Author Archives: admin

International Radio!

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Well I am slightly sceptical myself, but I may have heard my first international contact from the USA.

I was scanning on the UHF frequency and the radio stopped at 433.020Mhz. The person talking was trying to see if anyone was out there, but was getting no answer so sign off with his call-sign KO6HW. He was from California USA (apparently).

When he went, I then heard someone chatting for a longer time on 433.080Mhz but I missed his call-sign as he said it to quickly, but he said he was in Adelaide. The only Adelaide I know is in Australia. So maybe the conditions were right, or they were not where they were meant to be. But as it was 2 different people, giving their call-signs, on 2 different frequencies, I am inclined to believe them.

Icom IC-E90 Tricks (IC-T90)

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Keyboard trick:-
Press and hold the BAND key while powering up radio, gives a full-display read-out. Releasing the BAND key allows radio to continue normal power-up.

  • Keypad Backlighting Colour Trick:-
    • Push [8 SET] for 1 sec to enter Set mode
    • Rotate [DIAL] until EXP1 appears
    • Press [8 SET] to select, then Rotate [DIAL] to switch EPX1 On
    • Press [8 SET] Set
    • Rotate [DIAL] to COLOR
    • Press [8 SET] then Rotate Dial to select Green, Orange or Red
    • Press [8 SET] to Set once you have desired colour.

TV Channels Trick:-
This one isn’t listed in manual, but is you have auto scanned the TV channels and want to have all channels listed here’s how you can do it:-

Press Call/TV until you enter TV mode
Open the Squelch (Hold SQL Button below PTT and rotate Dial to Open)
Press and Hold Mode/Scan for 1 sec to begin Scan.

As the Squelch (SQL) is open unit will think all channels have activity so they are all then listed.

Let me know any others if you have them and I will list here.

Another Net

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Was scanning through the UHF band (383.000-549.995Mhz) today on my Icom IC-E90 and found a busy frequency at 433.150Mhz. Amongst those chatting (not me as I cannot respond yet due to lack of licence) was some Black Cab drivers, someone from Houston, Texas visiting London (staying at the Royal Lancaster Hotel) for the New Year and a few others. Also every now and again you could also make out Morse code in the background.

I got a good reception as from were I am in South London to the gentleman from Texas is about 12+ miles and I am getting full signal strength.

First Impressions of Icom IC-E90

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Well I have had my Icom IC-E90 for a few days now and battery life is pretty good so far. The Charger that comes with the Radio requires 15hrs to charge, so I may have to purchase the 2-1/2 hour desktop version very soon. As I am writing this it’s having it first charge since Christmas day, but has been charging since 2am and is now 7pm and is not complete (But that may be because the cable when I picked it up at 10am fell out so may not have been home snugly. We’ll have to wait and see.).

I have managed to program in all the CB (UK & EU) and PMR (446Mhz) channels into the memory, as well as some normal radio stations like Capital FM (95.8fm), Kiss (100fm) and Radio 1 (98.8fm). This radio has a feature that when listening to Public radio stations and TV channels (yes can get them as well) switches to a WFM mode.

My uncle will be making a cable to connect to a PC for me and then once I have the Icom software I can arrange all the channels via the computer. (Hopefully that will be easier than programming on the handset.)

On Boxing day I also caught about 5-10 minutes of a broadcast (I think they call a net) by the Sutton & Cheam Radio Society. I heard them using their Amateur Radio call signs, but either because I am not used to listening or they were said to fast I missed them.

Icom IC-E90

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Icom IC-E90I got in touch with my uncle last weekend, and during our video chat using iVist, he mentioned that he may be giving me an amateur radio/scanner.

It would be the Icom IC-E90 as pictured left.

From the ICOM website:- Icom announces the debut of the IC-E90 multi-band handheld transceiver. This transceiver covers 50MHz, 144MHz and 430MHz bands and is equipped with a wide band receiver, which covers 0.495-999.990MHz in AM/FM/WFM modes. If that isn’t enough, the IC-E90 comes as standard with a 1300mAH Li-Ion battery ideal for long operating periods and provides 5W output on all bands! All these great features are built into an ultra compact body, measuring only 58x87x29mm!

I have so far only seen images on the net about this Radio. But I love how small it is. It apparently can also be used as a Radio Scanner.

How Amateur (Ham) Radios Work!

How Radio Scanners Work!

In doing some research, I have found a local club called The Sutton And Cheam Radio Society. The society has been running for 50 years and are an affiliated member of the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain).