Icom IC-T81A User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is sub-
ject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
iT81A/E
MULTIBAND FM TRANSCEIVER
IC-T81A/E Manual-(1) 01.12.5 6:55 PM Page A (1,1)

Versions of the IC-T81A/E which display the “CE” symbol
on the serial number seal, comply with the European har-
monised standard ETS300 684 (EMC product standard
for Commercially Available Amateur Radio Equipment).
ii
IMPORTANT
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS carefully and com-
pletely before using the transceiver.
SAVE THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL—This in-
struction manual contains important operating instructions for
the IC-T81A/E.
EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS
The explicit definitions below apply to this instruction manual.
CAUTIONS
RWARNING! NEVER hold the transceiver so that the
antenna is very close to, or touching exposed parts of the
body, especially the face or eyes, while transmitting. The
transceiver will perform best if the microphone is 5 to 10 cm
(2 to 4 in) away from the lips and the transceiver is vertical.
RWARNING! NEVER operate the transceiver with a
headset or other audio accessories at high volume levels.
Hearing experts advise against continuous high volume op-
eration. If you experience a ringing in your ears, reduce the
volume or discontinue use.
NEVER connect the transceiver to an AC outlet or to a
power source of more than 16 V DC. Such a connection will
damage the transceiver.
NEVER connect the transceiver to a power source that is
DC fused at more than 5 A. Accidental reverse connection will
be protected by this fuse, higher fuse values will not give any
protection against such accidents and the transceiver will be
ruined.
NEVER attempt to charge alkaline or dry cell batteries. Be-
ware that external DC power connections will charge batteries
inside the battery case. This will damage not only the battery
case but also the transceiver.
WORD DEFINITION
RWARNING Personal injury, fire hazard or electric
shock may occur.
CAUTION Equipment damage may occur.
NOTE If disregarded, inconvenience only. No risk
of personal injury, fire or electric shoc
k.
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iii
DO NOT push the PTT when not actually desiring to trans-
mit.
Place unit in a secure place to avoid inadvertent use by chil-
dren.
DO NOT operate the transceiver near unshielded electri-
cal blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere.
AVOID using or placing the transceiver in direct sunlight or
in areas with temperatures below –10°C (+14°F) or above
+60°C (+140°F).
The use of non-Icom battery packs/chargers may impair
transceiver performance and invalidate the warranty.
Even when the transceiver power is OFF, a slight current still
flows in the circuits. Remove the battery pack or case from
the transceiver when not using it for a long time. Otherwise,
the battery pack or installed Ni-Cd batteries will become ex-
hausted.
For USA only:
Caution: Changes or modifications to this transceiver, not ex-
pressly approved by Icom Inc., could void your authority to
operate this transceiver under FCC regulations.
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
Accessories included with the transceiver:
➀Battery pack (BP-199 or BP-200) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
➁Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
➂Handstrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
➃Belt clip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
*Some versions are supplied with a wall charger.
qwer
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iv
IMPORTANT ................................................................................................... ii
EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS ................................................................................ ii
CAUTIONS ..................................................................................................... ii
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES ........................................................................... iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................. iv
1 ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT ................................................................... 1
2 PANEL DESCRIPTION ......................................................................... 2–5
■Switches, controls, keys and connectors ............................................... 2
■Function display ..................................................................................... 4
3 BATTERY PACKS AND CHARGING ................................................... 6–8
■Battery pack charging ............................................................................ 6
■Charging precautions ............................................................................. 6
■About battery packs ............................................................................... 6
■Charging connections ............................................................................ 7
■Battery case ........................................................................................... 8
4 BASIC OPERATION ........................................................................... 9–14
■Power ON .............................................................................................. 9
■Setting a frequency ................................................................................ 9
■Setting tuning steps ............................................................................. 10
■Selecting a memory channel ................................................................ 11
■Lock function ........................................................................................ 11
■Receive and transmit ........................................................................... 11
■FM broadcast reception ....................................................................... 12
■Air band reception ................................................................................ 12
■Narrow FM operation ........................................................................... 12
■RIT/VXOa function ............................................................................... 13
■Receive mode ...................................................................................... 14
5 REPEATER OPERATION ................................................................. 15–17
■General ................................................................................................ 15
