I acquired an ICOM IC-W21A as my first rig. My serial number is 01163. This is a dual band (2m/70cm) HT. The instruction manual allowed me to program in repeater offsets and learn about the basic functions of my new HT, but it didn't cover the multi-function modes that I found when using the HT. I received more information from ICOM but if you have more, please contribute to this FAQ. I could use the help. Thank you. Peter Grace [email protected]
I haven't had the best of experiences with this HT. It's not Mil-Spec
and the power diode keeps blowing for the DC input.
Others have had this experience. Al Nattis wrote a review.
This is some of the specs for the HT as provided by ICOM
This figures are for the USA version of the IC-W21A
VHF
UHF
Frequency coverage: Tx: 144-148 MHz
440-450 MHz
Rx: 138-174 MHz 440-450
MHz
Mode: FM (F3E)
Frequency stability: +/- 5 ppm (0- +50C; +32F- +122F)
Tuning steps: 5, 10, 12.5,
15, 20, 25, 30 or 50kHz
Antenna impedance: 50 ohms
Usable battery pack/case: Icom BP-130 - BP-132
External DC power: 6-16V DC negative ground
Transmitter:
Output power @ 13.5V:
5W, 3.5W, 1.5W, 500mW, 15mW selectable
Max Freq deviation:
+/- 5kHz
Microphone impedance: 2 kOhms
Receiver:
Double-conversion superhetrodyne
Intermediate frequencies:
1st VHF 43.1 MHz UHF 38.5MHz
2nd 455 kHz
Function Switch [FUNC]
- While pushing this switch and other switches,
you can use the main dial to perform secondary functions.
Monitor Switch (MONI)
- manually opens the main bands squelch in simplex
and monitors the transmit frequency when duplex.
- [MONI]+ [FUNC] = Alters the dial select step.
What
does this mean ???
PTT Switch [PTT] - push to transmit; release to receive
Light Switch [LIGHT]
- turns LCD lighting ON and OFF.
- [LIGHT + FUNC] = turns LOCK function ON and OFF.
Lock locks the PTT switch and settings.
Repeater Switch [RPT/WSPR]
- turns the duplex or tone encoder ON and OFF.
- [FUNC] + {RPT/WSPR] = turns the Whisper Function
ON
and OFF
Whisper Function - crossband full duplex communication like a
telephone
Set the main band frequency as a transmit frequency
Set the sub band frequency as a receive frequency
Push [FUNC] + [RPT/WSPR] to activate.
The transceiver automatically starts transmitting
without pushing [PTT]
Automatic timeout to normal mode after 5 minutes.
CrossBand Repeater Function
-Press [LIGHT] + [V/M MW] and turn POWER On
- Set Frequencies
- Press [FUNC] + [LIGHT] to Lock Frequencies
- Turn POWER Off
- Press [FUNC] + [MONI] + [RPT/WSPR] + Turn POWER On.
- To Stop Tx - press [MONI]
- To Clear - Press [FUNC] + [LIGHT]
High/Low Switch [H/L/TS]
- selects high or low output powers
-Select low power setting: push and hold [H/L/TS]
while turning [MAIN] dial.
- Select tuning step setting: Push [FUNC] + [H/L/TS]
VFO/Memory Switch [V/M MW]
- Change betweek VFO and memory mode
- [FUNC] + [V/M MW] = Program displayed freq into
a memory channel
Band Switch [BAND]
- Changes the main band between VHF and UHF
- [FUNC] + [BAND] = Turns the sub band OFF or ON
Power Switch [POWER]
- Turns power ON or OFF when pushed for 1 sec.
S Switch [S]
- In Multi-Function mode - Press and hold while turning [MAIN] to select
function
- in Easy Mode - Press [S] to call up the call channel
Multi-Function Mode
To toggle between Easy Mode and Multi-Function Mode
- Turn Power OFF
-Press and hold [V/M MW] + [LIGHT] and push and hold [POWER]
In Multi-Function Mode - Pressing and holding [S] causes the displayed
time or Function to blink.
In Easy Mode - Press [S] starts Scan
Time Display (hh:mm) - shows the time.
To set the clock in Easy Mode - [FUNC] + [S] for 1 sec. Three beeps
indicate clock setting condition.
Rotate [MAIN] to set the hour.
Press [S] to select minutes. Rotate [MAIN] to set the minutes.
Press [FUNC] to set the clock.
SCAN - starts and stops the scan on the selected Band. If in Memory mode, scan's through Memory channels. If in VFO mode, scans through frequencies (between starting and stopping frequencies set in memory as PA and PB.
DTMF - Touch tone. Has 4 DTMF memory channels in each band
for storing DTMF codes.
To program
While pressing [S], rotate the main dial to DTMF.
To select a memory channel, press [S] and release it. Then rotate [MAIN]
to one of the 4 DTMF channels.
Press [FUNC] + [S], rotate [MAIN] to select a digit (E=*, F=#).
Press [S] to select the next digit. Press [FUNC] to save the DTMF code.
Press [PTT] to exit.
To send a DTMF code
Program the DTMF code as above,
Select the DTMF channel by pressing [S], rotate the main dial to DTMF.
To select a memory channel, press [S] and release it. Then rotate [MAIN]
to one of the 4 DTMF channels.
Press [PTT] to exit.
While holding PTT, press [S] to send the DTMF code.
PrIO - Priority Watch. Checks for signals on a memory channel, memory
channels, or call channel every 5 seconds.
Memory channel watch
Select the memory channel to watch.
Press and hold [S], and rotate [MAIN] to display PRIO.
Push [S] to activate watch. Press [S] again to return to normal.
Memory scan watch
In memory mode, press and hold [S] and rotate [MAIN] to SCAN.
Push [S] to start the scan.
Press and hold [S], and rotate [MAIN] to display PRIO.
Push [S] to activate watch. Press [S] again to return to normal.
BATT - Shows the battery level.
TIME - Timer Functions - 3 kinds
Press [S] and rotate [MAIN] until TIME appears
Auto Power-off (APoff)
Power-on timer (oFF)
Power-off timer
Auto power off
After being on for the specfied duration,the HT powers itself off.
Push [S] repeatedly until APoFF shows.
Turn [MAIN] to select one of 4 power off intervals (20 min, 40 min,
80 min, and oFF).
Press [PTT] to return to normal.
'ao' displays while Auto power off is active.
Power-on timer
When power if off, the radio will turn on at the specified time and
clear the power on timer.
Push [S] repeatedly until ON with a clock blinks.
Rotate [MAIN] to turn it on/off.
Press [FUNC]+[S]
Rotate [MAIN] to set the hour.
Press [S].
Rotate [MAIN] to set the minutes.
Press [FUNC] to save it.
Power-off timer
When power if on, the radio will turn off at the specified time and
clear the power off timer.
Push [S] repeatedly until OFF with a clock blinks.
Rotate [MAIN] to turn it on/off.
Press [FUNC]+[S]
Rotate [MAIN] to set the hour.
Press [S].
Rotate [MAIN] to set the minutes.
Press [FUNC] to save it.
TONE - Used to set the PL aka CTCSS tone to access repeaters.
Push [S] and rotate [MAIN] to TONE
Select VFO mode for the applicable band.
Press [FUNC]+[S]
Rotate [MAIN] to desired tone frequency
Push [S] or [PTT] to exit.
Pressing [S] in TONE mode toggles between
Normal - no PL tone
Tone encoder - sends PL tone during transmit
Pocket Beep - triggers beeping when tone has been received
Tone squelch - Squelch opens when tone is received.
SET - used to program infrequently used functions.
MASK - used to hide a memory channel
PGr - Pager, code squelch
UIU - Allows reception of two 70cm frequencies simultaniously.
DUP - Used for setting duplex offsets for repeater use.
e.g. -0.6 MHz for 145-147
+0.6 MHz for 147-148
+5.0 MHz for 435-445
-5.0 MHz for 445-450
To select an offset frequency,
Push [S] and rotate [MAIN] to DUP
Select VFO mode for the applicable band.
Press [FUNC]+[S]
Rotate [MAIN] to set an offset.
Push [S] or [PTT] to exit.
To set the duplex offset, Push [RPT] repeatedly.
DUP = + duplex
-DUP = - duplex
DUP T indicates the CTCSS tone encoder is on.
SKIP - Allows setting a Memory channel to be skipped in scanning
CALL - Call Channel Setting and recall
Using the call channel
Hold [S] and turn [MAIN] till CALL displays
Select desired [BAND]
Push [S] to bring up the call channel.
Setting a call channel
Hold [S] and turn [MAIN] till CALL displays
Select desired [BAND]
Select VFO mode
Select the frequency to be programmed as the call channel
Push [S] to bring up the call channel
Push and hold [FUNC] [V/M MW]
After three beeps, push [S] to return to normal mode
Remove battery and Antenna
Remove screws and open radio
Locate Logic board
Locate position D23 and add diode D23 (MA132WK)
Reassemble the radio
Reset the Microprocessor (Press [LIGHT] + [MONI] and Turn Power ON
Enter Expand function (Press [LIGHT] + [MONI] + [VM/MW] and Turn Power
ON)
Range : 108-136 MHz AM Rx, 136-179 MHz FM Rx, 311-460 Mhz FM, 800-945 MHz
Please contribute to this FAQ. Thank you.
The contributors to date have been:
ICOM
Peter Grace [email protected]
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected]
KB1CVH