Icom IC-M127 User manual

VHF MARINE TRANSCEIVER
C-M127
Icom Inc.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If your vessel requires assistance, contact other vessels and Or, transmit your distress call using digital selective calling on
the Coast Guard by sending a distress call on channel 16. channel 70 (the optional UX-130 psc unit must be installed),

TABLE OF CONTENTS
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT
CAUTIONS...
1 OPERATING RULES ..
2 PANEL DESCRIPTION
@ Front panel ....
Function display
BASIC OPERATION
@ Receiving
@ Transmitting
@ Scan function
Call channel programming ..
Display backlighting
Channel names
DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING
@ General .....
@ Distress call transmission
All ships call transmission
Individual call transmission
@ Address input mode ..
lM Receiving DSC calls
5 OTHER FUNCTIONS
i Hailer operation
>
1 Intercom operation
‘Automatic fog horn
@ Internal speaker ON/OFF
'§ Displaying position
6 SET MODE ........ 26-30
Entering SET mode ..
SET mode items ...
CONNECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
@ Unpacking ..
@ Additional requirements
x
8 OPTION INSTALLATION ......
'@ Removing/replacing the cas
@ Unit installation ...
9 TROUBLESHOOTING ...........
10 VHF MARINE CHANNEL LIST
11 SPECIFICATIONS
12 OPTIONS

IMPORTANT
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS carefully and completely before using the transceiver.
SAVE THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL—This instruction manual contains important
operating instructions for the IC-M127.
YOU MUST HAVE a DSC vessel ID in order to operate the optional DSC functions of the
transceiver. See your Dealer for details.
CAUTIONS
ZAXWARNING NEVER connect the transceiver to an AC
outlet. This may pose a fire hazard or result in an electric shock.
A\WARNING HIGH VOLTAGE! NEVER touch
the antenna or an internal antenna connector during trans-
mission. This may result in an electric shock or a burn,
NEVER connect the transceiver to a power source of more
than 16 V DC. This connection will ruin the transceiver.
WHEN INSTALLING THE DSC UNIT
NEVER transmit a distress call when your vessel does not
need immediate help. Distress calls can be used only in times
of emergency.
AVOID using or placing the transceiver in direct sunlight or
in areas with temperatures below —20°C (-4°F) or above
+60°C (+140°F).
DO NOT operate the transceiver without running the ves-
sel's engine. When your vessel's engine is OFF and the trans-
ceiver is transmitting, the vessel's battery will soon become
exhausted.
KEEP the transceiver out of the reach of children.
KEEP the transceiver and microphone at least 1 meter
away from your vessel's magnetic navigation compass.

© Priorities
* Read all rules and regulations pertaining to priorities and
keep an up-to-date copy handy. Safety and distress calls
take priority over all others.
* You must monitor channel 16 when you are not operating on
another channel.
* False or fraudulent distress calls are prohibited under law.
© Privacy
* Information overheard but not intended for you cannot law-
fully be used in any way.
* Indecent or profane language is prohibited.
© Radio licenses
SHIP STATION LICENSE
You must have a current radio station license before using the
transceiver. It is unlawful to operate a ship station which is not
licensed.
Inquire through your dealer or the appropriate government
agency for a Ship-Radiotelephone license. This license in-
cludes the call sign which is your craft's identification for radio
purposes.
OPERATING RULES
An FCC form 506 may be supplied with the IC-M127 U.S.A.
version. In this case, complete the form and send it to the
nearest FCC office.
OPERATOR'S LICENSE
A restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is the license
most often held by small vessel radio operators when a radio
is not required for safety purposes.
The Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit must be
posted near the transceiver or be kept with the operator. Only
a licensed radio operator may operate a transceiver.
However, non-licensed individuals may talk over a transceiver
if a licensed operator starts, supervises, ends the call and
makes the necessary log entries.
A current copy of the applicable government rules and regu-
lations is only required to be on hand for vessels in which a
radio telephone is compulsory. However, even if you are not
required to have these on hand it is your responsibility to be
thoroughly acquainted with all pertinent rules and regulations.
1

—P
i |
PANEL DESCRIPTION
@ Front panel
Function display (p. 4)
Speaker
@ CHANNEL SELECTOR [CHANNEL]
Selects an operating channel in the selected channel
group,
@ CHANNEL 16 SWITCH [16 * POS]
* Selects channel 16. (p. 6)
Push for 1 sec. to display your position (when a GPS re-
ceiver is connected). (p. 25)
© CALL CHANNEL SWITCH [9 * SCRM]
* Selects the call channel—the call channel is program-
mable, channel 9 being the default. (p. 6)
* Push and hold to activate the optional voice scrambler
function (optional UT-98 is required). (pgs. 38, 43)
@ CHANNEL/WEATHER CHANNEL SWITCH
[CH/WX + unc]
* Toggles between regular and weather channels. (p. 7)
* Selects channel groups in sequence when pushed for 1
sec. (p. 7)
© DUALTRI-WATCH SWITCH [DUAL * TRI] (p. 8)
* Activates dualwatch for checking channel 16.
* Push for 1 sec. to activate tri-watch for checking channel
16 and the call channel.
@ SCAN SWITCH [SCAN « TAG]
* Starts and stops normal or priority scan when tag chan-
nels are programmed. (p. 10)

* Push for 1 sec. to toggle the tag setting for the displayed
channel. (p. 10)
@ HIGH/LOW POWER SWITCH [HI/LO « DIM]
* Toggles between high and low output powers. (p. 9)
*While pushing, rotate the channel selector or push the
[V/A] switches on the microphone to adjust the display
and control/switch backlighting intensity. (p. 11)
© SQUELCH CONTROL [SQUELCH]
* Rotate clockwise to eliminate audio noise. (p. 8)
* Activates the built-in attenuator when rotated deep clock-
wise. (p.8)
@ POWER/VOLUME CONTROL [PWR/VOL] (p. 8)
* Push to turn power ON/OFF.
* Rotate to adjust the audio output.
@ HAILER/INTERCOM SWITCH [HLIIC « A.FOG]
*Selects/turns OFF the hailer and intercom functions,
(pgs. 21, 22)
* Push for 5 sec. to activate the auto fog horn function.
(p. 24)
@ INDIVIDUAL CALL SWITCH [INDV] (p. 16)
Push for 5 sec. to enter the individual call standby condi-
tion (when optional UX-130 is installed).
@ EMERGENCY SWITCH [EMER] (p. 14)
Push for 5 sec. to enter the distress call transmission
standby condition (when optional UX-130 is installed).
PANEL DESCRIPTION 2
® CHANNEL NAME SWITCH [NAME]
* Push to enter name input mode. (p. 12)
* Push for 5 sec. to enter the stand by condition for an “all
ships call" (when optional UX-130 is installed). (p. 15)
@ CHANNEL UP/DOWN SWITCHES [VJ/[4]
* Select an operating channel in the selected channel
group.
= These switches can be used instead of the transceiver's
channel selector.
@ HIGH/LOW POWER SWITCH [HI/LO]
The same function as the transceiver's front panel.
* Toggles between high and low output powers. (p. 9)
* While pushing, rotate the channel selector to adjust the display
and control/switch backlighting intensity. (p. 11)
|

2 PANEL DESCRIPTION
@ Function display
@ MODE INDICATORS (p. 7)
‘» “USA” shows USA channels are selected,
‘» “CAN” shows Canadian channels are selected.
‘» “INT” shows International channels are selected.
‘» “WX" shows weather channels are selected.
@ CALL CHANNEL INDICATOR
Appears when the call channel is selected. (p. 6)
© WEATHER ALERT INDICATOR
Indicates the weather alert function is activated. (p. 7)
@ CHANNEL INDICATOR
Shows the operating channel. (p. 7)
@ DUPLEX INDICATOR
Appears when the selected channel is a duplex channel.
@ TAG CHANNEL INDICATOR
Appears when the selected channel is set as a tag chan-
nel. (p. 10)
@ Low POWER INDICATOR
Shows that low output power is selected. (p. 9)

© LOW BATTERY INDICATOR
Appears when the vessel's battery voltage drops below
11 V. (p. 6)
@ VOICE SCRAMBLER INDICATOR
Appears while the optional voice scrambler is activated.
(p. 8)
@ SEND INDICATOR
Appears when DSC information has been transmitted.
(pgs. 13-20)
@ RECEIVE INDICATOR
Appears when DSC information has been received.
(pgs. 13-20)
@® TRANSMIT INDICATOR
Appears while transmitting. (p. 9)
® AUTO FOG HORN INDICATORS
Appear when the auto fog horn function is activated. The
number of indicators varies according to the selected fog
horn type. (p. 24)
@® s/AF INDICATOR
‘= Shows the relative signal strength while receiving.
‘» Shows whether high or low output power is selected
while transmitting. (pgs. 8, 9)
@ NMEA INDICATOR
Appears when NMEA devices (such as a GPS receiver)
are connected. (p. 35)
PANEL DESCRIPTION 2
@ ALPHANUMERIC READOUT
‘» Displays channel names during regular operation.
(p. 12)
‘» Displays position and UTC time when [16 *POS] is
pushed for 1 sec. (p. 25)
‘» Displays selected functions, DSC information, set mode
items, etc. depending on operation.
1

o |
3
@ Power ON
@ Push [PWR] in to turn power ON.
All display indications
appear briefly’.
BASIC OPERATION
*SCRM appears only when an optional
UT-08 is installed,
® Operate the transceiver as indicated in the following sec-
tions.
© Low voltage indicator
When “BATT” appears and flashes
as shown at right, the vessel's bat-
tery voltage has dropped below
11V, indicating there is a DC
power source problem, In this case, check your vessel's bat-
tery and DC power cable.
@ Channel selection
© Channel 16
Channel 16 is the distress channel. It is used for establishing
initial contact with another station and for emergency com-
munications. Channel 16 is monitored during dualwatch/tri-
watch. While standing by you are required to monitor channel
16.
- 6 |
© Call channel
The call channel is used to store your most often-used chan-
nel for quick recall. In addition, the call channel is monitored
during tri-watch, The default setting for the call channel is
channel 9, which is for pleasure boat use.
Push CG) rt
ves Lf
“CALL" indicates that the
call channel is selected.