PROGRAMMING ICOM IC-208H G. Cervo, K6DXX 1/05

NOTE: Page and Item Numbers refer to IC-208H Manual

There are two basic modes of operation for the IC-208H radio:

1) “VFO Mode” – used to enter basic data to be programmed into memory.

2) “MEMORY Mode” – used to gain access to the programmed memory items.

There are two basic Ham Radio Bands of operation for the IC-208H radio:

1) 2 meters ( 144 mhz)

2) 70 centimeters (440 mhz)

The basic items required for repeater operation are*:

1) Desired Band ( 2m or 70 cm)

2) Frequency

3) Repeater offset (+, -) or if simplex (no offset, ie., xmit and receive on same freq)

4) Tone (if required) to access repeater. Some repeaters don’t require a tone.

*See your Repeater Book for the values required for a given repeater.

With radio in “MEMORY MODE”, go to your highest programmed memory channel using the “UP” button on the mike. Write down or remember this number (and leave the radio set to this number) as you will program your new repeater data into the NEXT HIGHER MEMORY. NOTE: If radio is not in “MEMORY MODE”, get it there by pushing [M / CALL PRIO] button on front of radio ( see page 1, item 10). Just push and release, DON’T hold button down).

Now, go to “VFO MODE” by pushing [V / MHZ SCAN] button on front of radio (see page 1, item 11). Just push and release, DON’T hold button down.

Now, go to the “desired band” ( 2m or 440) by pushing “BAND” (see page 1, item 12) as many times as required to get to freq. Of 14?.??? (2m) or 44?.??? (70 cm). Don’t worry about other freq. Bands that may come up…just go to either 14?? Or 44?.

1) Set the “frequency” by rotating dial ( page 1, item 2).

2) Set + or –“offset” or “simplex (no offset)” by pushing [LOW DUP] button ( see page 1, item 8) for 1 second one or two times to select the desired setting. NOTE: If you only push it momentarly, you change the transmitter output power (see page 1, item 8).

3) Turn on the “tone” by pressing [TONE T-SCAN] button (see page 1, item 9) several times until “T” appears on screen (just push, DON’T hold down or else you will start the tone scan) (see page 1, item 9).

4) Push [SET LOCK] button (page 1, item 1) to enter set mode (just push, DON’T hold).

5) Push [SET LOCK] button (see page 1, item 1) several times until “T” AND “rT” appear. Don’t get fooled about what comes up..just keep pushing until you get “T” and “rT”.

6) Rotate dial ( page 1, item 2) to select the desired tone freq.. See page 22 (lower right for list of available tones).

7) Push [ V / MHZ SCAN ] button (see page 1, item 11) to exit set mode (just push, DON’T hold). At this point, all the information has been prepared except for programming the memory channel. At this point , and before programming the memory channel, you can push the mike button and you should hit the repeater IF (1) THE REPEATER IS CLOSE ENOUGH AND (2) YOU HAVE ENTERED ALL INFORMATION CORRECTLY. AFTER THIS CHECK GO TO NEXT STEPS TO PUT INFORMATION INTO MEMORY.

NOTE: If this is a tempory repeater setting or simplex setting which is only going to be used for a day or so..i.e. a one time shot and you don’t want to put it into memory… stop here and use the radio on the Frequency , etc. you have entered. The data will remain in the VFO mode and useable even if you later switch to memory mode. You just have to switch back to VFO mode to use it.

8) Select the desired “Memory Channel Number” by pushing [S MW MW] button (see page 1, item 13), then rotate dial (see page 1, item 2) to select the memory channel ( “M” indicator and memory channel number blink). NOTE: The selected memory channel number MUST be one higher than the last one previously used (i.e. one higher than the channel number you wrote down at the start of this process ).

9) THIS STEP IS TRICKY, SO PAY ATTENTION. Write your data to the selected memory channel by : PUSH and HOLD [ S MW MW ] button (page 1, item 13) for “1 Second” ! You will hear 3 BEEPS SOUND…THEN LET UP ON BUTTON! YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION AND BE QUICK! If you push the button longer than 3 beeps, the memory channel number will continue to increase…don’t want that!

10) The data has now been programmed into the Memory. However, the radio is still in the “VFO MODE”. So, to check our work, we put the radio in “Memory MODE” by pushing the [M / CALL PRIO ] button (page 1, item 10). The radio should be on the memory channel number you programmed. Try to hit the programmed repeater. If all is well, leave the radio in the “MEMORY MODE” for use.

11) CONGRATULATIONS….YOUR DONE!!