, should it cause damage, may void the Limited Warranty on this apparatus. 6 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES ANTENNA INSTALLATION The supplied antenna provides good results over the entire frequency range of the transceiver. However, for enhanced base station medium-wave and shortwave reception, you may wish to connect an external (outside) antenna. The supplied antenna consists of two sections: the "Base Antenna" (used for operation above 50 MHz), and the "Extender Element" (used for monitoring of frequencies below 50 MHz). To install the supplied antenna Hold the bottom end of the antenna, then screw it onto the mating connector on the transceiver until it is snug. Do not overtighten by use of extreme force. When operating the VX-7R on the 50 MHz band and lower frequencies, disconnect the antenna cap from the base antenna, then screw the Extender Element onto the Antenna Base. Of course, the VX-7R may be operated on frequencies higher than the 50 MHz band while the Extender Element is still attached onto the Antenna Base. Notes: Never transmit without having an antenna connected. When installing the supplied antenna, never hold the upper part of the antenna while screwing it onto the mating connector on the transceiver. If using an external antenna for transmission, ensure that the SWR presented to the transceiver is 1.5:1 or lower. Take care not lose the antenna cap when removing it from the Base Antenna. HAND STRAP INSTALLATION VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 7 INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES HOW TO INSTALL THE QUICK DRAW BELT CLIP 1. Connect the hanger to the rear of the VX-7R, with the notch pointing directly up, using the supplied screw (Figure 1). Use only the screw included with the clip to mount the clip to the back of the VX-7R! 2. Clip the Quick-Draw Belt Clip onto your belt (Figure 2). 3. To install the VX-7R into the Quick-Draw Belt Clip, align the hanger with the QuickDraw Belt Clip, and slide the VX-7R into its slot until a click is heard (Figure 3). 4. To remove the VX-7R from the Quick-Draw Belt Clip, rotate the VX-7R 180 degrees, then slide the VX-7R out from the Quick-Draw Belt Clip (Figure 4). Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 2 INSTALLATION OF FNB-80LI BATTERY PACK The FNB-80LI is a high-performance Lithium-Ion battery providing high capacity in a very compact package. Under normal use, the FNB-80LI may be used for approximately 300 charge cycles, after which operating time may be expected to decrease. If you have an old battery pack which is displaying capacity which has become diminished, you should replace the pack with a new one. 1. Install the FNB-80LI as shown in the illustration. 2. Close the Battery Pack Latch on the bottom of the radio. 8 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES INSTALLATION OF FNB-80LI BATTERY PACK If the battery has never been used, or its charge is depleted, it may be charged by connecting the NC-72B/C Battery Charger, as shown in the illustration, to the EXT DC jack. If only 12 ~ 16 Volt DC power is available, the optional E-DC-5B or E-DC-6 DC Adapter (with its cigarette lighter plug) may also be used for charging the battery, as shown NC-72B/C E-DC-5B in the illustration. E-DC-6 now charging" The display will indicate "now charging while the battery is being charged. When charging is finished, the display will change to indicate "complete and the STROBE complete" complete indicator will glow blue. INSTALLATION OF FBA-23 ALKALINE BATTERY CASE (OPTION) The optional FBA-23 Battery Case allows receive monitoring using two "AA" size Alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries can also be used for transmission in an emergency, but power output will only be selectable 300 mW and 50 mW, and battery life will be shortened dramatically. To Install Alkaline Batteries into the FBA-23 1. Slide the batteries into the FBA-23 as shown in the illustration, with the Negative [­] side of the batteries touching the spring connections inside the FBA-23. 2. Open the Battery Pack Latch on the bottom of the radio. 3. Install the FBA-23 as shown in the illustration, with the [+] side facing the bottom of the transceiver. 4. Close the Battery Pack Latch on the bottom of the radio. The FBA-23 does not provide connections for charging, since Alkaline cells cannot be recharged. Therefore, the NC-72B/C, E-DC-5B, or E-DC-6 may safely be connected to the EXT DC jack when the FBA-23 is installed. Notes: The FBA-23 is designed for use only with AA-type Alkaline cells. If you do not use the VX-7R for a long time, remove the Alkaline batteries from the FBA-23, as battery leakage could cause damage to the FBA-23 and/or the transceiver. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 9 INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES BATTERY LIFE INFORMATION When the battery charge is almost depleted, a "Low Voltage" indicator will appear on the display. When this icon appears, it is recommended that you charge the battery soon. Operating Band 50 MHz 144 MHz (1) 430 MHz (1) Other Band (2) (1) Battery Life (Approx.) FNB-80LI FBA-23 6.5 hours 7.0 hours 6.0 hours 6.5 hours 5.5 hours 6.0 hours 15 hours 15 hours Low Voltage Indicator FNB-80LI: No Icon: Fully battery power : Enough battery power : Lower battery power : Poor battery power : Nearing depletion (w/Blink): Prepare to charge the battery FBA-23: : Enough battery power (w/Blink): Prepare to replace the battery (1) TX 6 sec., RX 6 sec. and Squelched 48 sec. (2) Continuous signal reception The current battery voltage can be displayed manually on the LCD, by following the instructions on page 68. Battery capacity may be reduced during extremely cold weather operation. Keeping the radio inside your parka may help preserve the full charge capacity. AC OPERATION USING NC-72B/C (RECEIVING ONLY) The VX-7R may be operated from your house current by use of the supplied NC-72B/C Battery Charger. The NC-72B/C should only be used for reception, because it is not capable of supplying sufficient current to support transmission. To use the NC-72B/C, turn the transceiver off, then plug the miniature connector of the Battery Charger into the EXT DC jack on the side of the radio. Now plug the Battery Charger into the wall outlet. You may now turn on the transceiver. 10 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL INTERFACE OF PACKET TNCS The VX-7R may be used for Packet operation, using the optional CT-91 microphone adapter (available from your Yaesu dealer) for easy interconnection to commonly-available connectors wired to your TNC. You may also build your own cable using a four-conductor miniature phone plug, per the diagram below. The audio level from the receiver to the TNC may be adjusted by using the VOLUME knob, as with voice operation. The input level to the VX-7R from the TNC should be adjusted at the TNC side; the optimum input voltage is approximately 5 mV at 2000 Ohms. Be sure to turn the transceiver and TNC off before connecting the cables, so as to prevent voltage spikes from possibly damaging your transceiver. 3.5 Jack 3.5 Plug 2.5 Jack 2.5 Plug VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 11 OPERATION Hi! I'm R. F. Radio, and I'll be helping you along as you learn the many features of the VX-7R. I know you're anxious to get on the air, but I encourage you to read the "Operation" section of this manual as thoroughly as possible, so you'll get the most out of this fantastic new transceiver. Now. . .let's get operating! SWITCHING POWER ON AND OFF 1. Be sure the battery pack is installed, and that the battery is fully charged. Connect the antenna to the top panel ANTENNA jack. (PWR) switch (on the left side 2. Press and hold in the of the front panel) for 2 seconds. Two beeps will be heard when the switch has been held long enough, and the opening message will appear on the display, then frequency display will appear. After another two seconds, the receive-mode Battery Saver function will become active, unless you have disabled it (see page 40). (PWR) switch again for 2 seconds. 3. To turn the VX-7R off, press and hold in the If you don't hear the two "Beep" tones when the radio comes on, the Beeper may have been disabled via the Menu system. See page 24, which tells you how to reactivate the Beeper. ADJUSTING THE VOLUME LEVEL Rotate the VOLUME control (inner knob) to set the desired audio level. Clockwise rotation increases the volume level. 