Using the ID-31 http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31a-blog.aspx http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification mojoPortal Blog Module en-US 120 no ID-31 Updated Link to Icom Site

 

Version Release E1(CPU 1.02, DSP 1.03)
Update 2012/02/17
Note

Major  function improvements-

  1. TX Audio quality on the DV mode.
  2. Improved readability on  receiving weak RF signal in DV mode.
  3. Canadian version is added.
  • Optional OPC-2218LU data cable is       required.
  • The firmware update is NOT       available through a microSD card.
  • This firmware update is for both       CPU and DSP.           Make sure the version numbers of firmware before updating the firmware.
  • Please read "Firmware update information" (760KB) thoroughly and make sure of what is required for the firmware update.
  • Never turn off the transceiver       power or disconnect the data cable while the updating is being performed.
  • Save the setting data, memory data       and repeater list of your transceiver to a microSD card or to the PC with the       CS-31 cloning software before performing the firmware update.
  •         Fully charge the battery before updating firmware in  order to avoid power failure during update work.
File Type ZIP
File Size 1.32MB
Manual ID-31A / ID-31E

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http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31-updated.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31-updated.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31-updated.aspx Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:42:00 GMT
Is an Accent Sexier? The ID-31 comes with two different voices, English and Japanese. It’s sometime a little interesting to switch from one language to another.

To switch languages for the voice synthesizer:

  • Menu – Scroll until you see SPEECH.
  • Select SPEECH
  • Select SPEECH Language
  • Select American or Japanese as Desired

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http://www.dstarinfo.com/is-an-accent-sexier.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/is-an-accent-sexier.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/is-an-accent-sexier.aspx Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:24:00 GMT
Who’s Talking Now? One of the new features of the ID-31 is the voice synthesizer. This isn’t a new feature to Amateur Radio, but its implementation on the ID-31 is unique.

Are you tired of having to throw the bifocals on every time someone makes a call just to look at the display on the radio and see who it is? The ID-31 lets you leave the glasses in the pocket.

To enable voice announcement of users:

  • Menu – Scroll until you see SPEECH.
  • Select SPEECH
  • Select RX Call Sign SPEECH
  • Select ON (All)

If the speech is a little loud, you can turn it down by:

  • Menu – Scroll until you see SPEECH.
  • Select SPEECH
  • Select SPEECH Level
  • Adjust Volume Level as Desired

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http://www.dstarinfo.com/who’s-talking-now.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/who’s-talking-now.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/who’s-talking-now.aspx Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:24:00 GMT
Voice Recorder This is where the microSD card comes in very handy. The IC-31A supports recording a conversation and it uses the microSD card to store the information. The record consumes about 16 kB per second which is about 34 hours of recording to a 2GB card!

Now for the really neat part. You can remove the card (make sure to turn off radio or unmount card first) and plug it into your PC. Navigate to the ID-31/Voice directory and you should see a number of folders, one for each date of recordings. If you go into one of the folders, you should see a number of  .wav files with a name that corresponds to the time of the recording. Of course the actualy time stamp on the file is accurate as well.

Click the file, up comes the Media Player and you may hear a previous QSO! Files that are under about 60kB in size are probably just keyups with no audio.

To turn on the Voice Recorder

Quick Menu
<< REC Start>>

To turn off the Voice Recorder

Quick Menu
<<REC Stop>>

To play a previously recorded QSOs

Menu
Voice Memo
QSO Recorder
Play Files
Select Date of Recording
Select File to Start Playing
Use the directional buttons to control playback

Up - Play previous recording
Left - Backup 10 seconds
Right Fast Forward 10 seconds
Down - Play next recording

 


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/voice-recorder.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/voice-recorder.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/voice-recorder.aspx Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:16:00 GMT
Do I have a GPS position? If the GPS is enabled, the GPS icon will be turned on. It's quick and easy to see if you have an acquired signal.

 

GPS Indicator


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/do-i-have-a-gps-position.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/do-i-have-a-gps-position.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/do-i-have-a-gps-position.aspx Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:51:00 GMT
First Time User You've just opened the box, connected the battery and antenna.

Now what?

