Icom IC-A4 manual

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A good user manual

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First and foremost, an user manual of Icom IC-A4 should contain:
- informations concerning technical data of Icom IC-A4
- name of the manufacturer and a year of construction of the Icom IC-A4 item
- rules of operation, control and maintenance of the Icom IC-A4 item
- safety signs and mark certificates which confirm compatibility with appropriate standards

Why don't we read the manuals?

Usually it results from the lack of time and certainty about functionalities of purchased items. Unfortunately, networking and start-up of Icom IC-A4 alone are not enough. An instruction contains a number of clues concerning respective functionalities, safety rules, maintenance methods (what means should be used), eventual defects of Icom IC-A4, and methods of problem resolution. Eventually, when one still can't find the answer to his problems, he will be directed to the Icom service. Lately animated manuals and instructional videos are quite popular among customers. These kinds of user manuals are effective; they assure that a customer will familiarize himself with the whole material, and won't skip complicated, technical information of Icom IC-A4.

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Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    iA4 VHF AIR BAND TRANSCEIVER INSTRUCTION MANUAL This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference. IC-A4#01 IM 01.12.5 5:14 PM Page a (1,1)[...]

  • Page 2

    i FOREWORD READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS carefully and completely before using the transceiver . SA VE THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL — This in- struction manual contains important operating instructions for the IC-A4. EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS The explicit definitions below apply to this instruction manual. CAUTIONS R W ARNING! NEVER hold the transceiver so that t[...]

  • Page 3

    ii DO NOT push the PTT when not actually desiring to trans- mit. DO NOT allow children to play with any radio equipment containing a transmitter . DO NOT operate the transceiver near unshielded electrical blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere. A VOID using or placing the transceiver in direct sunlight or in areas with temperatures below –10[...]

  • Page 4

    FOREWORD ........................................................................ i EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS ..................................................... i CAUTIONS .......................................................................... i SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES ................................................. ii T ABLE OF CONTENTS ..........[...]

  • Page 5

    1 1 ACCESSOR Y A TT ACHMENT D Antenna CAUTION: T ransmitting without an antenna may damage the transceiver . Insert the supplied antenna into the an- tenna connector and screw down the an- tenna as shown at right. Keep the jack cover attached when jacks are not in use to avoid bad contacts from dust and moisture. D Battery pack replacement T o remo[...]

  • Page 6

    ■ Panel description q VOLUME CONTROLS [VOL] (p. 5) T urns power ON and adjusts the audio level. w PTT SWITCH [PTT] (p. 5) Push and hold to transmit; release to receive. e CHANNEL UP/DOWN SWITCHES [ Y ]/[ Z ] ➥ Push to select the operating channel or frequency . (p. 5) ➥ Select item conditions in set mode. r LOCK SWITCH [ ] ➥ Push and hold 2[...]

  • Page 7

    3 2 P ANEL DESCRIPTION ➥ When memory mode is selected, this switch sets the dis- played channel as a scan lock-out channel when pushed for 2 sec. (p. 8) - “SKIP” appears on the display . i SQUELCH SWITCH [SQL] ➥ Push and hold to open the squelch. (p. 6) ➥ While pushing [SQL], push [ Y ]/[ Z ] to select the squelch level. (p. 6) - 9 squelc[...]

  • Page 8

    4 2 P ANEL DESCRIPTION ■ Function display q MEMOR Y MODE INDICA TOR (p. 9) Appears when memory mode is selected. w LOCK INDICA TOR (p. 6) Indicates that the lock function is in use. e LOW BA TTERY INDICA TOR ➥ Appears when the battery is nearing exhaustion. ➥ Appears and flashes when battery replacement is nec- essary . r FREQUENCY DISPLA Y [...]

  • Page 9

    5 3 BASIC OPERA TION ■ Receiving and transmitting CAUTION: T ransmitting without an antenna may dam- age the transceiver . q Rotate [VOL] clockwise to turn power ON, then set to the 10 o’clock position. w Push [V/M] to select memory mode or VFO mode. e Select the desired memory channel or VFO frequency with the [ Y ]/[ Z ] keys. • When receiv[...]

  • Page 10

    6 3 BASIC OPERA TION ■ Setting squelch level The transceiver has a noise squelch circuit to mute undesired noise while receiving no signal. ➥ T o open the squelch: Push and hold [SQL] to open the squelch. This is useful to listen to weak signals that do not open the squelch. - “ BUSY ” appears on the display . ➥ T o close the squelch: Rel[...]

  • Page 11

    7 3 BASIC OPERA TION ■ Dial select function Use the dial select function to adjust the tuning behavior of the [ Y ]/[ Z ] keys—use 1 MHz tuning when you want to change the frequency in large increments; use regular tuning when you want to change the frequency in smaller incre- ments. q Push [V/M] to select VFO mode. w Push [V/M] for 2 sec. one [...]

