Keys, Shortcuts & Side Buttons

Summary: How the F key works, what each front key does, the side buttons, keypad lock and programmable shortcuts.

The F Key

Most keys have a second function. You can reach it two ways: press F first and then the key (written F+ key in this manual), or long-press the key directly. Often the long press does the same as F+, but not always.

Front Keypad Highlights

• M – opens the menu. Long press runs a shortcut you choose (M Long).
• EXIT – backs out of a menu or deletes a digit. Long press clears all input and leaves monitor mode.
• 1 BAND – F+ changes band in frequency mode. In FM broadcast mode a long press cycles the FM ranges.
• 2 A/B – swaps the main VFO.
• 3 VFO/MR – switches frequency mode and channel mode.
• 4 FC – frequency and tone copy.
• 5 NOAA – F+ starts the spectrum analyzer. Long press assigns a channel to a scan list in channel mode, or turns on scan range in frequency mode.
• 6 H/M/L – switches transmit power for the channel.
• 7 VOX – long press turns VOX on or off, when enabled.
• 8 R – F+ manual backlight on/off. Long press swaps transmit and receive frequencies on channels with an offset.
• 9 Call – F+ ends manual backlight control. Long press jumps to the channel set as 1 Call.
• 0 FM – turns the FM broadcast radio on.
• \* SCAN – long press starts scanning; F+ starts the tone scanner; a short press opens DTMF entry.

Keypad Lock

Long-press F # to lock or unlock the keypad. The SetLck menu chooses what else is locked: nothing extra, the programmable shortcuts, the PTT, or all of them. Long-pressing F # always unlocks. Locking PTT too helps prevent accidental transmission.

PTT Modes

SetPTT chooses Classic (transmit while held) or One Push (press once to start transmitting, press again to stop). Holding PTT together with side button 2 sends a 1750 Hz tone for repeater access; holding it with a keypad key sends DTMF.

Side Buttons and Custom Shortcuts

Side buttons 1 and 2 each have a short-press and long-press action, and the M key has a long-press action. Set them in the menu (F1Shrt, F1Long, F2Shrt, F2Long, M Long). Options include flashlight, power level, monitor, scan, VOX, FM radio, 1750 Hz, keypad lock, VFO swap, mode change, RxMode, wide/narrow, mute, receive audio profile and more.

With the current firmware you can also press F and then hold a side button to open an action picker. Use UP/DOWN (or LEFT/RIGHT) to highlight an action and M to run it, without changing your saved shortcuts. Pressing PTT closes it.