■Subaudible tones for repeater use ....................................................... 16
■Setting an offset frequency .................................................................. 16
■Auto repeater function ......................................................................... 17
6 MEMORY/CALL PROGRAMMING ................................................... 18–20
■General ................................................................................................ 18
■Programming a memory channel ......................................................... 18
TABLE OF CONTENTS
■Memory editing .................................................................................... 19
■Memory names .................................................................................... 20
7 DTMF MEMORY ..................................................................................... 21
■Programming a DTMF code ................................................................ 21
■Transmitting a DTMF code .................................................................. 21
8 SCAN FUNCTIONS .......................................................................... 22–24
■Scan types ........................................................................................... 22
■Full/programmed scan ......................................................................... 23
■Memory (skip) scan ............................................................................. 23
■Skip channel setting ............................................................................. 24
■Scan resume condition ........................................................................ 24
9 SUBAUDIBLE TONE OPERATION .................................................. 25–26
■Tone squelch ........................................................................................ 25
■Tone scan ............................................................................................ 26
■Pocket beep operation ......................................................................... 26
10 OTHER FUNCTIONS ........................................................................ 27–30
■Help function ........................................................................................ 27
■Initial set mode ..................................................................................... 27
■Resetting the CPU ............................................................................... 29
■Cloning ................................................................................................. 30
11 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................ 31
12 SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................... 32
13 OPTIONS ................................................................................................ 33
14 MODE ARRANGEMENT .................................................................. 34–35
15 CS-T81 CLONING SOFTWARE (OPTION) ...................................... 36–39
■Getting started ..................................................................................... 36
■System requirements ........................................................................... 36
■Software installation ............................................................................. 36
■COM port/Call sign setting ................................................................... 37
■Memory channel list description .......................................................... 37
■Edit menu ............................................................................................. 38
■DTMF autodial ..................................................................................... 38
■Common settings ................................................................................. 39
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1
1
ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT
DAntenna
Screw the supplied antenna onto the
antenna connector as shown in the dia-
gram below.
Keep the jack cover attached when
jacks are not in use to avoid bad con-
tacts.
DHandstrap
Attach the handstrap to the belt clip, be-
fore attaching the belt clip to the trans-
ceiver, as below.
DBelt clip
Attach the belt clip to the transceiver as
illustrated below.
uCAUTION:
Transmitting
without the an-
tenna may dam-
age the
transceiver.
IC-T81A/E Manual-(1) 01.12.5 6:55 PM Page 1 (1,1)

PANEL DESCRIPTION
2
2
q[MULTI]
w[SQL]
e[TX/RX]
r[PTT]
t[PWR]
y
u[SP/MIC]
i[DIAL]
o[VFO]
!0 [MR]
!1 [CALL]
!2 [H/L]
!3 [RIT] !6 [DC13.5V]!5 [M]
!4
Function
display
Speaker/
Microphone
qMULTIFUNCTION SWITCH [MULTI]
➥Push to select the tone or duplex menu. (pgs. 15–17);
push for 1 sec. to enter set mode (p. 35).
➥Push ↕to increase/decrease the volume (p. 11).
➥Push ↔to change the operating band; push for 1 sec.
to start a scan (p. 22).
wSQUELCH SWITCH [SQL] (p. 11)
➥Push and hold to open the squelch.
➥While pushing, rotate [DIAL] to adjust the squelch set-
ting.
eTX/RX INDICATOR (p. 11)
Lights red while transmitting; green while receiving (or
when the squelch is open).
rPTT SWITCH [PTT] (p. 11)
Push and hold to transmit; release to receive.
tPOWER SWITCH [PWR] (p. 9)
Push for 1 sec. to turn power on and off.
yANTENNA CONNECTOR (p. 1)
Connects the supplied antenna.
uEXTERNAL SPEAKER AND MICROPHONE JACKS
[SP/MIC]
Connect an optional speaker-microphone or headset, if de-
sired. The internal microphone and speaker will not func-
tion when either is connected. (See p. 33 for options.)
■Switches, controls, keys and connectors
NOTE: In this manual—
Push [MULTI] means push ñdirectly;
Push [MULTI(↕)] means push ñup or down; and
Push [MULTI(↔)] means push ñleft or right. See q
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3
2
PANEL DESCRIPTION
☞NOTE: When connecting or disconnecting an external
speaker-microphone, first turn off power to the transceiver.
iTUNING CONTROL [DIAL]
Changes the operating frequency; memory channel in
memory mode; set mode contents in set mode, etc.
oVFO/CLEAR KEY [VFO(CLR/MHz)Å]
➥Push to select VFO mode. (p. 9)
➥Cancels some functions such as digit input before entry,
scans, etc.
➥Push and hold for 1 sec., then rotate [DIAL] to change
the MHz digit. (p. 10)
➥While pushing [PTT], this key sends a DTMF “A.”(p. 21)
!0 MEMORY MODE KEY [MR(MW)ı]
➥Push to select memory mode. (p. 11)
•“X”appears while in memory mode.
➥Push for 1 sec. to enter memory write mode. (p. 18)
➥While pushing [PTT], this key sends a DTMF “B.”(p. 21)
!1 CALL KEY [CALLÇ]
➥Push to select the call channel. (p. 19)
➥While pushing [PTT], this key sends a DTMF “C.”(p. 21)
This connection
does not apply
when a conden-
sor microphone
is connected.