 

First, I recommend enabling the internal GPS. Steps to enable

If you are in a location where you think that the radio should be able to acquire a GPS signal, then wait for the GPS icon to stop blinking.

Once you have GPS signal put the radio in DR mode and select your closest repeater in the FROM field

Select Your Call Sign then Use Refelector for the TO field.

 

Listen, then talk!

 

 


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/first-time-user.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/first-time-user.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/first-time-user.aspx Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:29:00 GMT
Where am I? Where are You? The IC-31A/E makes it very easy to see where you are, as well as others that you are talking to.

Choose the Quick Menu Button, then GPS Position. There you are!

To see your course and speed, press the down button, To see the position of the station that you are talking to*, just continue to hit the down button.

 

*Assuming that the other station is transmitting GPS information.


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/where-am-i-where-are-you.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/where-am-i-where-are-you.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/where-am-i-where-are-you.aspx Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:23:00 GMT
ID-31A/E Repeater List Update From the factory, the ID-31A/E comes with preloaded information about D-STAR repeaters worldwide. But since D-STAR 430/440 MHz repeaters are being added at an average of about 6 per month, that information is already out of date.

D-STARInfo.com  provides you with an up to date listing of repeaters for your radio's Repeater List. It's very easy to load into your radio.

  • First, download the updated file from ID-31A/D Repeater List . By right clicking the link and Save Target As... to your local disk.
  • Open the CS-31 software from Icom and Clone, Read <- TR to load the configuration from the radio to the Icom Software.
  • In the left window, expand Digital, then select Repeater List.
  • Once Repeater List is selected, Click File - Import - All... and select the file that you downloaded earlier.
  • Expand Repeater List and verify that the new information has been loaded.
  • From the Menu choose Clone, Write -> TR to save the information back to the radio.

This file is updated daily.

 

This file is a new product of www.DSTARInfo.com and as such, there still may be some issues with it. Please drop us a note (mailto:info@DSTARInfo.com) with any issues that you might have or comments.

As you might notice, as of this writing, there's only space for 4 more repeaters in the file. We're working to split the file into pieces to make it fit into the radio.

Look for more directory products for the ID-31A/E from DSTARInfo.com in the near future!

 


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31ae-repeater-list-update.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31ae-repeater-list-update.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/id-31ae-repeater-list-update.aspx Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:26:00 GMT
Setting Time from GPS Since the radio has a GPS, the internal clock may be set from an extremely accurate time source.

To enable the clock setting from the GPS:

First, make sure that the GPS is turned on

  • Next MENU - Time Set - GPS Time Correct - Auto

and don't forget to change your UTC Offset

  • Next MENU - Time Set - UTC Offset - Hours from UTC

Since the radio only knows the UTC offset, you will have to change the UTC Offset when / if Daylight Saving Time changes effect.

Now of course everyone should know their UTC offset, but for those of you who may be having temporary amnesia:

Time Zone

Winter

Summer

Eastern Time

-5.00

-4.00

Central  Time

-6.00

-5.00

Mountain Time

-7.00

-6.00

Pacific Time

-8.00

-7.00

Central Europe Time

+1.00

+2.00

Tokyo Time

+9.00

+10.00


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/setting-time-from-gps.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/setting-time-from-gps.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/setting-time-from-gps.aspx Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:40:00 GMT
Enabling the Internal GPS For the Nearest Repeater function to work, the GPS must be enabled. The ID-31A supports the use of either the internal GPS or user supplied external GPS.

By default, neither GPS is selected. To enable the internal GPS:

  • MENU - GPS - GPS Set - GPS Select - Internal GPS

You may also want to set the Power Saving for the GPS

  • MENU - GPS - GPS Set - GPS Select - Power Save  - Auto

It may take a few minutes to acquire a valid signal. You should locate the radio so that it has a clear view of the sky. Once acquired, you can view the current information by choosing

  • QUICK MENU - GPS Information

Once the signal has been acquired, you can now see the closest repeater

  • Press and Hold the DR button for 1 sec. - Select FROM field - Select Center Blue Button - Near Repeater

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http://www.dstarinfo.com/enabling--the-internal-gps.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/enabling--the-internal-gps.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/enabling--the-internal-gps.aspx Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:26:00 GMT
Easy Repeater Operation D-STAR Repeater Operation

The radio can operate as previous models have. The expansion and preprogramming of the Repeater List allows for “choose your repeater and talk” operation. The steps to easy use aren’t necessarily obvious to new users.

