ICOM ID-800H usage

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ICOM ID-800H usage

The following procedures can be used to setup MYCALL, UrCALL, RPT1_C, & RPT2_C callsigns in the ID-800H (radios with v2.0 or later firmware), and to use those values when operating or whan programming frequency memory positions in the ID-800H.

When the instructions below say "press & hold" below, that means press & hold the button for at least one second; all other "press"es are momentary. Note that in several places where the ID-800H manual says to "press" a button, you must instead "press & hold" the button. This includes any place where you enter or edit a callsign or other text: You must press & hold the BAND/MODE button to both start & end entry or editing of a callsign.

When you press SET, then select CALLS, then select:

MYCALL, and then twist the knob, you see the following items; all can be edited in the radio:
- M01 thru M06: This indicates the callsign & suffix that you wish to use to identify with.
RPT1_C or RPT2_C, and then twist the knob, you see the following items; most can be edited in the radio:
- r__ (the _ indicates a blank): This is what I will call the list scratchpad, and is used as the RPT1_C or RPT2_C value in VFO mode.
- r--: This indicates that no repeater is to be used. Any edits to the value NOTUSE will not be retained.
- r01 thru r54: These are used to designate local, gateway, and destination repeaters to be used.
UrCALL, and then twist the knob, you see the following items; most can be edited in the radio:
- U__ (the _ indicates a blank): This is what I will call the list scratchpad, and is used as the UrCALL value in VFO mode.
- U--: This is a "CQ" call to anyone on the current frequency or repeater. Any edits to the value CQCQCQ will not be retained.
- U01 thru U99: These are used to designate individual stations (usually remote) that you may wish to call; and (surprise!) ...
- r01 thru rnn for any repeater values you've programmed above, that do not have a G in the eighth position (indicating a gateway). The repeater callsign is prefixed by / (indicating anyone at that repeater — eg, CQ to that repeater).

Note that a common r01 thru r54 list is used for both RPT1_C & RPT2_C values. The distinction comes when you select (use) one of the values for RPT1_C or RPT2_C (below).

Using the `MYCALL` list

While the ID-800H manual documents how to create additional MYCALL values, earlier versions of the manual do not explain how to select one for use (other than the default at M01):

Press SET, then select CALLS, then select MYCALL.
Twist the dial to select the desired callsign memory location, M01–M06. The M will be flashing.
Press & hold the SET/LOCK button; the M should stop flashing. This is an undocumented feature that is essential to know. (Note that pressing & holding the S.MW/MW button transfers the callsign in the opposite direction, from the currently selected MYCALL to the currently displayed MYCALL. This is not normally what you want.)

Using the `UrCALL`, `RPT1_C`, & `RPT2_C` lists

First of all, in all of the following examples for programming a callsign list or a frequency memory position, your radio MUST, MUST, MUST be in VFO mode.

In order to use the UrCALL, RPT1_C, & RPT2_C lists, or to program a particular combination into a frequency memory position:

Set up the radio in VFO mode with all of the other stuff you want (frequency, offset, digital squelch, power level, etc). If you want to modify the programming of a previously programmed frequency memory position:
1. Select that frequency memory position; and then
2. Copy it to the VFO by pressing & holding the S.MW/MW button.
To use a particular UrCALL, press SET, then select CALLS, then select UrCALL. You must enter the desired callsign into the UrCALL list scratchpad in one of two ways:
- Twist the knob until you see U__. This is the list scratchpad. Press & hold the BAND/MODE button; the cursor will flash. Enter the callsign. When you are done, press & hold the BAND/MODE button to save the info. If the callsign is not already in the U01–U99 list, it will be automatically added by step #5.
- Twist the knob until you see the previously-stored callsign that you wish to use. Press & hold the SET/LOCK button; this transfers the currently displayed callsign to the list scratchpad. This is an undocumented feature that is essential to know. (Note that pressing & holding the S.MW/MW button transfers the callsign in the opposite direction, from the list scratchpad to the currently displayed callsign memory location. This is not normally what you want.)
To use a particular RPTn_C value, press SET, then select CALLS, then select RPT1_C or RPT2_C. You must enter the desired repeater callsign into the RPTn_C list scratchpad in one of two ways:
- Twist the knob until you see r__. This is the list scratchpad. Press & hold the BAND/MODE button; the cursor will flash. Enter the repeater callsign. When you are done, press & hold the BAND/MODE button to save the info. If the repeater callsign is not already in the r01–r54 list, it will be automatically added by step #5.
- Twist the knob until you see the previously-stored repeater callsign that you wish to use. Press & hold the SET/LOCK button; this transfers the currently displayed repeater callsign to the list scratchpad. This is an undocumented feature that is essential to know. (Note that pressing & holding the S.MW/MW button transfers the callsign in the opposite direction, from the list scratchpad to the currently displayed callsign memory location. This is not normally what you want.)
Now press the MONI button to get back to the main screen.
If you wish to save your current settings into a frequency memory position, now press the S.MW/MW button and follow the normal (documented in the manual) procedure to save everything into a frequency memory position. If you have previously set an alphanumeric ID to display instead of the frequency, you may have to set that again (this little idiosyncrasy is not unique to the ID-800H or even ICOM radios).

Note that all U01–U99 & r01–r54 list callsigns that are referenced (saved) in a frequency memory position, are marked in the appropriate list with a reverse-video M, indicating that the callsign is used by some frequency memory position.

If you want to change a callsign in the UrCALL or RPTn_C list, such that you change it for ALL frequency memory positions that reference it (eg, the repeater has changed its callsign or suffix), go to VFO mode and edit the entry in the appropriate list. Note that when you press & hold the BAND/MODE button to save the changes, you will see MR* momentarily on the screen, indicating that you are also changing the value for frequency memory positions.

Moving callsigns in the `UrCALL` list

The following technique may be used to rearrange callsigns in the UrCALL list. Caveat: Moving callsigns in the UrCALL list that are referenced in a frequency memory position, will cause the association to be lost.

Select a callsign in the UrCALL list that you wish to move.
Copy it to the UrCALL list scratchpad by pressing & holding the SET/LOCK button.
Select a location in the UrCALL list that you wish to receive the callsign.
Copy the callsign from the UrCALL list scratchpad to the new list location by pressing & holding the S.MW/MW button.

Without the capability provided by the SET/LOCK button above, flexible mobile use is not very feasible, and earlier versions of the ID-800H manual give no hint that pressing (never mind holding) the SET/LOCK button was to be used for these functions.