24-hour Clock The VX-7R has a 24-hour clock with a calendar which covers all dates from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2099. Set the clock according to the "Clock Set" column on page 69. 12 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION SQUELCH ADJUSTMENT The VX-7R's Squelch system allows you to mute the background noise when no signal is being received. Not only does the Squelch system make "standby" operation more pleasant, it also significantly reduces battery current consumption. The Squelch system may be adjusted independently for the FM and Wide-FM (FM Broadcast) modes. 1. Press the key, then press the MONI switch on the left side of the radio. This provides a "Short-cut" to Menu Item (Basic Setup #1: SQL NFM or Menu Item (Basic NFM) Basic Basic WFM). Setup #2: SQL WFM 2. Now, press the or key to set the background noise is just silenced (typically at a setting of about "3" or "4" on the scale); this is point of maximum sensitivity to weak signals. 3. When you are satisfied with the Squelch threshold setting, press the PTT key momentarily to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 4. You may also adjust the Squelch setting by using the "Set" (Menu) mode. See page 82 for details. 1) The Squelch level may be set on the "Main" and "Sub" bands separately. 2) If you're operating in an area of high RF pollution, you may need to consider "Tone Squelch" operation using the built-in CTCSS Decoder. This feature will keep your radio quiet until a call is received from a station sending a carrier which contains a matching (subaudible) CTCSS tone. Or if your friends have radios equipped with DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) like your VX-7R has, try using that mode for silent monitoring of busy channels. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 13 OPERATION SELECTING THE OPERATING BAND In the factory default configuration, the VX-7R operates in the "Dual Receive" mode. During Dual Receive operation, the "Main" band frequency will be displayed on the upper side of the LCD, and the "Sub" band frequency will be displayed on the lower side, with the "Operating" band (the band on which transmission and band/frequency change are possible) being indicated in large characters, and "Receive only" band being indicated in small characters. To switch the "Operating" band, press the key momentarily to engage the "Main" band frequency as the "Operating" band. Alternatively, press the key momentarily to engage the "Sub" band frequency as the "Operating" band, described previously. Press and hold in the or with a double-size display. key for 1/2 seconds to switch to Mono Band Operation key, then press the / key, to During Mono band operation, you may press the change the display to show only large characters. The "Sub" band frequency may only be used on the amateur bands, even if it is designated as the "Operating" band. Extended receiver coverage is only possible on the "Main" band. Press key Press key Press and hold key Press and hold key Press and hold key Press and hold key Press and hold Press and hold key key Press key Press key Press / key Press / key Press key Press key 14 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION SELECTING THE FREQUENCY BAND The VX-7R covers an incredibly wide frequency range, over which a number of different operating modes are used. Therefore, the VX-7R's frequency coverage has been divided into different operating bands, each of which has its own pre-set channel steps and operating modes. You can change the channel steps and operating modes later, if you like (see page 25). BAND BC Band SW Band FM BC Band AIR Band VHF-TV Band Action Band 1 UHF TV Band Action Band 2 50 MHz Ham Band 144 MHz Ham Band 222 MHz Ham Band 430 MHz Ham Band "Main" Band 0.5-1.8 MHz 1.8-30 MHz 59-108 MHz (88-108 MHz) 108-137 MHz 174-222 MHz 225-420 MHz 470-729 MHz (470-800 MHz) 800-999 MHz 30-59 MHz (30-88 MHz) 137-174 MHz 222-225 MHz (--) 420-470 MHz ( "Sub" Band -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 50-54 MHz 140-174 MHz -- 420-470 MHz ): EXP Version To Change Operating Bands 1. Press the key repetitively. You will see the LCD indication move toward a higher frequency band each time you press the key. 2. If you wish to move the operating band selection downward (toward lower frequencies), press the key first, then press the key. 3. The VX-7R uses a dual VFO system (described previously). To switch TX/RX operation from the "Main" VFO to the "Sub" VFO instantly, press the key momentarily. Pressing the key will return the VX-7R to the "Main" VFO. The frequency band bearing the "Large" characters is the band on which transmission is possible; the band designated by "Small" characters may only be used for reception. 4. Once you have selected the desired band, you may initiate manual tuning (or scanning) per the discussions on the next page. Dual Receive Notice The VX-7R may receive very strong signals on the Image frequency, and/or the receiver sensitivity may be somewhat reduced by the combination of the "Main" and "Sub" band frequencies while Dual Receive operation is engaged. If you experience interference that you suspect may be coming in via an "Image" path, you may calculate the possible frequencies using the formulas below. This information may be used in the design of effective countermeasures such as traps, etc. 3.579545 MHz x n 11.7 MHz x n (n is an integer: 1, 2, 3, ...) "Main" band freq. = ("Sub" band freq. ± 46.35 MHz) x n "Sub" band freq. = ("Main" band freq. ± 47.25 MHz) x n (@ "Main band = NFM) "Sub" band freq. = ("Main" band freq. ± 45.8 MHz) x n (@ "Main band = WFM) VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 15 OPERATION FREQUENCY NAVIGATION The VX-7R will initially be operating in the "VFO" mode, as just described. This is a channelized system which allows free tuning throughout the currently-selected operating band. Three basic frequency navigation methods are available on the VX-7R: 1) Tuning Dial (Outer ring of dual control on Top Panel) Rotation of the DIAL allows tuning in the pre-programmed steps established for the current operating band. Clockwise rotation of the DIAL causes the VX-7R to be tuned toward a higher frequency, while counter-clockwise rotation will lower the operating frequency. If you press the key momentarily, then rotate the DIAL, frequency steps of 1 MHz will be selected. This feature is extremely useful for making rapid frequency excursions over the wide tuning range of the VX-7R. 2) Direct Keypad Frequency Entry The desired operating frequency may be entered directly from the keypad. The operating mode will automatically be set once the new frequency is entered via the keypad. To enter a frequency from the keypad, just press the numbered digits on the keypad in the proper sequence. There is no "Decimal point" key on the VX-7R, so if the frequency is below 100 MHz (e.g. 15.150 MHz), any required leading zeroes must be entered. However, there is key after the last non-zero digit. a short-cut for frequencies ending in zero - press the Examples: To enter 146.520 MHz, press To enter 15.255 MHz, press To enter 1.250 MHz (1250 kHz), press To enter 0.950 MHz (950 kHz), press To enter 430.000MHz, press 3) Scanning From the VFO mode, press the key, then press the key. The VX-7R will begin scanning toward a higher frequency, and will stop when it receives a signal strong enough to break through the Squelch threshold. The VX-7R will then hold on that frequency according to the setting of the "RESUME mode (Menu Item: Scan Modes #3 See page 57 for details. RESUME" #3). RESUME If you wish to reverse the direction of the scan (i.e. toward a lower frequency, instead of a higher frequency), just rotate the DIAL one click in the counter-clockwise direction while the VX-7R is scanning. The scanning direction will be reversed. To revert to scanning toward a higher frequency once more, rotate the DIAL one click clockwise. Press the PTT switch momentarily to cancel the scanning. 16 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION AUDIO MUTING The Audio Mute feature is useful in situations where it would be helpful to reduce the audio level of the "Receive Only" band (Small character display) whenever you receive a signal on the "Main" band (Large character display) during Dual Receive operation. To activate the Audio Mute feature: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Basic SET). Operation #8: MUTE SET 3. Press the or key to select "ON (to enable Audio ON" ON Mute feature). 