To easily program your radio:

  1. Turn On Radio
  2. Press and Hold the DR button for 2 seconds. The radio display should look similar to this

Radio Display
                         

  1. On this screen, the left hand side is highlighted in black to denote which field that you are changing, the TO or FROM field. The display above indicates that we are changing the FROM field.
  2. Rotate the volume knob until your local repeater is selected. (we’ll show you some shortcuts in a second).
  3. Hit the up (RX-CS) or down (DR) button to select the TO field. Rotate the volume knob again until you get to the desired destination.

Yes, as you scrolled through both the TO and FROM fields, there were probably a large number of entries of systems that you don’t care about and they were seemingly in no order. Let’s find a simpler way than scrolling through all of the systems.

Selecting FROM:

  1. Hit the up (RX-CS) or down (DR) button to select the FROM field.
  2. Select the center blue button. You will now see three options
  • Repeater List
  • Near Repeater
  • TX History
  1. Select the Repeater List by using the up (RX-CS) or down (DR) button or the Volume knob then press the center blue button again.
  2. You will now see a number of Groups numbered 01 up to 20. These are the Group Names under the Repeater List[1]. Select the group appropriate for your location by hitting the center blue button again
  3. You should now see a list of repeaters within your region.  You can use the volume control to rotate though the list. On the bottom line, the State/Province/Country will be displayed along with the call sign of the repeater. Use the center blue button to select your repeater.
  4. If the GPS is enabled and actively receiving position reports, you may also use the Near Repeater function. The ID-31A will list the nearest repeaters to your current location. You may then easily select the closest repeater to you.

Selecting TO:

  1. Hit the up (RX-CS) or down (DR) button to select the FROM field.
  2. Select the center blue button. You will now see a number of options
  • Local CQ
  • Gateway CQ
  • Your Call Sign
  • RX History
  • TX History
  • Direct Input (UR)
  • Direct Input (RPT)
  1. This is the tricky one. For most repeaters worldwide, the best option is to use YOUR CALL SIGN.
  2. You will then be prompted for which to use, choose “Use Reflector”[2]
  3. Then you can start talking!

 

So, simply put:

  • Put the Radio in DR mode
  • Choose the From Repeater (probably from the “Near Repeater List”)
  • Choose the TO Function (Your Call Sign with Use Reflector)

You are now on the air.

 



[1] This information comes preloaded on some models of the radio.

[2] “Use Reflector” is configured in some pre-loaded radios as CQCQCQ. This correctly configures the radio to append a G to the RPT2 callsign.


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http://www.dstarinfo.com/easy-repeater-operation.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/easy-repeater-operation.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/easy-repeater-operation.aspx Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:10:00 GMT
microSD Card microSD Card

Can hold the following information:

  • Memory Channel Contents
  • Repeater List
  • Transceiver Setting
  • Received communication activity (audio)
  • Voice audio  to use with the Auto Replay function in the DV Mode
  • Position and time data from a GPS receiver that is in a log file as a route.

Radio settings can be saved to or read from the SD card. Settings are saved as an .ICF file that can be read by the CS-31 Software. When reading, the following information may be read from the file:

  • ALL: Loads all of the memory channels, item settings in the menu list and the repeater list into the transceiver.
  • Except My Station: Loads all of the memory channels, item settings in the menu list except MY call signs and the repeater list into the transceiver.
  • Repeater List Only: Loads only the repeater list into the transceiver.

The card initially is blank.

Information Stored on the microSD card

microSD card can be read with a standard computer. The card contains a number of folders with a folder named ID-31 at the root. Under this folder are the following:

  • GPS
    • Stores GPS logging information
  • Reply
    • Stores Automatic Reply Information
  • Setting
    • The transceivers settings data (.icf files)
  • Voice
    • Recorded audio files
    • One folder for each date

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http://www.dstarinfo.com/microsd-card.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/microsd-card.aspx http://www.dstarinfo.com/microsd-card.aspx Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:08:00 GMT