  • Page 12

    8 4 SCAN OPERA TION ■ Memory (lockout) scan Memory scan repeatedly scans all programmed memory channels, except those set as lockout channels. q Push [V/M] to select memory mode, if necessary . • “ ” appears. w Puch [SCAN] to start scan. - T o change the scan direction, push [ Y ] or [ Z ]. e Push [SCAN] again to stop the scan. MR MEMORY LO[...]

  • Page 13

    9 5 MEMOR Y PROGRAMMING ■ Programming a memory channel The transceiver has 19 memory channels for storage of often -used frequencies. q Push [V/M] to select VFO mode, if necessary . w Push [ Y ] or [ Z ] key to select the desired frequency . • Push [V/M] key one or more times to use the dial select function, if desired. e Push [MW] for 5 sec. t[...]

  • Page 14

    10 5 MEMORY PROGRAMMING ■ Memory names ï Programming memory names q Select the memory channel to be programmed: ➥ Push [V/M] to select memory mode. ➥ Push [ Y ] or [ Z ] to select the memory channel. w Push [M/W] for 5 sec. to enter memory name writing mode. • The first character of the name flashes. e Push [SCAN] or [SQL] as many times [...]

  • Page 15

    11 6 OTHER FUNCTIONS ■ Initial set mode Initial set mode is accessed at power ON and allows you to set seldom-changed settings, in this way you can “customize” transceiver operations to suit your preferences and operating style. D Entering initial set mode q While pushing [V/M] + [ ], turn power ON. • The transceiver enters initial set mode[...]

  • Page 16

    ■ Charging precautions NEVER attempt to charge dry cell bat- teries. This will cause internal liquid leakage and damage the battery case and transceiver . NEVER connect two or more chargers at the same time. Charging may not occur under temper- atures of 10°C (50°F) or over tempera- tures of 40°C (104°F). When using BC-1 19: If the charge ind[...]

  • Page 17

    13 7 BA TTERY P ACKS D Multiple charging with the BC-121 The optional BC-121 allows up to 6 battery packs to be charged simultaneously . Six AD-81 ’ s and an AC adapter (may be supplied with the BC-121 depending on version) are additionally required. • Charging periods: 1.5 hours (w/BP-195) 2 hours (w/BP-196) D Regular charging q Attach the bat[...]

  • Page 18

    14 7 BA TTERY P ACKS ■ About the battery pack D Operating period Depending on the attached battery pack, the operating period of the transceiver varies. Refer to the last page for battery pack speci fi cations. D Battery pack life If your battery pack seems to have no capacity even after being fully charged, completely discharge it by leaving th[...]

  • Page 19

    CLONING 15 8 Cloning allows you to quickly and easyly transfer the programmed contents from one transceiver to another transceiver , or , data from PC to a transceiver using the optional EX-21 19 cloning software. D T ransceiver to transceiver cloning q Connect the OPC-474 CLONING CABLE with adapter plugs to the [SP] jack of the master and slave tr[...]

  • Page 20

    16 9 TROUBLESHOOTING If your transceiver seems to be malfunctioning, please check the following points before sending it to a service center . POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION REF. No power comes on. • The battery is exhausted. • Bad connection to the battery pack. • Recharge the battery pack. • Check the connection to the transceiver. pgs. 12, 14 N[...]

  • Page 21

    17 10 SPECIFICA TIONS D General • Frequency coverage : TX 1 18 to 136.975 MHz RX 108 to 136.975 MHz • Mode : AM (6K00A3E) • Number of memory channels : 1 9 • Acceptable power supply : 9.6 V DC nominal (negative ground) (authorized battery packs) • Usable temp. range : – 10 ˚ C to +50 ˚ C • Frequency stability : ± 10 ppm (0 ˚ C to [...]

  • Page 22

    18 11 OPTIONS D Battery packs 1 Operating periods are calibrated for the following conditions: at 25 ° C (77 ° F), Tx (high power) : Rx : standby = 5 : 5 : 90 * 2 When Ni-Cd batteries are installed. D Other options BC-110A/D/V W ALL CHARGER Used for regular charging of the connected battery pack. BC-119 DESKTOP CHARGER + AD-81 CHARGER ADAPT OR Fo[...]

  • Page 23

    OPTIONS 19 11 D OPC-752 ( HEADSET ADAPTER) connection When using an optional headset, such as those from the David Clark Co. via the adapter , the transceiver outputs your transmitted voice to the headset for monitoring. (pgs. 6, 1 1) PTT switch Use a PTT switch with a 3.5 mm diame- ter plug, if required. HEADSET (Must be purchased separately .) Cl[...]

  • Page 24

    Count on us! 6-9-16 Kamihigashi, Hirano-ku, Osaka 547 Japan A-5490H-1US Printed in Japan Copyright 1997 Icom Inc. IC-A4#01 IM 01.12.5 5:38 PM Page 21 (1,1)[...]