First details of Icom’s New Touch screen ID-5100 Dual Band D-STAR Mobile Radio

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Icom are pleased to announce details of the new ID-5100 dual band D-STAR mobile. As with Icom’s latest range of products, this new model has a new generation design and range of features including large, responsive touch screen LCD, Bluetooth connectivity and second station control through an Android device*.

* Optional Bluetooth unit UT-133 is required. Android software is available free.

Planned Features

  • Large, responsive touch screen LCD
  • Optional UT-133 Bluetooth unit enables audio accessory connection and Android terminal connection (CI-V via Bluetooth SPP profile).
  • Optional VS-3 Bluetooth pendant earpiece microphone has volume adjust buttons, PTT and three programmable buttons. Third party Bluetooth audio accessories may also be compatible (not guaranteed).
  • RS-MS1A Android application will be a free to use download. It controls the radio for DR mode operation, exchanging text messages/pictures and showing GPS location over Google Maps.
  • Independent VHF and UHF band units (VV/UU capable) for 50W output
  • Enhanced DR mode (also include analogue repeaters)
  • Added “Nearby Repeater Scan” in DR scan function
  • D-Plus reflector usability (can select “reflector” in TO field)
  • DV Dual Watch for simultaneously waiting in two DV voice streams (decodes one only)
  • Home button (same as ID-51 feature)
  • D-PRS enhancements (details to be announced)
  • 1,000 memory channels
  • Built-in GPS engine (inside the controller, no EXT antenna possible)
  • ESN (Electronic Serial Number) / SD Card slot (in the black box main unit).
  • New HM-207 control microphone is supplied as standard.

Other Features

  • Wideband receiving (receives 118-137MHz(AM), 137-174/375-550MHz only)
  • Antenna RX diversity (second antenna connector)
  • TNC/9600bps modem connectivity
  • DTMF decode (and mini-repeater control)

These are still preliminary details of the new radio series and specifications may change. Please stay tuned to our website for further details, pricing and availability.

For more inforation, visit http://www.icomuk.co.uk

IC-7700 HF/50MHz Base Station firmware upgrade

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Icom Inc has announced a firmware upgrade for the IC-7700 HF/50MHz Base Station Transceiver. The upgrade will provide the same additional features as made available to its big brother transceiver, the IC-7800. The new firmware will be available for download from the Icom Inc. Website from March 2014.

Continued news about this upgrade - http://www.icomuk.co.uk/

Radio Hams responding to Slovenia electricity disruption

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The cold weather in Slovenia has disrupted the electricity supply and radio amateurs have been assisting with operations on a local community level

Since 31st January 2014, Slovenia has been affected by extreme cold weather such as blizzards, heavy snow and sleet. This has caused the collapse of power lines under the weight of ice, snow and falling trees with electricity disruptions now affecting 250,000 people (25% of households). The restoration of electricity supply is being made difficult by the continuing bad weather. This has prompted Slovenia to request assistance from the European Union for mobile electric power generators with a capacity of 100-300+ kVA.

Within Slovenia, some radio amateurs are assisting with operations on a local community level due to problems with the mobile phone and professional radio networks. At the time of writing, no national request for assistance has been received but Slovenian Radio Amateurs are preparing to respond if required.

The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism has asked for assistance from nearby European states with Germany, the Czech republic and Austria providing generators and assistance. Because of uncertainty whether the Austrian teams responding to Slovenia will be able to communicate back to their home bases, the Austrian Fire Departments have asked Austrian Emergency Communicators to provide a link between Austria and Slovenia using Pactor/Winlink.

Gregor, OE1VGC the Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator for Austria asks all European Radio amateurs to keep clear of the following frequencies and services which are being used to support these links.

  • S51SLO - 3.644MHz
  • OE3XEC - 3.608 and 3.617MHz
  • OE6XPD - 3.601MHz

Information on the European Union response - http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-102_en.htm