Icom 601 VHF & command mic

[AIDY]

I have an Icom 601 VHF at our chart table, and a second command mic at the wheel. whilst crossing the shipping lanes in the channel I like to listen to channel 13 (bridge to bridge for ship movements) as well as 16 emergency. For this I put the VHF into dual watch mode. Although the command mic states its on 13 and 16 I only can here traffic on 16 through the command mic and traffic on 13 is relayed through the main set down stairs.

Is this due to channel 13 only being a bridge to bridge station and not relayable through a second mic ? Or do you think I have a problem with the set.

Every other station in dual watch is relayed through the command mic.

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[Oldhand]

Very strange indeed. I suggest you ask ICOM.

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[MainlySteam]

I have no experience of the 601 but in the international version of the same radio (IC-M602) that the 601 is based on, in the "SET MODE" menu there is an item decribed as "Dualwatch/tri-watch of COMMANDMIC". While this only selects between dual and triwatch one assumes that it infers that both dual and triwatch are available on the CommandMic. There is nothing I can see in the manual which indicates any crippling of the dual/tri watch function when the CommandMic is used.

Possibilities, which you may have already explored are:

1. Is it possible for the radio the be set on one of Dual or Tri watch (the F and numeric key combination selection) and if the CommandMic is set to the opposite in the SET MODE menu there is a conflict resulting in the behaviour you describe occuring.

1. Even if 1. is not so, maybe if the CommandMic is set to Tri watch in the radio's SET MODE menu that the Tri watch has the unusual behaviour you describe and ensuring that the SET MODE menu for the CommandMic is set to Dual will do away with the problem.

I sympathise with you - the Icom marine radio manuals are not made for easy understanding and reading /forums/images/icons/frown.gif.

I will be sea trialling a new build vessel all of next week which is fitted with an IC-M602 - unfortunately it doesn't have a CommandMic, but if you do not get a sensible response from anyone else then if there is anything I can look at on it (assuming it works /forums/images/icons/smile.gif) or in its manual which may be of help just PM me before end of Friday your time.

John

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[AIDY]

John

Thanx for the advise. As you say the manual is not very user freindly. I have only installed the set at the start of the season. so still learning the functions. prehaps I need to sit down and have a play again. However I think this is a great piece of kit to have onboard especially the command mic up top as i'm normally short handed onboard.



<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[Mike_Martin]

Definitely ask ICOM!

Jon Brooks of ICOM UK frequents this board or give them a call on 01227 741 741

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[JonBrooks]

Andy

I have just been and test a couple here, mainy as I have never heard of this problem.
I can not, after trying many things, get the symptons you have to appear.

The only way is if you go into the set mode (hold "16" on the command mic and power up) and changer the seting for the int spk but this mutes all audio from the mic.

I take it audio comes out under normal use?

Where is the boat kept?
Have to say is a strange one

If you need to chat further plaese call me here
01227 741741

Kind regards


<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[AIDY]

Jon thanks for your prompt responce and your investigations this morning.

Before I go any further with it. I'm going to have a fiddle at the weekend. Maybe just a bad connection somewhere. I do have an additional extension cable to get the command mic to the wheel from the chart table.

Many Thanx

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[JonBrooks]

Andy

just out of interest where is the boat lying?


Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[Mike_Martin]

Andy,

Watch him he'll turn up and tell you that he needs to "Sea Trial" the radio to be sure that it's Ok.

M

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[JonBrooks]

bl**dy caught out again!

Just cause i rubbed it in with you about last weekend!!! )))
And I was going to invite you so you could check the SRL!!

Cheers mate!



<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[Mike_Martin]

Do you know what hurt most (and it wasn't the V24), it was the rather attractive looking blond in the Major's RIB.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[JonBrooks]

ah you mean the lovely sarah :O)))
she will be at Ribex if your really nice I won't tell her about your rash!!!

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[Mike_Martin]

I refuse to stoop to your level! Especially as we are taking this way off-topic and stand every chance of getting told off. Apologies to Mods!

And anyway the rash has gone now! So I don't want you to introduce me to any more of your "friends"!!

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[JonBrooks]

yes sorry oh great MODS

Back to radio's and we will leave the rash well alone

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[JonBrooks]

Delf

Think I have this work out.
Is the squelch wound right up on the command mic?
The radio and command mic have independent squelch and volume settings,
If you have the radio on the threshold and the command mic wound up you will indeed hear more on the main set

Hope that makes sense.

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[AIDY]

Jon

Thanks for all your help. sorry that I have not replied sooner I have been out of the office. Will have a play at the weekend with the squelsh and report back to you.

For your information the boat is based in the solent

Have a good weekend.

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[MainlySteam]

Jon

Does that mean that the COMMANDMIC squelch level and the radio's squelch level are independant?

I have had a plough (literally - very nice radio, but oh my goodness the manual) through the manual ready for using a 602 during next week. I assumed that the COM'MIC and the radio were not independantly squelched ie the COM'MIC squelch level just overrode the radio faceplate squelch level control. If that is not so, apart from being interesting, I believe that your diagnosis is probably absolutely correct and is what Andy should first check.

The possible conflict I mentioned in my earlier post I do not think is likely /forums/images/icons/blush.gif. I think I was up the creek in that I had in the back of my mind the case where, as on some other Icom VHF's (at least the international ones) where the choice of whether one wants dual or tri watch on the radio itself is made in the SET MODE menu, in a similar manner as it is for the COMMANDMIC, and had thought of a possible bug if radio and COMMANDMIC were SET MODED to different watch choices. That is obviously not the case with the 602 (and hence assume for the 601) as either of dual or tri on the radio are directly implemented from the keyboard. One assumes that whatever the radio was last set to on the keypad (tri or dual) gets overridden by the COMMANDMIC to dual or tri according to its SET MODE setting.

After writing that I see why the manuals are a bit tricky to write, quite a bit of mental gymnastics required!

Regards

John


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[JonBrooks]

Yes the command mic and main set has independent volume and squelch.
The idea being if you having a kip down below you can turn the volume right down and whom ever is helming can still have the radio on full chat.

The squelch is there to suit the individuals needs.

As for dual and tri watch you are correct n that you select which you want in the user set mode (hold "16" and power on"

What makes the manuals harder is that they are coverted Jap-english ( not well in some cases)
we do try to have an input to make then more user friendly, it takes time.

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks Icom UK Ltd. 01227 741741

 

[MainlySteam]

Thanks Jon

The independant squelch is a very nice touch then I have to say.

John

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[AIDY]

Jon, Yes i think you are correct in your conclusion. For some reason I had the squelsh on the command mic wound right up to about 10. I now have done what i would do on the squelsh on the main set and wound it down to 3 which is where you get the TSSSSSS. Then backed it off to four to clear the noise. Seems to of done the trick.

Many thanks for your advise.

Regarding your previous post on Tri-watch, I assume you have to set the dedicated channels in the user setup mode. and not as I have been doing and just putting a tag on a channel and scanning. (I hate manuals !!!!)

Thanks Again



<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>