Quick band change

[ke0me]

I am using a quick band change method, which I'm sure is not new, but it was new to me.

I have an Icom IC-7200, which allows you to press and hold a button to go to somewhere on a given band, maybe last frequency used.

Or, you can enter the frequency on a keypad.

Both are OK, but not what I'm looking for. Too many button pushes.

The radio has 200 memories, can't imagine where I would ever use that many, but some people may.

Anyway, I simply picked 2 or 3 spots in each HF band that I would like to start at (usually near cw/ssb boundaries, middle of ssb band, etc.).

Now, I just enter memory mode, and turn the memory channel selection knob til I get to the desired frequency, example:

memory 11 7.050 cw
memory 12 7.150 ssb
memory 13 7.250 ssb

Then all I do is tune the VFO to find a station.

Anyone else have a quick method they use?

[N3LYT]

Memory is probably the quickest and is simple. The 7200 can also be bumped up to 10 VFO memories. I just use 5 memories for the 60 meter band.

[ke0me]

Interested in the 10 VFO memories you mention.

Can you give me a reference in the manual where I can look at that feature?

This 7200 is so packed with options I'm still learning how to use it, and I haven't even looked at digital modes yet.

Thanks, anything to make me work less is good.

PS- I finally figured out how to use the manual notch filter, wow, does that thing work! I was really impressed.

Combined with the twin pass band filters, that is one nice receiver.

[N3LYT]

Sorry I may have lead you astray I don't think the 7200 has a VFO memo pad. I have 3 of these things a 706,7000 and a 7200. The 706 and the 7000 do. It does however have more than enough memory channels to go around. I use HRD at home with the 7200 (the free one) that makes life real handy with all the filtering.

[ke0me]

No problem, I still have 180 memories left :-)

Now, if the band would just OPEN so I can hear someone.

Running a short long wire 10 feet above the ground with an almost non-existent ground is, to say the least, challenging.

After we get back full-timing in June, the Tarheel on top of the rv should help me quite a bit.

PS - is anyone aware of www.bandconditions.com? Has graphs that shows relative band conditions and how the propagation is trending. seems to work well.

[ke0me]

after I sent the last post, I remembered another item

Since I have a bunch on memories to spare, I have found several shortwave broadcast stations that I added to the memory bank.

The commercial HF broadcasters have bands adjacent to most of the HF ham bands, so I can tune to a particular station - (ex: 6.090, 9.475 , 11.880, 13.740 MHz ) and see how that freq is doing. They are mostly AM, so I had to add AM mode back to my receiver.

[wa8yxm]

Now, if the band would just OPEN so I can hear someone.


A couple nights ago an alarm went off here in the Motor home. It has been a long time (2 years) since I have heard that alarm and it took me a while to identify it.

Weather/all hazards readio warning of Thunderstomers not in my area.

You see.. I'm over sixty miles from the transmitter and have not been able to HEAR the bland station on the pocket radio for 2 years. Comes in fine on the TS-2000 and other Ham rigs, but the alarm radio does nto hear it.. Band was very open for that to happen.

[N3LYT]

after I sent the last post, I remembered another item

Since I have a bunch on memories to spare, I have found several shortwave broadcast stations that I added to the memory bank.

The commercial HF broadcasters have bands adjacent to most of the HF ham bands, so I can tune to a particular station - (ex: 6.090, 9.475 , 11.880, 13.740 MHz ) and see how that freq is doing. They are mostly AM, so I had to add AM mode back to my receiver.

Yes another good one is HF aircraft weather reports they are on 24/7 they are SSB.

[ke0me]

Is there a website to see what frequencies are used close to me (or wherever I may be on the road)?