A couple of days ago, I tweeted:
kb6nu @kb6nu
Feature I’d like to see (on my IC7300 and other rigs): A button to return to a previous frequency, kind of like the PREV channel button on some TV remotes.
I got a bunch of replies to this, but the best one was from RamblinJohn:
RamblinJohn @RamblinJohn
That’s what the MPAD button is for.
How cool is that? The radio already has the feature that I’m looking for! I guess I really need to RTFM (read the “fine” manual) more.
Actually, even if I read the fine manual that was included with the radio, I wouldn’t have found it. The printed manual that is shipped with the radio is just the “basic manual,” and this feature is only described in the “full manual,” which is on the included CD or online.
Rather than just parrot the manual, here’s the page that describes how MPAD works:
This feature does exactly what I want to do.
Here’s how I’d use it. Say I’m calling CQ on 10.115 MHz. I’m not having much success, but on the waterfall, I see a station that I think might be calling CQ. So, I push the MPAD button for 1s to save the current frequency (and mode), then touch the touch screen to see what that other station is up to. If that station is not calling CQ, all I have to do to return to 10.115 MHz is to press the MPAD button a couple of times (depending on how many frequencies are in the MPAD memory).
Another way that you might use this is when you’re on a net and you want to have a quick word with another station who has checked in. Press and hold the MPAD button to save the net frequency, QSY with the other station to pass some traffic, and then press the MPAD button again to return to the net.
I think that this is a very cool feature and many thanks to RamblinJohn for cluing me into it. I wonder what the next cool feature that I’ll discover in my IC-7300? If you have a favorite radio feature (the radio doesn’t have to be an IC7300), please leave a comment below.
Kenwood calls this feature quick memories. I should probably get some practice with it for Field Day.
I suggested a similar ‘fearture’ to several SW authors. My idea is to have several ‘markers’ such as on a Spectrum Analyzer display to mark frequencies of interest. Just click on one to return to that frequency or shift click (ie.) to erase the marker.
Good idea!
Icom has historically had something called ‘band stack’ registers. My old IC-735 had it, and so does my IC-7000. I would expect it is in your IC-7300. The idea is that three different frequency/modes are saved automatically per band. You get to the other saved locations by repeatedly pressing a band button (I think that on your IC-7300, it is a screen button, but I think it might apply). Every three times, you should come around to the same place you were when you started on that band. I used them to store a location in the middle of the CW end of the band, another one for the digital watering holes (set to the appropriate sideband), and another in the middle of the SSB end of the band. Very handy for jumping around a band mode to mode.
I also used the quick memories on the IC-735 to store middle-of-the-band locations, which then were ‘tunable’ memories (going away from that memory and coming back would retrieve the saved middle frequency again). I used those to change bands quickly, because there weren’t dedicated band buttons on the IC-735. Instead, it was easier to press the memory channel down/up buttons on the front panel.
I wish Elecraft had stacking registers (I just usually keep CW/SSB settings in VFO A/B, but that goes out the window if I use the sub receiver for split/dual/diversity receive, etc), but I bet that Icom has a patent on it, since I don’t think I’ve ever seen this on any other manufacturer’s rig.
The Elecraft has ‘quick’ memories, the number of those vary depending on how many buttons are available to purpose for that. The K3 has a 0-9 keypad, so it has ten ‘quick’ memories, as well as 00-99, the KX2 really only has 4 quick buttons available in the bottom left row, etc. I was reminded of those when reading the excellent Fred Cady book that came with the ‘shack in the box’ bundle I bought from Elecraft at their Dayton booth after winning the KX2.
Yes, the IC-7300 has the band stack memories, and those are useful, but I really like this MPAD feature. The band stack memories change when you change frequencies, but the MPAD frequencies don’t, once they are set.
Great information Dan. I would not have found that on my own. At least not until I took the time to read up on all the buttons. (maybe by the end of 2019)
Thanks. Your not just another pretty face like others say! lol
73, John, WJ0NF
What I hear most often from others is that I have a face for radio!