4. Press the PTT switch to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 5. To disable the Audio Mute feature, select "OFF in step 3 OFF" OFF above. When the Audio Mute feature is activated, the " " icon will appear on the display. BAND LINKING For split operation on Amateur bands, the BAND Link feature may be useful. 1. Set up dual receive operation, as just described. key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Press the 3. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Misc LINK). Setup #9: BAND LINK 4. Press the or key to set this Menu Item to ON ON. 5. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to Linked/Dual receive operation. As you rotate the DIAL, you will observe that both bands' frequencies are changing together. When you are done with this operating mode, re-enter the Set mode, and set (Misc Setup #9: BAND LINK to OFF LINK) OFF. Misc The BAND Link feature requires that (1) "Main" band and "Sub" band be set to same band (Dual In-band receive), (2) Menu Item ( Misc Setup MODE BAND." #10: VFO MODE ) must be set to "BAND In other words, the BAND Link BAND feature cannot activated if "Main" band and "Sub" band are not set to the same band, or if Menu Item ( Misc Setup #10: VFO MOD E ) is set to "ALL MODE ALL." ALL VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 17 OPERATION TRANSMISSION Once you have set up an appropriate frequency inside one of the three (or four) Amateur bands on which the VX-7R can transmit (50 MHz, 144 MHz, or 430 MHz, plus 222 MHz on the USA version), you're ready to transmit. These are the most basic steps; more advanced aspects of transmitter operation will be discussed later. 1. To transmit, press the PTT switch, and speak into the front panel microphone (located in the upper right-hand corner of the speaker grille) in a normal voice level. The "STROBE" will glow red during transmission. 2. To return to the receive mode, release the PTT switch. 3. During transmission, the relative power level will be indicated on the LCD. Additionally, the "L1," "L2," or "L3" icon will appear at the bottom of the display, corresponding with the "Low Power" Level setting. If you're just talking to friends in the immediate area, you'll get much longer battery life by switching to Low Power operation. To do this, press key, then press the key so that the "L" icon appears at the the bottom of the display. And don't forget: always have an antenna connected when you transmit. Transmission is not possible on any operating bands other than the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 222 MHz, and 430 MHz bands. Changing the Transmitter Power Level You can select between a total of four transmitter power levels on your VX-7R. The exact power output will vary somewhat, depending on the voltage supplied to the transceiver. With the standard FNB-80LI ICONS NONE L3 L2 L1 Battery Pack and external DC source, 50/144/430 MHz 5.0 W 2.5 W 1.0 W 0.05 W the power output levels available are: 222 MHz FM ­ ­ 0.3 W 0.05 W 50 MHz AM 1.0 W (Fixed) To change the power level: 1. The default setting for the power output is "High;" in this configuration, the LCD shows no indication of the power output level. Pressing the key, followed by the key, causes the power level "L1," "L2," or "L3" to appear. key, followed by the key (repeatedly, if necessary) to make the 2. Press the "Low Power" icon disappear and restore High Power operation. 1) The VX-7R is smart! You can set up Low power on one band (like UHF), while leaving VHF on High power, and the radio will remember the different settings on each band. And when you store memories, you can store High and Low power settings separately in each memory, so you don't waste battery power when using very close-in repeaters! 18 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION TRANSMISSION 2) When you are operating on one of the Low power settings, you can press the key, then press the PTT switch, to cause the VX-7R to transmit (temporarily) on High power. After one transmission, the power level will revert to the previously-selected Low power setting. VOX OPERATION The VOX system provides automatic transmit/receive switching based on voice input to the microphone. With the VOX system enabled, you do not need to press the PTT switch in order to transmit, and it is not necessary to use a VOX headset in order to utilize VOX operation. 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Misc SENS). Setup #7: VOX SENS 3. Press the or key to select the desired VOX Gain level ("HIGH or "LOW HIGH" LOW"). HIGH LOW 4. When you have made your choice, press the PTT key to save the new setting and return to normal operation. 5. Without pressing the PTT switch, speak into the microphone in a normal voice level. When you start speaking, the transmitter should be activated automatically. When you finish speaking, the transceiver should return to the receive mode (after a short delay). 6. To cancel VOX and return to PTT operation, just repeat the above procedures, selecting "OFF in step 3 above. OFF" OFF When the VOX system is activated, the " on the display. " icon will appear The VX-7R provides for adjustment of the "Hang-Time" of the VOX system (the transmit-receive delay after the cessation of speech) via the Menu. The default delay is 1/2 second. To set a different delay time: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Misc DELAY). Setup #8: VOX DELAY 3. Press the or key to select the delay time among "0.5sec "1sec and 0.5sec," 1sec 1sec," 0.5sec "2sec 2sec." 2sec 4. When you have made your choice, press the PTT key to save the new setting and return to normal operation. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 19 OPERATION AM BROADCAST RECEPTION The VX-7R includes provision for reception of AM broadcasts, either on the standard medium-wave (MW) broadcast band, or on the shortwave bands up to 16 MHz. 1. Set the VX-7R to the VFO mode on the "Main" band. 2. Press the key (or press ) repetitively until you see a frequency in the frequency range desired. The MW coverage is 0.5 MHz to 1.8 MHz, while the shortwave broadcast coverage is 1.8 MHz to 16 MHz. In either case, the operating mode (displayed on the right edge of the LCD) should be shown as being "AM AM." AM 3. Rotate the DIAL to tune across the broadcast band. 4. You may also use the keypad to enter frequencies directly. This method will be quicker for changing from the 49-meter broadcast band to the 31-meter band, for example. 1) If the operating mode is not correct, you may need to adjust the setting of the Menu Item labeled ( Basic Setup #4: RX MOD E ) . See page 26 for MODE details. 2) The VX-7R includes a special memory bank into which the factory has stored 89 frequencies representing popular Short-wave Broadcast stations. See page 55 for details. AM AIRCRAFT RECEPTION Reception of AM signals in the aeronautical band (108-137 MHz) is similar to that described in the previous section. 1. Be sure that the VX-7R is set to the VFO mode on the "Main" band. 2. Press the key (or press ) repetitively until you see a frequency in the aeronautical band. 3. Rotate the DIAL to tune across the aeronautical band. 4. You may also use the keypad to enter frequencies directly. Remember that frequencies quoted by aircraft operators may be abbreviated, and that the "5" at the end of a frequency may be dropped. Since aeronautical channels are assigned in 25-kHz steps, therefore, a frequency announced as "thirty-two, forty-two" corresponds to an operating frequency of 132.425 MHz. 20 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION FM BROADCAST/TV AUDIO RECEPTION The VX-7R also includes provision for reception in the FM broadcast band, utilizing a wide-bandwidth filter which provides excellent fidelity. To Activate FM Broadcast Reception 1. Be sure that the VX-7R is set to the VFO mode on the "Main" band. 2. Press the key (or press ) repetitively until a frequency in the FM broadcast band appears on the display. The total frequency range included in the "FM band FM" FM is 59-108 MHz. 3. Rotate the DIAL to select the desired station. The default synthesizer steps for the W-FM mode are 100 kHz/step. To Activate VHF or UHF TV Audio Reception 1. Be sure that the VX-7R is set to the VFO mode on the "Main" band. key (or press ) repetitively un2. Press the til a frequency in the VHF or UHF TV bands appears on the LCD. 3. Rotate the DIAL to select the desired station. Remember that the Wide-FM Squelch setting may be made independently from the Narrow-FM setting, using the Menu Item labeled (Basic Setup #2: SQL WFM). See page 84. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 21 OPERATION WEATHER BROADCAST RECEPTION The VX-7R includes a unique feature which allows reception of weather broadcasts in the 160-MHz frequency range. Ten standard Weather Broadcast channels are pre-loaded into a special memory bank. To listen to a Weather Broadcast Channel: key, then press the key to recall the 1. Press the Weather Broadcast channels. 2. Turn the DIAL knob to select the desired Weather Broadcast channel. 3. If you wish to check the other channels for activity by scanning, just press the PTT switch. 4. To exit to normal operation, again the key, then press the key. Operation will return to the VFO or Memory channel you were operating on before you began Weather Broadcast operation. In the event of extreme weather disturbances, such as storms and hurricanes, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) sends a weather alert accompanied by a 1050 Hz tone and subsequent weather report on one of the NOAA weather channels. You may disable the Weather Alert tone via Menu Item (Misc Setup #20 WX ALERT), if desired. 22 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL OPERATION KEYBOARD LOCKING In order to prevent accidental frequency change or inadvertent transmission, various aspects of the VX-7R's keys and switches may be locked out. The possible lockout combinations are: KEY: Just the front panel keys are locked out KEY DIAL: Just the top panel DIAL is locked out DIAL KEY+DIAL: KEY+DIAL Both the DIAL and Keys are locked out PTT PTT: The PTT switch is locked (TX not possible) KEY+PTT: KEY+PTT Both the keys and PTT switch are locked out PTT:Both the DIAL and PTT switch are locked out DIAL + PTT ALL: All of the above are locked out ALL To lock out some or all of the keys: key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 1. Press the 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Basic MODE). Setup #10: LOCK MODE 3. Press the or key to choose between one of the locking schemes as outlined above. 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT switch to save the new setting and resume normal operation. 5. To activate the locking feature, press and hold in the key for 2 seconds. The " " icon will appear on the LCD. To cancel locking, again press and hold the key for 2 seconds. Even when "ALL" keys have been locked out, one key actually is not locked out: the key remains available so you can unlock your keypad when you want to! VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 23 OPERATION KEYPAD/LCD ILLUMINATION Your VX-7R includes a reddish illumination lamp which aids in nighttime operation. The red illumination yields clear viewing of the display in a dark environment, with minimal degradation of your night vision. Three options for activating the lamp are provided: Illuminates the Keypad/LCD for 5 seconds when any key KEY Mode: pressed. CONTINUE Mode: Illuminates the Keypad/LCD continuously. OFF Mode: Disables the Keypad/LCD lamp. Here is the procedure for setting up the Lamp mode: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (DisDisMODE). play Setup #5: LAMP MODE or key to select one of the three modes described above. 3. Press the 4. When you have made your choice, press the PTT key to save the new setting and return to normal operation. DISABLING THE KEYPAD BEEPER If the keypad's Beeper creates an inconvenience (particularly when operating in a quiet room), it may easily be disabled. 1. Press key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Basic BEEP). Setup #9: KEY BEEP 3. Press the or key to change the setting from ON to OFF. 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 5. If you wish to re-enable the Beeper, just repeat the above procedure, pressing the or key to select ON in step "3" above. 24 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION Now that you're mastered the basics of VX-7R operation, let's learn more about some of the really neat features. SETTING THE FREQUENCY DISPLAY IMAGE SIZE VFO Mode When operating in the VFO mode during the "Mono" band operation, pressing the key, then pressing the or key, causes the LCD to "toggle" between display of double-size characters and large characters. However, this feature does not work during Dual Receive operation, as two frequencies are displayed in that instance. Memory Mode When operating in the Memory mode (see page 45), pressing the key, followed by the or key, causes the LCD to "toggle" between display of the current memory's frequency (in double-size characters) and the current memory's frequency (in large characters) with its alpha-numeric Tag (small characters). This feature likewise does not activate during Dual Receive operation. CHANGING THE CHANNEL STEPS The VX-7R's synthesizer provides the option of utilizing channel steps of 5/9/10/12.5/ 15/20/25/50/100 kHz per step, any number of which may be important to your operating requirements. The VX-7R is set up at the factory with different default steps on each operating band which probably are satisfactory for most operation. However, if you need to change the channel step increments, the procedure to do so is very easy. 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Setup #3: VFO STEP STEP). Basic 3. Press the or key to select the new channel step size. 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 9 kHz step is available on the BC band only. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 25 ADVANCED OPERATION CHANGING THE OPERATING MODE The VX-7R provides for automatic mode changing when the radio is tuned to different operating frequencies. However, should an unusual operating situation arise in which you need to change between the available operating modes (FM-Narrow, FM-Wide, and AM), here is the procedure for doing so: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Basic Setup #4: RX MODE MODE). 3. Press the or key to select the desired operating mode. The available selections are: AUTO: AUTO Automatic mode setting per default values for the selected frequency range.. N-FM Narrow-bandwidth FM (used for voice communication) N-FM: W-FM: W-FM Wide-bandwidth FM (used for high-fidelity broadcasting) AM: Amplitude Modulation AM 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. Unless you have a compelling reason to do so, leave the Automatic Mode Selection feature on so as to save time and trouble when changing bands. If you make a mode change for a particular channel or station, you can always store that one channel into memory, as the mode setting will be memorized along with the frequency information. 26 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION REPEATER OPERATION Repeater stations, usually located on mountaintops or other high locations, provide a dramatic extension of the communication range for low-powered hand-held or mobile transceivers. The VX-7R includes a number of features which make repeater operation simple and enjoyable. Repeater Shifts Your VX-7R has been configured, at the factory, for the repeater shifts customary in your country. For the 50 MHz band, this usually will be 1 MHz, while the 144 MHz shift will be 600 kHz; on 70 cm, the shift may be 1.6 MHz, 7.6 MHz, or 5 MHz (USA version). Depending on the part of the band in which you are operating, the repeater shift may be either downward (­) or upward (+), and one of these icons will appear at the bottom of the LCD when repeater shifts have been enabled. Automatic Repeater Shift (ARS) The VX-7R provides a convenient Automatic Repeater Shift feature, which causes the appropriate repeater shift to be automatically applied whenever you tune into the designated repeater sub-bands in your country. These sub-bands are shown below. If the ARS feature does not appear to be working, you may have accidentally disabled it. To re-enable ARS: key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 1. Press the 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Setup #5: ARS ARS). Basic 3. Press the or key to select "ON (to enable Automatic Repeater Shift). ON" ON 