Icom ID-52E

This section will have "how to" guides for operating D-Star with the Icom ID-52 radio.

Enter hotspot details - content to follow

Enter Your Call Sign details - content to follow

Entering My Call Sign and TX Message

1. From the VFO or Memory screen and not DR mode press the Menu key.
2. Move to the Set icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

3. Now scroll down to My Station and select.

4. Now you can select My Call Sign. You get the option to enter multiple callsigns should the radio be shared.

5. To enter your callsign you now have to press Quick to Edit or Clear that option.

6. Select Edit and now to enter your callsign use the Nav key, up and down changes the characters and right moves to the next character position.

7. You will see a / on the second line, here you can enter four characters and most people enter the radio model or if they have a short name that can go there. To get to the line move to the right and the cursor will move down.

8. Enter characters as before and when complete press the center key of the Nav key.

You can now enter a message that can be displayed on the receiving stations screen should they have that option enabled. Here you can have your name and location or any message you want.

1. Press VFO to back a menu and move down and select TX Message.

2. Again you have the option to enter several messages here.

3. To enter messages press Quick to Edit or Clear that option.

4. Select Edit and now to enter your message. This is done the same as entering your callsign.

5. When finished press the center key of the Nav key and you will return to your message list. If you have multiple messages whichever one is highlighted blue when you press the center key of the Nav key will be selected and used when transmitting.

6. Press the Menu key to return to the A / B band(s).

Enter hotspot details - content to follow

Enter Your Call Sign details - content to follow

Using the GPS - videos to follow

The GPS feature can be used to send your location details to any station that is receiving you either direct or through a repeater/gateway. If their radio is configured correctly it will display your callsign, location and bearing / distance. If the repeater/gateway is also configured correctly it should pass your data to other services. This can be Google Maps and / or the aprs.fi website. If you look on a reflector dashboard you will see a callsign in orange or a GPS symbol next to it. If you use Pi-Star clicking on the GPS letters next to a callsign will take you to the aprs.fi site.

All of the following can be configured using the Icom CS-52 or RT Systems WCS-D52 software. The settings I have chosen are to prolong battery life, both SBAS and GLONASS satellites improve position accuracy but at the expense of battery life.

Enabling GPS to use current location from the internal receiver

1. From any screen press the Menu key.
2. Move to the GPS icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

3. Now select GPS Set and select.

4. Select GPS Select and select. You now have the choice of Off, On or Manual. On will use your current position in any message whereas Manual will use a stored position. More on this later as it is really useful when wanting to save battery power if you are not out and about.

5. For now select On.

6. I have found the following settings work. In GPS Option, SBAS is set to Off, GLONASS is set to Off, Power Save is set to Auto and Satellite Information is set to GPS Only.

7. To check your position go back through the menus using the VFO/MHz key until you are back on the main GPS screen and then select GPS Position. All being well you should see your current position.

Storing co-ordinates to memory position

1. From any screen press the Menu key.

2. Move to the GPS icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

3. Now select GPS Memory and select.

4. You can rename a folder by scrolling to it and pressing the Quick key. Edit the name and press the Nav key center button to save.

5. Select a folder then press the Quick key to Add a new memory.

6. Select Name and edit, then the Nav key center button to save.

7. Scroll down to Latitude and press the Nav key center button to edit and once entered press again store.

8. Scroll down to Longtitude and press the Nav key center button to edit and once entered press again store.

9. Scroll down to <<Add Write>> and select using the Nav key center button then confirm.

Enabling GPS to use a memory position

1. From any screen press the Menu key.
2. Move to the GPS icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

3. Now select GPS Set and select.

4. Select GPS Select and select. You now have the choice of Off, On or Manual, select Manual.

5. Now scroll and select Manual Position. Now press the Quick key and select Set From GPS Memory.

6. You will then see any groups that have positions stored. Select the Group and then memory you have previously saved, choose Overwrite the Manual Position.

7. Press the Menu key to get back to your operating screen.

8. When you next transmit and check your location on a map it should show the memory position and not your current position.

Configuring radio to send D-PRS

1. From any screen press the Menu key.

2. Move to the GPS icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

3. Now select GPS TX Mode and then D-PRS.

4. Check the Unproto Address is set correctly by selecting this, it should be API52,DSTAR* then press the VFO/MHz key to go back a screen.

5. Scroll down to TX Format and select Position.

6. Select Symbol and then scroll to what you want, I have selected 1: Person and then you will be taken back to the previous page.

7. Select SSID and then scroll to what you want and then you will be taken back to the previous page.

8. Select Comment. I have had an issue here whereby my co-ordinates were sent to other radios, Google maps via a Reflector but not aprs.fi so be careful. Look carefully at the comment line, mine had a second line, if necessary go to your comment field and press the Quick key, then select Clear. Re-enter your text by pressing the Quick key, select Edit and then enter your text. Alternatively, scroll to another comment you wish to edit and press Quick key, select Edit. Enter your text then, when finished press the center key of the Nav key to return to the previous screen.

9. You can also set your Time Stamp format (mine is set to DHM (date, hour, minute)), Altitude (mine is set to ON for when out back-packing) and Data Extension (mine is set to Course/Speed).

10. When finished press Menu to return to your operating screen.

11. Most importantly we only want the GPS to be broadcast when you transmit and not at regular interval. Press the Menu key.

12. Move to the GPS icon using the Nav key and select using the center button.

13. Scroll all the way down on to the second screen and select GPS Auto TX. Ensure this is set to OFF. Press the Menu key to get back to your operating screen.

Configuring CS-52 settings

Go to the GPS settings folder and update and you can find the settings that need to be changed in the following screens.