Modifications for the ICOM - RogerK

19-07-1998(IC-3200) IC-3200A ext frq 430-440 MHzHere is one modification that I found that will convert your ICOM IC-3200A for operation on the 430-440Mhz band.This is a very simple modification and does nothing to harm the radio, no trace cuts, changing IC's or any of those problems.The only minor problem is that you lose all your memories when it is first done, so if you need to, wrtie those 2 meterassignments for re-entry afterwards. Since the radio will only operate on the 430-440Mhz portion of the UHF spectrumafterwards use on 440-450Mhz can only be done only after the modification is cancelled.Just inside the front panel of the ICOM IC3200A on the top there is a circuit board that can be seen with the top cover of theradio removed.There are several componets that can be viewed from this angle, look for a jumper marked "J-8", this is for reference only.To the side of this jumper, towards the small ribbon cable going to the display there is another jumper labled "J-10", this is nextto the Capacitor labeled "C-4", also in this neighborhood is a mounting screw (just for reference). The only "mod" that you needto make is to lift the jumper "J-10" for a few minutes and re-install the jumper back in the same location that it was removedfrom - THAT is all!To un-do your "mod" turn off the radio and at the same time depress the "function" button and indicated in the owners manualand normal operation of the ICOM IC-3200A is resumed.I have verified the frequency and sensitivity of the radio after the "mod" was completed and the frequency display is accuratebut the sensitivity at the lowest portion of the band on my '3200 was a bit deaf, with proper tuning of the VCO would certainlyallow better preformance.This modification is read 723 times.top of page12-01-2000(IC-3200) How To Expand The Coverage Of The Icom 3200A Mobile Radio.Author: Andy Moss VE3YES - andmoss@home.com.MODIFICATION.NETThe ICOM 3200A will normally cover from 140-150Mhz and from 440-450Mhz.The search function of the radio, which can be accessed in either VFO A or B, has to be used to make the radio exceed the abovenoted coverage limitations.The search feature causes the radio to scan every frequency between the preset limits. The lower limit is in Channel 0, and theupper limit is in Channel 1. For example, if Ch 0 contained 144Mhz and Ch 1 contained 145Mhz the radio would search, startingat 145Mhz, down until it reached 144Mhz. Of course it would stop on any frequency that broke the Squelch threshold.If you changed Ch 1 to 446Mhz, the radio would search between 446Mhz and 144Mhz. However, it would skip 150.005Mhz to439.995Mhz.The trick is to change channels 0 or 1 to a frequency that is outside of the normal coverage range. Thus when you want to gooutside of this range, use the search function in VFO mode with the squelch control fully counter-clockwise.First, decide on whether you wish to go above 150Mhz, below 140Mhz, above 450Mhz or below 440Mhz. Please remember thatthe upper range will be in channel 1 and the lower range will be in channel 0.Confused??? I thought so....How about an example.Mission: receive normal coverage plus from 150Mhz to 152Mhz.Steps:1. go into VFO A mode.2. change the off-set to 10Mhz in the minus mode.3. select a tuning step of 15Khz