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. ARS-Repeater Subbands 145.1 145.5 146.0 146.4 2-m Version A 146.6 147.0 147.6 147.4 148.0 145.6 145.8 European Version 70-cm Version A 438.20 440.0 445.0 450.0 439.45 Euro Version 1 433.00 433.40 Euro Version 2 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 27 ADVANCED OPERATION REPEATER OPERATION Manual Repeater Shift Activation If the ARS feature has been disabled, or if you need to set a repeater shift direction other than that established by the ARS, you may set the direction of the repeater shift manually. To do this: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. Basic 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic SHIFT). Setup #7: RPT SHIFT 3. Press the or key to select the desired shift among "­RPT "+RPT and "SIMP ­RPT," +RPT," SIMP." ­RPT +RPT SIMP 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. Changing the Default Repeater Shifts If you travel to a different region, you may need to change the default repeater shift so as to ensure compatibility with local operating requirements. To do this, follow the procedure below: key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 1. Press the 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Basic Basic SHIFT). Setup #6: SHIFT 3. Press the or key to select the new repeater shift magnitude. 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. If you just have one "odd" split that you need to program, don't change the "default" repeated shifts using this Menu Item! Enter the transmit and receive frequencies separately, as shown on page 46. 28 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION REPEATER OPERATION Checking the Repeater Uplink (Input) Frequency It often is helpful to be able to check the uplink (input) frequency of a repeater, to see if the calling station is within direct ("Simplex") range. To do this, just press the key. You'll notice that the display has shifted to the repeater uplink frequency. Press the key again to cause operation to revert to normal monitoring of the repeater downlink (output) frequency. The configuration of this key may be set either to "RV (for checking the RV" RV input frequency of a repeater, or "HM (for instant switching to the "Home" HM" HM channel for the band you are operating on). To change the configuration of this key, use Menu Item (Misc. Setup #2 HOM REV). See page 49. HOM/REV VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 29 ADVANCED OPERATION CTCSS OPERATION Many repeater systems require that a very-low-frequency audio tone be superimposed on your FM carrier in order to activate the repeater. This helps prevent false activation of the repeater by radar or spurious signals from other transmitters. This tone system, called "CTCSS" (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System), is included in your VX-7R, and is very easy to activate. CTCSS setup involves two actions: setting the Tone Frequency and then setting of the Tone Mode. These actions are set up by using the key, or Menu Items (TSQ DCS DTMF #1: SQL TYPE ) and (TSQ DCS DTMF #2: TONE SET ). TSQ/DCS DCS/DTMF TYPE TSQ/DCS DCS/DTMF SET key, then press the key. This provides a "Short-cut" to Menu Item 1. Press the (TSQ DCS DTMF #1: SQL TYPE TSQ/DCS TYPE). TSQ DCS/DTMF 2. Press the or key so that "TONE appears on the TONE" TONE display; this activates the CTCSS Encoder, which allows repeater access. You may notice an additional "DCS icon appearing while you press the DCS" DCS or key in this step. We'll discuss the Digital Code Squelch system shortly. 3. Pressing the key in step "2" above will occasionally cause "SQL to appear adjaSQL" SQL cent to the "TONE When "TONE SQL appears, this means that the Tone SQueLch TONE." TONE TONE SQL" system is active, which mutes your VX-7R's receiver until it receives a call from another radio sending out a matching CTCSS tone. This can help keep your radio quiet until a specific call is received, which may be helpful while operating in congested areas. 4. When you have made your selection of the CTCSS tone mode, rotate the DIAL one click clockwise to select Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #2: TONE SET This Menu TSQ/DCS SET). TSQ DCS/DTMF selection allows setting of the CTCSS tone frequency to be used. key to enable the adjustment of the CTCSS frequency. 5. Press the 6. Press the or key until the display indicates the Tone Frequency you need to be using (ask the repeater owner/operator if you don't know the tone frequency). 7. When you have made your selection, press the key, then press the PTT switch to save the new settings and exit to normal operation. Your repeater may or may not re-transmit a CTCSS tone - some systems just use CTCSS to control access to the repeater, but don't pass it along when transmitting. If the S-Meter deflects, but the VX-7R is not passing audio, repeat steps "1" through "3" above, but rotate the DIAL so that "SQL disappears - this SQL" SQL will allow you to hear all traffic on the channel being received. 30 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION DCS OPERATION Another form of tone access control is Digital Code Squelch, or DCS. It is a newer, more advanced tone system which generally provides more immunity from false paging than does CTCSS. The DCS Encoder/Decoder is built into your VX-7R, and operation is very similar to that just described for CTCSS. Your repeater system may be configured for DCS; if not, it is frequently quite useful in Simplex operation if your friend(s) use transceivers equipped with this advanced feature. Just as in CTCSS operation, DCS requires that you set the Tone Mode to DCS and that you select a tone code. key, then press the key. This provides a "Short-cut" to Menu Item 1. Press the (TSQ DCS DTMF #1: SQL TYPE TSQ/DCS TYPE). TSQ DCS/DTMF or key until "DCS appears on the disDCS" 2. Press the DCS play; this activates the DCS Encoder/Decoder. 3. Now rotate the DIAL to select Menu Item (TSQ DCS TSQ/DCS TSQ DCS/ SET). DTMF #3: DCS SET 4. Press the key to enable the adjustment of the DCS code. or key to select the desired DCS Code 5. Press the (a three-digit number). Ask the repeater owner/operator if you don't know DCS Code; if you are working simplex, just set up the DCS Code to be the same as that used by your friend(s). 6. When you have made your selection, press the key, then press the PTT switch to save the new settings and exit to normal operation. Remember that the DCS is an Encode/Decode system, so your receiver will remain muted until a matching DCS code is received on an incoming transmission. Switch the DCS off when you're just tuning around the band! CTCSS TONE FREQUENCY (Hz) 67.0 82.5 100.0 123.0 151.4 171.3 189.9 210.7 250.3 69.3 85.4 103.5 127.3 156.7 173.8 192.8 218.1 254.1 71.9 88.5 107.2 131.8 159.8 177.3 196.6 225.7 ­ 74.4 91.5 110.9 136.5 162.2 179.9 199.5 229.1 ­ 77.0 94.8 114.8 141.3 165.5 183.5 203.5 233.6 ­ 79.7 97.4 118.8 146.2 167.9 186.2 206.5 241.8 ­ DCS CODE 023 025 026 031 032 036 043 047 051 053 054 065 071 072 073 074 114 115 116 122 125 131 132 134 143 145 152 155 156 162 165 172 174 205 212 223 225 226 243 244 245 246 251 252 255 261 263 265 266 271 274 306 311 315 325 331 332 343 346 351 356 364 365 371 411 412 413 423 431 432 445 446 452 454 455 462 464 465 466 503 506 516 523 526 532 546 565 606 612 624 627 631 632 654 662 664 703 712 723 731 732 734 743 754 ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 31 ADVANCED OPERATION TONE SEARCH SCANNING In operating situations where you don't know the CTCSS or DCS tone being used by another station or stations, you can command the radio to listen to the incoming signal and scan in search of the tone being used. Two things must be remembered in this regard: You must be sure that your repeater uses the same tone type (CTCSS vs. DCS). Some repeaters do not pass the CTCSS tone; you may have to listen to the station(s) transmitting on the repeater uplink (input) frequency in order to allow Tone Search Scanning to work. To scan for the tone in use: 1. Set the radio up for either CTCSS or DCS Decoder operation (see the previous discussion). In the case of CTCSS, "TSQ will appear on the display; in the case of DCS, TSQ" TSQ "DCS will appear on the display. DCS" DCS key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Press the 3. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (TSQ TSQ/ TSQ DCS/DTMF SET) DCS DTMF #2: TONE SET when TONE SQL is selected, or Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #3: DCS SET TSQ/DCS SET) TSQ DCS/DTMF during DCS operation. key to enable adjustment of the selected 4. Press the Menu Item. 5. Press the key, then press the key to start scanning for the incoming CTCSS or DCS tone/code. 6. When the radio detects the correct tone or code, it will halt on that tone/code, and key to lock in that tone/code, then press audio will be allowed to pass. Press the PTT to exit to normal operation. If the Tone Scan feature does not detect a tone or code, it will continue to scan indefinitely. When this happens, it may be that the other station is not sending any tone. You can press the PTT switch to halt the scan at any time. You also can press the MONI key during Tone Scanning to listen to the (muted) signal from the other station. When you release the MONI key, Tone Scanning will resume after about a second. Tone Scanning works either in the VFO or Memory modes. 32 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION CTCSS/DCS BELL OPERATION During CTCSS Decode or DCS operation, you may set up the VX-7R such that a ringing "bell" sound alerts you to the fact that a call is coming in. Here is the procedure for activating the CTCSS/DCS Bell: 1. Set the transceiver up for CTCSS Decode ("Tone Squelch") or DCS operation, as described previously. 2. Adjust the operating frequency to the desired channel. 3. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 4. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #5: BELL TSQ/DCS BELL). TSQ DCS/DTMF 5. Press the or key to set the desired number of rings of the Bell. The available choices are 1, 3, 5, or 8 rings, CONTINUE (continuous ringing), or OFF OFF. 6. Press the PTT key momentarily to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. When you are called by a station whose transceiver is sending a CTCSS tone or DCS code which matches that set into your Decoder, the Bell will ring in accordance to this programming. SPLIT TONE OPERATION The VX-7R can be operated in a Split Tone configuration via the Set mode. 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. TSQ/DCS TONE). 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #6: SPLIT TONE TSQ DCS/DTMF 3. Press the or key to select ON (to enable the Split Tone feature). 4. Press the PTT key momentarily to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. When the Split Tone feature is activated, you can see the following additional parameters TYPE),: after the "DCS parameter while selecting the Menu Item (TSQ DCS DTMF #1: SQL TYPE DCS" TSQ/DCS DCS TSQ DCS/DTMF CODE: D CODE DCS Encode only (" " icon will appear while operating) DC: TONE DC Encodes a CTCSS Tone and Decodes a DCS code (the " " icon will appear during operation) TONE: DC TONE Encodes a DCS code and Decodes a CTCSS Tone (the " " icon will appear during operation) Select the desired operating mode from the selections shown above. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 33 ADVANCED OPERATION TONE CALLING (1750 HZ) If the repeaters in your country require a 1750-Hz burst tone for access (typically in Europe), you can set the MONI key to serve as a "Tone Call" switch instead. To change the configuration of this switch, we again use the Menu to help us. 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Setup #3 MON T-CAL MON/T-CAL T-CAL). Misc 3. Press the or key to select "T-CALL on the disT-CALL" T-CALL play. 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 5. To access a repeater, press and hold in the MONI key for the amount of time specified by the repeater owner/operator. The transmitter will automatically be activated, and a 1750-Hz audio tone will be superimposed on the carrier. Once access to the repeater has been gained, you may release the MONI key, and use the PTT key for activating the transmitter. 34 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION ARTS (AUTOMATIC RANGE TRANSPONDER SYSTEM) The ARTS feature uses DCS signaling to inform both parties when you and another ARTSequipped station are within communications range. This may be particularly useful during Search-and Rescue situations, where is important to stay in contact with other members of your group. Both stations must set up their DCS codes to the same code number, then activate their ARTS feature using the command appropriate for their radio. Alert ringers may be activated, if desired. Whenever you push the PTT, or every 25 (or 15) seconds after ARTS is activated, your radio will transmit a signal which includes a (subaudible) DCS signal for about 1 second. If the other radio is in range, the beeper will sound (if enabled) and the display will show "IN IN RANGE" RANGE as opposed to the out of range display "OUT RANGE OUT RANGE" in which ARTS operation begins. Whether you talk or not, the polling every 15 or 25 seconds will continue until you de-activate ARTS. Every 10 minutes, moreover, you can have your radio transmit your callsign via CW, so as to comply with identification requirements. When ARTS is de-activated, DCS will also be deactivated (if you were not using it previously in non-ARTS operation). If you move out of range for more than one minute (four pollings), your radio will sense that no signal has been received, three beeps will sound, and the display will revert to "OUT RANGE If you move back into range, your radio will again beep, and the display OUT RANGE." IN RANGE" will change back to the "IN RANGE indication. During ARTS operation, your operating frequency will continue to be displayed, but no changes may be made to it or other settings; you must terminate ARTS in order to resume normal operation. This is a safety feature designed to prevent accidental loss of contact due to channel change, etc. Here is how to activate ARTS: Basic ARTS Setup and Operation 1. Set your radio and the other radio(s) to the same DCS code number, per the discussion on page 31. 2. Press the key, then press the key. You will observe the "OUT RANGE display OUT RANGE" on the LCD below the operating frequency. ARTS operation has now commenced. 3. Every 25 seconds, your radio will transmit a "polling" call to the other station. When that station responds with its own ARTS polling signal, the display will change to "IN IN RANGE" RANGE to confirm that the other station's polling code was received in response to yours. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 35 ADVANCED OPERATION ARTS (AUTOMATIC RANGE TRANSPONDER SYSTEM) 4. Press the key, then press the functioning of the transceiver. key to exit ARTS operation and resume normal ARTS won't work if you have used the Lock feature to disable the PTT! ARTS Polling Time Options The ARTS feature may be programmed to poll every 25 seconds (default value) or 15 seconds. The default value provides maximum battery conservation, because the polling signal is sent out less frequently. To change the polling interval: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (ARTS #2: ARTS ITERVAL ITERVAL). ARTS or key to select the desired polling in3. Press the terval (15 or 25 seconds). 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. ARTS Alert Beep Options The ARTS feature allows two kinds of alert beeps (with the additional option of turning them off), so as to alert you to the current status of ARTS operation. Depending on your location and the potential annoyance associated with frequent beeps, you may choose the Beep mode which best suits your needs. The choices are: RANGE: IN RANGE The beeps are issued only when the radio first confirms that you are within range, but does not re-confirm with beeps thereafter. ALWAYS: ALWAYS Every time a polling transmission is received from the other station, the alert beeps will be heard. OFF: No alert beeps will be heard; you must look at the display to confirm OFF current ARTS status. To set the ARTS Beep mode, use the following procedure: key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 1. Press the BEEP). 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (ARTS #1: ARTS BEEP ARTS 3. Press the or key to select the desired ARTS Beep mode (see above). 