Category Archives: General

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.

New Years Eve

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Firstly I would like to wish any readers (although I doubt there’s many), a Happy New Year. I would suggest making the News Years resolution “Not To Make Any New Years Resolutions” and I am sure you will be able to keep it.

I will be off to the Pub on New Years Eve and found out that a band called Roadhouse will be playing. Quote from Roadhouse Website:-
Wednesday December 31st, on a magical New Years Eve why not join us at The Fielder and Firkin, lower High St Sutton, near Burger King. This venue is trying very hard to put the life in Sutton, so come and show your support. Music from 9.45 till the New Year arrives.

Most of the Bands that The Fielder and Firkin get to play are petty good, so I am in no doubt I will be having a good night.

To find some good UK pubs if not in Sutton area, then check out Campaign for Real Ale web site.

And for the Morning after don’t forget the Alka-Seltzer. Live from my friend Deb in Canada is another possible hangover cure, which she claims works called a Ceasar. Enjoy!

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.