Icom IC-M45A User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

iM45A

VHF MARINE TRANSCEIVER

FOREWORD

Thank you for purchasing this Icom product. The IC-M45A VHF MARINE TRANSCEIVER is designed and built with Icom’s superior technology and craftsmanship. With proper care this product should provide you with years of trouble-free operation.

IMPORTANT

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS carefully and com-

pletely before using the transceiver.

SAVE THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL—This in-

struction manual contains important operating instructions for the IC-M45A.

EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS

FEATURES

☞

Durable, water-resistant construction

Built tough to withstand the punishing marine environment, the IC-M45A offers reliability you can count on.

☞ Dual watch and tri-watch functions

Convenient functions which allow you to monitor the distress channel (ch 16) while receiving a channel of your choice—dual watch; or monitor the distress channel and another channel while receiving a channel of your choice—tri-watch.

☞ Large, easy-to-read LCD

With dimensions of 20(H) × 60(W) mm, the IC-M45A’s function display is easy to read and shows operating conditions at a glance. Backlighting and contrast can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

☞ ‘Smart’ microphone

Operating channel and transmit output power level settings are easily selectable via the supplied microphone.

☞ Simple operation

Ergonomic design with a minimum number of switches and controls provides simple intuitive operation.

WORD DEFINITION

RWARNING

Personal injury, fire hazard or electric shock may occur.

CAUTION

Equipment damage may occur.

NOTE

If disregarded, inconvenience only. No risk of personal injury, ﬁre or electric shock.

iii

CAUTIONS

RWARNING! NEVER connect the transceiver to an

AC outlet. This may pose a ﬁre hazard or result in an electric shock.

RWARNING HIGH VOLTAGE! NEVER touch

the antenna or an internal antenna connector during transmission. This may result in an electric shock or a burn.

NEVER connect the transceiver to a power source of more

than 16 V DC. This connection will ruin the transceiver.

AVOID using or placing the transceiver in direct sunlight or

in areas with temperatures below –20°C (–4°F) or above +60°C (+140°F).

DO NOT operate the transceiver without running the ves-

sel’s engine. When your vessel’s engine is OFF and the transceiver is transmitting, the vessel’s battery will soon become exhausted.

KEEP the transceiver out of the reach of children. KEEP the antenna cable and DC power cable as far away

as possible from electrical pumps, generators and other electronic instruments to prevent instrument malfunctions.

KEEP the transceiver and microphone at least 1 meter

away from your vessel’s magnetic navigation compass.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

If your vessel requires assistance, contact other vessels and the Coast Guard by sending a distress call on channel 16.

❍ USING CHANNEL 16

DISTRESS CALL PROCEDURE

1. “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY.”

2. “THIS IS ...........................” (name of vessel)

3. Your call sign or other indication of the vessel.

4. “LOCATED AT .....................” (your position)

5. The nature of the distress and assistance required.

6. Any other information which might facilitate the rescue.

FOREWORD ....................................................................... ii

IMPORTANT ........................................................................ ii

EXPLICIT DEFINITIONS ..................................................... ii

FEATURES .......................................................................... ii

CAUTIONS ......................................................................... iii

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ............................................... iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................... iv

1 OPERATING RULES ...................................................... 1

2 PANEL DESCRIPTION ............................................... 2–4

■ Front panel .................................................................. 2

■ Microphone .................................................................. 3

■ Function display .......................................................... 4

3 BASIC OPERATION ................................................. 5–10

■ Power ON .................................................................... 5

■ Channel selection ........................................................ 5

■ Receiving ..................................................................... 7

■ Transmitting ................................................................. 8

■ Scan function ............................................................... 9

■ Call channel programming ........................................ 10

■ Display backlighting ................................................... 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 SET MODE ............................................................. 11–12

■ Entering SET mode ................................................... 11

■ SET mode items ........................................................ 11

5 CONNECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE ................. 13–16

■ Unpacking ................................................................. 13

■ Antenna ..................................................................... 13

■ Fuse replacement ...................................................... 13

■ Cleaning .................................................................... 13

■ Connections .............................................................. 14

■ Mounting the transceiver ........................................... 15

■ Dimensions ................................................................ 16

6 TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................. 17

7 VHF MARINE CHANNEL LIST .................................... 18

8 SPECIFICATIONS AND OPTIONS .............................. 19

■ Speciﬁcations ............................................................ 19

■ Options ...................................................................... 19

OPERATING RULES

D Priorities

• Read all rules and regulations pertaining to priorities and keep an up-to-date copy handy. Safety and distress calls take priority over all others.

• You must monitor channel 16 when you are not operating on another channel.

• False or fraudulent distress calls are prohibited under law.

D Privacy

• Information overheard but not intended for you cannot lawfully be used in any way.

• Indecent or profane language is prohibited.

D Radio licenses

SHIP STATION LICENSE

When your craft is equipped with a VHF FM transceiver, you must have a current radio station license before using the transceiver. It is unlawful to operate a ship station which is not licensed.