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 36 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION ARTS (AUTOMATIC RANGE TRANSPONDER SYSTEM) CW Identifier Setup The ARTS feature includes a CW identifier, as discussed previously. Every ten minutes during ARTS operation, the radio can be instructed to send "DE (your callsign) K" if this feature is enabled. The callsign field may contain up to 16 characters. Here's how to program the CW Identifier: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. ARTS 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (ARTS ID). #3: CW ID 3. Press the key to enable changing of this Menu item. The " " indicator will blink on the LCD. 4. Press the or key to set the CW ID function to ON. 5. Rotate the DIAL one click clockwise to begin entry of the letters and numbers in your callsign. 6. Press the key or keyboard to set the first letter or number in your callsign. Example 1: Press the key to select any of the 7 available characters (including the "slant bar" for portable stations); or key repeatedly to toggle among the seven available characExample 2: Press the ters associated with that key: A B C ab c2 7. When the correct character has been selected, rotate the DIAL one click clockwise to move on to the next character. 8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 as many times as necessary to complete your callsign. Note that the "slant bar" (­ · · ­ ·) is among the available characters, should you be a "portable" station. 9. Press the key to delete all data after the cursor that may have been previously stored erroneously. 10. When you have entered your entire callsign, press the key to confirm the callsign, then press the PTT key to save the settings and exit to normal operation. You may check your work by monitoring the entere callsign. To do this, repeat steps 1 - 3 above, then press the key. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 37 ADVANCED OPERATION DTMF OPERATION The VX-7R's 16-button keypad allows easy DTMF dialing for Autopatch, repeater control, or Internet-link access purposes. Besides numerical digits [0] through [9], the keypad includes the [*] and [#] digits, plus the [A], [B], [C], and [D] tones often used for repeater control. Manual DTMF Tone Generation You can generate DTMF tones during transmission manually. 1. Press the PTT switch to begin transmission. 2. While transmitting, press the desired numbers on the keypad. 3. When you have sent all the digits desired, release the PTT key. DTMF Autodialer Nine DTMF Autodial memories are provided, allowing you to store telephone numbers for autopatch use. You can also store short autopatch or Internet-link access code streams so as to avoid having to send them manually. Here is the DTMF Autodial storage procedure: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #8: DTMF SET TSQ/DCS SET). TSQ DCS/DTMF 3. Press the key to enable adjustment of this Menu Item. 4. Press the or key to select the DTMF Memory register into which you wish to store this DTMF string. 5. Rotate the DIAL knob one click to begin DTMF Memory entry into the selected register. 6. Key in the DTMF digits you wish to store into this register. If needed, you may press key to store a "Pause" (rotate the DIAL one click clockwise to continue) or the press the key again to delete the previously-stored data after the cursor. 7. If you make a mistake, rotate the DIAL konb counterclockwise to back-space the cursor, re-enter the correct number. 8. Press the PTT switch to save the setting. To store other numbers, repeat this process, using a different DTMF memory register. 38 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION DTMF OPERATION To send the telephone number: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (TSQ DCS DTMF #7: DTMF DITSQ/DCS TSQ DCS/DTMF ALER). ALER 3. Press the or key to set the DTMF Autodialer function to the "ON position. ON" ON 4. Press the PTT switch to exit to normal operation and activate the DTMF Autodialer function (the " " icon will appear). 5. In the Autodialer function mode, first press the PTT key, then press the numerical key ( through ) corresponding to the DTMF memory string you wish to send. Once the string begins, you may release the PTT key, as the transmitter will be held "on the air" until the DTMF string is completed. EMERGENCY CHANNEL OPERATION The VX-7R includes an "Emergency" feature which may be useful if you have someone monitoring on the same frequency as your transceiver's UHF "Home" channel. See page 47 for details on setting the Home channel. The "Emergency" feature is activated by pressing the key for 1/2 seconds. When this is done, (A) the radio is placed on the UHF amateur band Home channel, (B) it emits a loud "Alarm" sound (the volume is controlled by the VOLUME knob), (C) it flashes the STROBE in white, (D) if you press the PTT key, you will disable the Emergency feature temporarily; you can then transmit on the UHF Home channel, and (E) two seconds after the PTT release, the Emergency feature will resume. key for 1/2 seconds or turn the radio Off To disable the "Emergency" feature, press the (PWR) switch for 2 seconds. by pressing and holding in the Use this feature if you are out for a walk and want a quick way of alerting a family member as to a dangerous situation. The alarm sound may discourage an attacker and allow you to escape. 1) Be sure to arrange with a friend or family member to be monitoring on the same frequency, as there will be no identification sent via the Emergency alarm sound. And do not transmit the alarm tone except in a true emergency! ) The STROBE may be changed to another function via Menu Item (Misc Setup #5: 2 EMG SET); see page 94. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 39 ADVANCED OPERATION ATT (FRONT END ATTENUATOR) The attenuator will reduce all signals (and noise) by 20 dB, and it may be used to make reception more pleasant under extremely noisy conditions. 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Setup #18: ATT ATT). Misc 3. Press the or key to change the setting from OFF to ON ON. 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 5. If you wish to disable the attenuator, just repeat the above or key to select OFF in procedure, pressing the step "3" above. When the attenuator is activated, the " appear on the display. " icon will RECEIVE BATTERY SAVER SETUP An important feature of the VX-7R is its Receive Battery Saver, which "puts the radio to sleep" for a time interval, periodically "waking it up" to check for activity. If somebody is talking on the channel, the VX-7R will remain in the "active" mode, then resume its "sleep" cycles. This feature significantly reduces quiescent battery drain, and you may change the amount of "sleep" time between activity checks using the Menu System: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Save Modes #2: RX SAVE SAVE). Save 3. Press the or key to select the desired "sleep" duration. The selections available are 200 ms, 300 ms, 500 ms, 1 second, and 2 seconds, or OFF. The default value is 200 ms. 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. When you are operating on Packet, switch the Receive Battery Saver OFF, as the sleep cycle may "collide" with the beginning of an incoming Packet transmission, causing your TNC not to receive the full data burst. 40 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION TX BATTERY SAVER The VX-7R also includes a useful Transmit Battery Saver, which will automatically lower the power output level when the last signal received was very strong. For example, when you are in the immediate vicinity of a repeater station, there generally is no reason to use the full 5 Watts of power output in order to achieve full-quieting access to the repeater. With the Transmit Battery Saver, the automatic selection of Low Power operation conserves battery drain significantly. To activate the Transmit Battery Saver: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Save Modes #3: TX SAVE SAVE). Save or key to set this Menu Item to "ON ON" 3. Press the ON (thus activating the Transmit Battery Saver). 4. When you have completed your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. DISABLING THE "STROBE" Further battery conservation may be accomplished by disabling the "STROBE" while receiving a signal (when the "STROBE" functions as a "BUSY" LED). Use the following procedure: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Display Setup #1: BUSY LED LED). Display 3. Press the or key to set this Menu Item to "OFF OFF" OFF (thus disabling the BUSY lamp). 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 41 ADVANCED OPERATION AUTOMATIC POWER-OFF (APO) FEATURE The APO feature helps conserve battery life by automatically turning the radio off after a user-defined period of time within which there has been no dial or key activity. The available selections for the time before power-off are 0.5/1/3/5/8 hours, as well as APO Off. The default condition for the APO is OFF, and here is the procedure for activating it: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Save Modes #1: APO APO). Save or key to select the desired time period 3. Press the after which the radio will automatically shut down. 4. Once you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. When the APO is activated, the " " icon will appear at the center bottom on the LCD. If there is no action by you within the time interval programmed, the microprocessor will shut down the radio automatically. (PWR) switch for 2 seconds to turn the transceiver back on Just press and hold in the after an APO shutdown, as usual. TRANSMITTER TIME-OUT TIMER (TOT) The TOT feature provides a safety switch which limits transmission to a pre-programmed value. This will promote battery conservation by not allowing you to make excessivelylong transmissions, and in the event of a stuck PTT switch (perhaps if the radio or a Speaker/ Mic is wedged between car seats) it can prevent interference to other users as well as battery depletion. As configured at the factory the TOT feature is set to OFF, and here is the procedure for activating it: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. TOT). 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Save Modes #4: TOT Save 3. Press the or key to set the Time-Out Timer to the desired "Maximum TX" time (1 minute, 2.5 minutes, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes). 4. Once you're made the selection you wish to use, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. Since brief transmissions are the mark of a good operator, try setting up your radio's TOT feature for a maximum transmission time of 1 minute. This will significantly improve battery life, too! 42 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL ADVANCED OPERATION BUSY CHANNEL LOCK-OUT (BCLO) The BCLO feature prevents the radio's transmitter from being activated if a signal strong enough to break through the "noise" squelch is present. On a frequency where stations using different CTCSS or DCS codes may be active, BCLO prevents you from disrupting their communications accidentally (because your radio may be muted by its own Tone Decoder). The default setting for the BCLO is OFF, and here is how to change that setting: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. Misc 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Setup #1: BCLO BCLO). 3. Press the or key to set this Menu Item to "ON ON" ON (thus activating the BCLO feature). 4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and resume normal operation. MIC MONITOR The MIC Monitor feature allows you to monitor your voice signal when using the optional VC-27 Earpiece/Microphone. 1. 2. 3. 4. Connect the VC-27 Earpiece/Microphone to the MIC/SP jack. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Setup #19: MIC MONITOR MONITOR). Misc or key to set this Menu Item to "ON ON" Press the ON (thus activating the MIC Monitor feature). The VX-7R exit from the Set mode. 5. The VX-7R's internal microphone will now pick up the sound around the transceiver, then output its to the VC-27 Earpiece/Microphone. or key to 6. To disable the MIC Monitor feature, repeat steps 2 - 4, pressing the select "OFF then press the PTT key. OFF," OFF When this feature is activated without the VC-27 Earpiece/Microphone connected, the VX-7R will develop a howling "feedback" condition. VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL 43 ADVANCED OPERATION CHANGING THE TX DEVIATION LEVEL In many areas of the world, channel congestion has required that operating channels be closely spaced. In such operating environments, it often is required that operators use reduced deviation levels, so as to reduce the potential for interference to users on adjacent channels. The VX-7R includes a simple method of accomplishing this: 1. Press the key, then press the key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the Menu Item labeled (Misc Setup #6: HALF DEVIATION DEVIATION). Misc or key to change this setting to ON In ON. 3. Press the this configuration (HALF DEVIATION active), the transmitter's deviation will be approximately ±2.5 kHz. 4. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. The "normal" setting for the deviation (when this Menu Item is set to OFF) is ±5 kHz. 44 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL MEMORY MODE The VX-7R provides a wide variety of memory system resources. These include: Regular Memory Channels, which made up of: 450 "Standard" memory channels, numbered "1" through "450." 12 (USA version) or 11 (EXP version) Home channels, providing storage and quick recall of one prime frequency on each operating band. 20 sets of band-edge memories also known as "Programmable Memory Scan" channels, labeled "L1/U1" through "L20/U20." Nine Memory Groups, labeled "MG1" through "MG9." Each Memory Group can be assigned 48 channels from the "standard" memory channel bank. Ten One-Touch Memory Channels Ten "Hyper-Memory" Channels Ten "Weather Broadcast" Channles 89 popular Short-wave Broadcast Station Memory Channels. 280 VHF Marine Channels. Standard Memory Channels (450 channels) MR449 MR450 One-Touch Memory Channels (10 channels) OTM8 OTM9 PMS Memory Channels (20 Sets) L19/U19 L20/U20 HYP8 HYP9 OTM0 OTM1 OTM2 OTM3 MR1 MR2 MR3 MR4 HOME Channels (USA: 12 channels, EXP: 11 channels) Action Band-1 UHF-TV Band Action Band-2 50 MHz Band 144 MHz Band 222 MHz Band 430 MHz Band Weather Broadcast Channels (10 channels) Hyper Memory Channels (10 channels) SW Band FM BC Band AIR Band VHF-TV Band BC Band WX1 WX2 WX3 WX4 WX9 WX10 222 MHz Band: USA version only Short-wave Broadcast Station Memory Channels (89 channels) Marine Channels (280 channels) VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL HYP0 HYP1 HYP2 HYP3 L1/U1 L2/U2 L3/U3 L4/U4 45 MEMORY MODE REGULAR MEMORY CHANNEL OPERATION Memory Storage 1. Select the desired frequency, while operating in the VFO mode. Be sure to set up any desired CTCSS or DCS tones, as well as any desired repeater offset. The power level may also be set at this time, if you wish to store it. 2. Press and hold in the key for 1/2 second. 3. Within five seconds of releasing the key, rotate the DIAL to select the desired memory channel. The microprocessor will automatically select the next-available "free" channel (a memory register on which no data has been stored). If you see an Asterisk ( ) by any channel number, it means that the channel currently has no data written on it (i.e. the channel is "free".) 4. Press the key once more to store the frequency into memory. 5. You still will be operating in the "VFO" mode, so you may now enter other frequencies, and store them into additional memory locations, by repeating the above process. You may change the automatic memory channel selection feature to select the "next-highest memory channel above the last-stored memory channel" by instead of the "next-available `free' channel" via the Menu Item labeled (Basic Setup #12 MW MODE ); see page 85. MODE Storing Independent Transmit Frequencies ("Odd Splits") All memories can store an independent transmit frequency, for operation on repeaters with non-standard shift. To do this: 1. Store the receive frequency using the method already described under MEMORY STORAGE (it doesn't matter if a repeater offset is active). 2. Turn to the desired transmit frequency, then press and hold in the key for 1/2 second. 3. Within five seconds of releasing the key, rotate the DIAL to select the same memory channel number as used in step "1" above. key once more momentarily 4. Press and hold in the PTT switch, then press the while holding the PTT switch in (this does not key the transmitter). Whenever you recall a memory which contains independently-stored transmit and receive frequencies, the " " indication will appear in the display. 46 VX-7R OPERATING MANUAL MEMORY MODE REGULAR MEMORY CHANNEL OPERATION Memory Recall 1. While operating in the VFO mode, press the enter the Memory mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL to select the desired channel. 3. To return to the VFO mode, press the key. key to