IC-R30 Receiving: Bands, Modes, Dualwatch & Tuning

Summary: How to tune the IC-R30: VFO and Memory modes, entering a frequency, tuning steps, bands, receive modes and Dualwatch.

Two Receivers and Dualwatch

The IC-R30 has two independent receivers. A band can tune any frequency in the receiver’s range. B band can tune only AIR, 146 MHz, 370 MHz and 440 MHz bands (108-520 MHz). Each band has its own frequency and mode.

• Dualwatch on or off: hold [DUAL] for 1 second. When on, A is in the upper half of the display and B in the lower half, and MAIN marks the band you can change. When off, only the MAIN band shows and [MAIN] switches between A and B.
• MAIN band: push [MAIN] to swap. Band selection, frequency, receive mode, memory selection, Memory Write and Band Scope work only on the MAIN band.
• Volume: by default both bands share the level; set Sounds, A/B Vol Link to A/B Separate to adjust them independently.
• Sub band mute: Sounds, Sub Band Mute (Main RX) can mute the SUB band (Mute, Beep, or Mute & Beep). The SUB band is also muted automatically for some combinations (for example SSB, CW and digital modes on the MAIN band).
• Audio may break up briefly when a scanning band changes frequency, since the two receivers share the antenna.

VFO and Memory Modes

[VFO]/[MR] toggles them. In VFO mode rotate [DIAL] or key in a frequency; in Memory mode (“MR” and the channel number show) rotate [DIAL] or use the keypad to choose a stored channel. See IC-R30 Memory Channels: Groups, Writing & Editing.

Entering a Frequency

1. In VFO mode push [F-INP].
2. Key in the MHz digits. Enter [.] to move to digits at 100 kHz or below. When you finish the 1 kHz digit a beep sounds and the frequency is set.
3. Or push [ENTER] early: blank digits become zero (1, 4, 5, ENTER gives 145.000 MHz). An out-of-range entry gives an error beep.

MHz tuning: push [MHz], and the MHz digit blinks; rotate [DIAL] in 1 MHz steps; push [MHz] again to finish.

Tuning Steps

Push [TS] and choose: 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 3.125, 5.0, 6.25, 8.33 (AIR band only), 9.0 (BC band only), 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 100, 125 or 200 kHz. Use 8.33 kHz for UK airband. The step is also used by VFO scans and the Band Scope.

Receive Bands

In VFO mode push [BAND] and choose a band. Default frequencies shown: BC 1.620, 5 MHz 5.000, 51 MHz 51.000, FM 88.000, AIR 120.000, 146 MHz 146.010, 370 MHz 370.000, 440 MHz 440.000, 850 MHz 850.000, 1200 MHz 1295.000 and 2400 MHz 2425.000. (On the B band only AIR, 146, 370 and 440 are offered.) The Active Band setting decides whether [DIAL] stops at a band edge (Single) or continues into the next band (All, the default).

Receive Modes

Push [MODE] and choose:

• Analogue: FM, FM-N, WFM, AM, AM-N, LSB, USB, CW, CW-R
• Digital: D-STAR (DV), P25, dPMR, NXDN-VN, NXDN-N, DCR

What’s selectable depends on the band: A band at 1300 MHz and below – all modes (WFM isn’t selectable on some versions and frequencies); A band above 1300 MHz – FM, FM-N, WFM, AM, AM-N; B band – FM, FM-N, AM, AM-N and the digital modes. Airband is AM; most UK voice services are FM or FM-N. If SSB sounds unclear, try the other sideband. Digital modes are described in IC-R30 Digital Modes: D-STAR, P25, dPMR, NXDN & DCR.

Key Lock and DIAL/VOL Switch

Hold [LOCK] for 1 second for Key Lock (“LOCK ON” shows when you press a locked key); choose what’s locked with Function, Key Lock (Normal, No SQL, No VOL, ALL). [DIAL SEL] swaps [DIAL] and the volume keys.