Remote Audio out
(8 Ω)
[SP]
MIC
3.2 V
PTT
[MIC] Audio input
PTT
33 kΩ
(2 kΩ)
!2 OUTPUT POWER KEY [H/L(LOCK)Î]
➥Push to toggle between low and high power. (p. 11)
•“LOW”appears while low power is selected.
➥Push for 1 sec. to toggle the lock function on/off. (p. 11)
•“L”appears while the lock function is activated.
➥While pushing [PTT], this key sends a DTMF “D.”(p. 21)
!3 RIT KEY [RIT(TSCAN)#] (p. 13)
➥Push, then rotate [DIAL] to change the RIT/VXO setting.
•This function is only available for the 1.2 GHz band and RIT
or VXO must be activated in set mode (p. 13).
➥Push for 1 sec. to turn the tone scan function on/off. (p.
26)
➥While pushing [PTT], this key sends a DTMF “F.”(p. 21)
!4 DIGIT KEYS
➥Input the specified digit during frequency input, memory
channel selection, etc.
➥Transmit the DTMF code of the specified digit while
pushing [PTT]. (p. 21)
!5 MHz KEY [•(M)]
➥Used as a shortcut for inputting frequencies. (p. 10)
➥Transmits an “E”for DTMF operation while pushing
[PTT]. (p. 21)
!6 EXTERNAL DC POWER JACK [DC13.5V]
Allows you to operate the transceiver with a 4.5 to 16 V DC
power source using optional cables, CP-12L or OPC-254L.
uCAUTION: DO NOT connect when a battery case is at-
tached.
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4
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
■Function display
T SQL SKIP
MR
DUPFMW
VOL LOW
15
9
AM
q
we r t
y
u
i!0!1 o
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5
2
PANEL DESCRIPTION
qFREQUENCY INDICATION
Shows the selected frequency, set mode contents, etc.
wMODE INDICATORS
Indicate the operating mode.
eDUPLEX INDICATOR (p. 15)
Appears during semi-duplex operation.
•“–DUP”appears for minus duplex; “DUP”appears for plus du-
plex.
rTONE INDICATORS
“T”appears when the subaudible tone encoder (p. 15) is in
use; “T SQLS”appears during pocket beep operation
(p. 26) and “T SQL”appears when the tone squelch func-
tion (p. 25) is activated.
tSKIP INDICATOR (p. 23)
Appears when the selected channel is set as a “skip”chan-
nel.
yMEMORY MODE INDICATOR (p. 11)
Appears while in memory mode.
uMEMORY CHANNEL INDICATOR
Indicates the selected memory channel and other items
such as the call channel, set mode items, etc.
iS/RF INDICATORS (p. 11)
Show the relative signal strength while receiving and the
output power selection while transmitting.
oRIT/VXO INDICATOR (p. 13)
Appears when either the RIT or VXO function is activated
and the 1.2 GHz band is selected.
!0 LOW POWER INDICATOR (p. 11)
Appears when low output power is set.
!1 VOLUME INDICATOR
Appears while adjusting the volume.
•Indicators also appear in place of the operating frequency while
adjusting volume to visually indicate the selected volume level.
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6
3BATTERY PACKS AND CHARGING
■Battery pack charging
The supplied* BP-198, BP-199 or BP-200 BATTERY PACK in-
cludes rechargeable Ni-MH batteries and can be charged ap-
prox. 300 times. Charge the battery pack before first
operating the transceiver or when the battery pack becomes
exhausted.
*Optional for versions which come with the BP-197 BATTERY CASE .
If you want to get the longest life out of your battery pack
(300+ charges), the following points should be observed:
1. Avoid overcharging. The charging period should be less
than 15 hours.
2. Use the battery until it becomes completely exhausted
under normal conditions. We recommend battery charging
just after transmitting becomes impossible.
■Charging precautions
NEVER attempt to charge alkaline batteries. 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 temperatures of 10°C (50°F)
or over temperatures of 40°C (104°F).
■About battery packs
DOperating period
Depending on attached battery pack, the operating period of
the transceiver varies. When the approx. voltage of battery
packs BP-198, BP-199 or BP-200 falls to 4, 5 or 8 V, respec-
tively, charging is necessary. Refer to p. 33 for operating pe-
riod details.
DBattery life
If your battery pack seems to have no capacity even after
being fully charged, completely discharge it by leaving the
power ON overnight. Then fully charge the battery pack
again.
If the battery pack still does not retain a charge (or very little),
a new battery pack must be purchased.
☞NOTE: When using a battery pack for the first time or after
long periods of inactivity between charges (approx. 2
months or more), the battery pack will not be able to retain
a full charge immediately. Subsequent charge/discharge
cycles will eventually bring the battery pack up to full
charge capacity.
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