Icom Ic-A23, Ic-a5 Vhf Air Band Transceiver Instruction Manual

							iA23
iA5
VHF AIR BAND TRANSCEIVER
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is sub-
ject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 
						

							i
FOREWORD
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONScarefully and completely
before using the transceiver.
SAVE THIS  INSTRUCTION  MANUAL—This in-
struction manual contains important operating instructions for
the IC-A23/A5.
EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS
The explicit definitions below apply to this instruction manual.
CAUTION
RWARNING! NEVERhold the transceiver so that the
antenna is very close to, or touching exposed parts of the
body, especially the face or eyes, while transmitting. The
transceiver will perform best if the microphone is 5 to 10 cm
away from the lips and the transceiver is vertical.
RWARNING! NEVERoperate the transceiver with a
headset or other audio accessories at high volume levels.
Hearing experts advise against continuous high volume op-
eration. If you experience a ringing in your ears, reduce the
volume level or discontinue use.
NEVERconnect the transceiver to an AC outlet or to a
power source of more than 14 V DC. Such a connection will
damage the transceiver.
NEVER connect the transceiver to a power source that is
DC fused at more than 5 A. Accidental reverse connection will
be protected by this fuse, higher fuse values will not give any
protection against such accidents and the transceiver will be
ruined.
NEVER short the terminals of the battery pack. Also, cur-
rent may flow into nearby metal objects, such as a necklace, 
WORDDEFINITION
RWARNINGPersonal injury, fire hazard or electric shock
may occur.
CAUTIONEquipment damage may occur.
NOTEInconvenience only. No risk of personal 
injury, fire or electric shock.
FCC caution:Changes or modifications to this transceiver, not
expressly approved by Icom Inc., could void your authority to
operate this transceiver under FCC regulations. (U.S.A. only) 
						

							ii etc. Therefore, be careful when carrying with, or placing near
metal objects, carrying in handbags, etc.
DO NOT allow children to play with any radio equipment
containing a transmitter.
DO NOT operate the transceiver near unshielded electrical
blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere.
AVOID using or placing the transceiver in direct sunlight or
in areas with temperatures below –10°C (+14°F) or above
+60°C (+140°F).
The use of non-Icom battery packs/chargers may impair
transceiver performance and invalidate the warranty.
Even when the transceiver power is OFF, a slight current still
flows in the circuits. Remove the battery pack or case from
the transceiver when not using it for a long time. Otherwise,
the battery pack or installed dry cell batteries will become ex-
hausted.
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
Accessories included with the transceiver: Qty.
qAntenna ........................................................................... 1
wBelt clip ............................................................................ 1
eHandstrap ........................................................................ 1
rBattery pack (BP-200L)*.................................................. 1
tWall charger*  .................................................................. 1
• Carrying case (LC-147)*  ............................................... 1
• HEADSET ADAPTER (OPC-967)*  ............................... 1
* The battery pack, wall charger, HEADSET ADAPTER or carry-
ing case may differ depending on version. Some versions do not
include a battery pack, wall charger, HEADSET ADAPTER or
carrying case.
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							FOREWORD .................................................................................... i
EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS  ................................................................. i
CAUTIONS ....................................................................................... i
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES............................................................. ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS  .................................................................. iii
1 ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT  .................................................. 1
2 PANEL DESCRIPTION  ........................................................ 2 – 7
Panel description ............................................................... 2 – 5
Function display  ................................................................ 6 – 7
3 BASIC OPERATION .......................................................... 8 – 11
DIAL↔[Y]/[Z] trade function ...................................................8
Setting a frequency  ................................................................ 8
Accessing 121.5 MHz emergency frequency ......................... 8
Selecting a weather channel ................................................... 9
Setting a squelch level  ........................................................... 9
Side tone function  .................................................................. 9
Beep tone ............................................................................... 9
Lock function  ........................................................................ 10
Display backlighting  ............................................................. 10
Low battery indicator  ............................................................ 10
REC/PLY of recorded signals/messages  ............................. 10
Receiving ............................................................................. 11
Transmitting .......................................................................... 11
4 MEMORY OPERATION ................................................... 12 – 15
Memory channel selection  ................................................... 12
Transferring memory contents  ............................................. 12
Programming a memory channel  ......................................... 13
Memory names ............................................................. 14 – 155 SCAN OPERATION ......................................................... 16 – 17
Scan types  ........................................................................... 16
COM band scan  ................................................................... 16
Memory scan  ....................................................................... 16
Weather channel scan  ......................................................... 17
“TAG” channels   ................................................................... 17
6 VOR NAVIGATION (IC-A23 only) .................................... 18 – 24
VOR indications  ................................................................... 18
VOR functions  ...................................................................... 19
Flying to a VOR station  ................................................. 20 – 21
Entering a desired course  .................................................... 22
Crosschecking position ................................................. 22 – 23
Duplex operation   ................................................................. 24
7 BATTERY PACKS  ........................................................... 25 – 27
Charging precautions  ........................................................... 25
Battery pack charging  ................................................... 25 – 26
About the battery pack  ......................................................... 27
Battery pack CAUTION  ........................................................ 27
8 CLONING ................................................................................ 28
9 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................ 29
10 SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................. 30
11 OPTIONS ......................................................................... 31 – 32
(OPC-967 connection  ......................................................... 32)
12 OPERATION GUIDE  ....................................................... 33 – 34
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
						