Inquire through your dealer or the appropriate government agency for a Ship-Radiotelephone license. This license includes the call sign which is your craft’s identiﬁcation for radio purposes.

OPERATOR’S LICENSE

A restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit is the license most often held by small vessel radio operators when a radio is not required for safety purposes.

The Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit must be posted near the transceiver or be kept with the operator. Only a licensed radio operator may operate a transceiver.

However, non-licensed individuals may talk over a transceiver if a licensed operator starts, supervises, ends the call and makes the necessary log entries.

A current copy of the applicable government rules and regulations is only required to be on hand for vessels in which a radio telephone is compulsory. However, even if you are not required to have these on hand it is your responsibility to be thoroughly acquainted with all pertinent rules and regulations.

NOTE: Even though the IC-M45A is capable of operation on VHF marine channels 3, 21, 23, 61, 64, 81, 82 and 83, according to FCC regulations these channels cannot be lawfully used by the general public in USA waters.

PANEL DESCRIPTION

■ Front panel

q CHANNEL UP/DOWN SWITCHES [YUP]/[ZDN]

Push to select an operating channel. (p. 6)

• Push and hold to ‘speed’ scroll up or down through the available

channels.

w SCAN SWITCH [SCAN • TAG]

➥ Push to start/stop scanning. (p. 9)

• Scan type can be selected in SET mode. (p. 12)

➥ Push for 1 sec. to toggle the tag setting for the displayed

channel. (p. 9)

e HIGH/LOW POWER SWITCH [H/L •

DIM]

➥ Toggles between high and low output powers. (p. 8) ➥ While pushing, push the [UP]/[DN] switches to adjust the

display backlighting. (p. 10)

➥ While pushing, push [SCAN] for 3 sec. to clear all tag

channels. (p. 9)

r CHANNEL SWITCH [CH/WX •

DUAL]

➥ Push to toggle between regular channel mode and

weather channel mode. (p. 6)

• While in regular channel mode, push [H/L] + [CH/WX] to

change channel groups.

VHF MARINE iM45

PWR

SQUELCH

OFF

DIM

TAG

SCAN

VOL

q we r ty u

PANEL DESCRIPTION

■ Microphone

q CHANNEL UP/DOWN SWITCHES [Y]/[Z]

Select an operating channel in the selected channel group.

• These switches can be used instead of the transceiver’s

[UP]/[DN] switches.

w HIGH/LOW POWER SWITCH [HI/LO]

The same function as the transceiver’s [H/L] switch—toggles between high and low output powers.

• Pushing this key at power ON turns the microphone keys

ON/OFF.

HI/LO

➊

➋

➥ Push for 1 sec. to start/stop dual (tri) watch. (p. 7)

• Use SET mode to select dual or tri-watch in advance. (p. 12)

t CHANNEL 16 SWITCH [16 • 9]

➥ Push to select channel 16. (p. 5) ➥ Push for 1 sec. to select the call channel (channel 9 by

default). (p. 5)

• Each group can have it’s own call channel programmed.

➥ Push for 3 sec. (when a call channel is selected) to enter

call channel write mode. (p. 10)

• Channel indication ﬂashes.

y SQUELCH CONTROL [SQUELCH]

Rotate clockwise to eliminate audio noise. (p. 7)

u POWER/VOLUME CONTROL [PWR/VOL]

Turns power ON and OFF and adjusts the audio output level.

PANEL DESCRIPTION

■ Function display

q TRANSMIT INDICATOR

Appears while transmitting. (p. 8)

w BUSY INDICATOR

Appears when receiving a signal or when [SQUELCH] is rotated too far clockwise. (p. 7)

e CHANNEL INDICATOR

Shows the operating channel (pgs. 5, 6)

r TAG CHANNEL INDICATOR

Appears when the selected channel is set as a tag channel. (p. 9)

t DUALWATCH INDICATOR

Appears and ﬂashes during dualwatch operation. (p. 7)

y TRI-WATCH INDICATOR

Appears and ﬂashes during tri-watch operation. (p. 7)

u SCAN INDICATOR

Appears and ﬂashes during scan operation. (p. 9)

i DUPLEX INDICATOR

Appears when the selected channel is a duplex channel. (p. 6)

o CALL CHANNEL INDICATOR

Appears when the call channel is selected. (p. 5)

!0 WEATHER ALERT INDICATOR

“ALT” appears when a weather alert function is turned ON. (pgs. 6, 12)

!1 MODE INDICATORS (p. 5, 6)

➥ “USA” shows that USA channels are selected. ➥ “CAN” shows that Canadian channels are selected. ➥ “INT” shows that international channels are selected. ➥ “WX” shows that weather channels are selected.

!2 LOW POWER INDICATOR

Shows that low output power is selected. (p. 8)

LOW CALL

CANUSA

INT

WX ALT

TAG

DUAL

SCAN

DUP

TRI

BUSY

wq erty

u i

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