							1
1ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT
DAntenna
CAUTION:
Transmitting without an antenna may damage
the transceiver.
Insert the supplied antenna into the antenna connector and
screw down the antenna as shown below.
Keepthe jack cover attached when jacks are not in use to
avoid bad contacts from dust and moisture.
DBelt clip
Conveniently attaches to your belt.
To attach:
Slide the belt clip into the plastic loop on the back of the bat-
tery case/pack.
To remove:
Push the top of the belt clip towards the transceiver and at
the same time, push it downward and free of the plastic loop. 
						

							2
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
Panel description
e[DIAL]
r[MIC/SP]
w[PTT]
t[ANT]
!0[CLR(DIAL/ÙÚ)]
!1[ANL(REC)]
!2[BANK(PLAY)]
!3[FUNCTION]
!4[MR(MW)]!5[ENT(WX)]
q[LIGHT]
yDisplay
u[UP/DOWN]
i[SQL(SCAN)]
Tx/Rx
indicator
!6[DIGIT KEYS]
o[PWR]
u
i
!0
!1
!2
!3
!4!5
o
!6 
						

							3
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
qLIGHT [LIGHT] (p. 10)
Turns the light for display and keypad ON or OFF.
wPTT SWITCH [PTT](p. 11)
Push and hold to transmit; release to receive.
eTUNING DIAL [DIAL] (p. 8)
➥Rotate [DIAL] to select the desired frequency. (default)
➥Rotate [DIAL] to select the BANK number. (default)
➥Rotate [DIAL] to select the memory channel or WX
channel number. (default)
➥Rotate [DIAL] to adjust the audio level.
rEXTERNAL SPEAKER AND MICROPHONE JACKS
[MIC/SP] 
Connect an OPC-967 
HEADSET ADAPTERor headset, if
desired.
tANTENNA CONNECTOR [ANT]
Connects the supplied antenna.
yFUNCTION DISPLAY (pgs. 6, 7)
uUP/DOWN KEYS [Y]/[Z] (p. 8)
➥Push [Y] to increase the audio level, push [Z] to
decrease the audio level. (default)
➥Push to select the operating channel or fre-
quency.
➥Push to select the BANK number.iSQUELCH KEY [SQL (SCAN)] (p. 9)
➥Push [SQL], then rotate the [DIAL] (or push
[Y]/[Z]) to select the squelch level.
• 24 squelch levels and squelch open (0) are available.
➥Push  , then push [SQL] to starts scan func-
tion:
Frequency mode: Frequency scan function.
MEMORY mode: Bank scan or Full memory chan-
nel scan function.
oPOWER SWITCH [PWR]
➥Push and hold for 0.5 sec. to turn the power ON
or OFF.
➥While pushing and holding [Y]/[Z] key, push
[PWR] to enter the cloning function mode.
(OPC-
967 must be connected.)
!0CLR KEY [CLR (DIAL/YZ)] (p. 8)
➥Push  , then push [CLR] to exchange the e
tuning Dial function and uUP [Y]/DOWN [Z]
switch function;
- Dial: tuning (default)
- UP [Y]/DOWN [Z]: audio level setting (default)
NOTE:You can adjust the audio level via [DIAL]
and select the frequency, memory channel or
BANK number via UP [Y]/DOWN [Z] keys.
➥Push [CLR] to turn to the frequency mode, when
memory channel, WX channel or 121.5 MHz is
selected. 
						

							4
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
!0CLR KEY [CLR (DIAL/YZ)](continue)
➥Push [CLR] to cancel the SCAN function.
➥Push [CLR] to cancel the direct frequency enter-
ing with digit key.
➥Push [CLR] to turn the squelch level adjusting
mode OFF.
!1ANL KEY [ANL (REC)] 
➥Push to turn the ANL function ON or OFF.
➥Push  , then push [ANL (REC)] to turn the
recording function ON. (p. 10)
- The transceiver records the receiving signal or opera-
tors voice message by push and holding [PTT] for 20
sec.
!2BANK KEY [BANK (PLAY)] 
➥Push [BANK] to enter the BANK selection mode
while memory channel is selected, push [CLR]
to exit the BANK selection mode. (p. 12)
➥Push  , then push [BANK] to play the
recorded signals. (p. 10)
!3FUNCTION KEY [F]
Push to call up the function indicator, “”, then
push another key to access its secondary function.
•“ ”appears for 3 sec. after [F] is pushed; at this time
pushing [F] again cancels the indication. (p. 6)
NOTE:In general, “”disappears when another key is
pushed to activate a secondary function. However, some
keys which have more than one secondary function, (such
as [DUP]), do not cancel “”. In this case, “”disappears
automatically after 3 sec.
!4MEMORY MODE KEY [MR (MW)] (pgs. 12, 13)
➥Push [MR] to call the memory channel mode,
push [CLR] to exit the memory channel mode.
➥Push  , then push [MR (MW)] to program the
contents into the memory channels.
➥Push [MR] to program the memory comment
when the memory comment function is enabled.
!5ENTER KEY [ENT(WX)] 
➥Push [ENT] to enter the numeral input. Enters
consecutive zero digits. (p. 8)
➥Push  , then push [ENT] to enter the weather
channel selection mode. (U.S.A. version only) (p.
9)
• Rx/Tx indicator
➥Lights red during the transmit mode.
➥Lights green during receiving a signal or squelch is
open.
NOTE:Some functions may not be available depending on
version. Please consult your dealer. 
						

							5
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
!6DIGIT KEYS 
➥Input the specified digit during frequency input, memory
channel selection, etc.
➥In addition, each key has one or more secondary func-
tions after pushing  as follows:
➥Push  , then push [0 (121.5)] to select the
121.5 MHz emergency frequency. (p. 8)
➥Push  , then push [1 (DVOR)] to select the
DVOR display from the CDI display in NAV band.
(p. 19)*
1
➥Push  , then push [2 (TO)] to change the
course indicator characteristics to “TO”flag in the
DVOR display in NAV band. (p. 19)*
1
➥Corrects the deviation while using “TO”flag. *1
➥Push  , then push [3 (FROM)] to change the
course indicator characteristics to “FROM”flag
in the DVOR display in NAV band. (p. 19)*
1
➥Corrects the deviation while using “FROM”flag.
*1
➥Push  , then push [4 (CDI)] to select the CDI
display from the CDI display in NAV band. (p.
19)*
1
➥Push  , then push [5 (DUP-W)] to set the du-
plex frequency in NAV band. (p. 22)*1
➥Push  , then push [6 (DUP)] to turn the du-
plex function ON and OFF in NAV band. (p.
22)*
1
➥Push  , then push [7 (KEY LOCK)] to turn
the key lock function ON and OFF. (p. 10)
➥Push  , then push [8 (BEEP)] to turn the
beep tone adjusting mode ON.
•Adjustable level; 0 to 9 (p. 9)
➥Push  , then push [9 (TAG)] to set the dis-
played memory or weather channel as a “TA G”
channel. (p. 17)
*
1These functions available on the IC-A23 only. 
						

							6
2PANEL DESCRIPTION
Function display (COM)
qFUNCTION INDICATOR (p. 4)
Appears when  is pushed.
wANL INDICATOR(p. 4)
Appears while the ANL (Automatic Noise Limiter) function
is in use.
eLOCK INDICATOR (p. 10)
➥Appears while the lock function is in use.
rDUPLEX INDICATOR(IC-A23 only) (p. 22)
➥“DUP”appears when the duplex function is activated in
NAV mode.
➥“DUP”blinks while setting the duplex frequency.
tLOW BATTERY INDICATOR (p. 10)
➥Appears when the battery is nearing exhaustion. The at-
tached battery pack requires recharging.
➥Appears and flashes when battery replacement is nec-essary.
yRECORD INDICATOR (p. 10)
➥”REC”blinks while the internal recorder is recording the
signal.
uPLAY INDICATOR (p. 10)
➥“PLAY”appears during play back of the recorded signal.
iTAG CHANNEL INDICATOR(p. 17)
➥“TA G”appears when the memory channel is set as a
TAG channel.
oMEMORY CHANNEL INDICATOR (p. 12)
➥Shows the memory channel number.
yu
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