The Icom IC-24AT (and IC-2SAT) Second Keyboard Functions are activated by
pressing AND HOLDING the "FUNCTION" buttom on the side of the transceiver
WHILE pressing the keypad with the desired 2nd function. The disadvantage of
this procedure is that it requires 2 hands to activate a 2nd key function,
1 to press AND HOLD the FUNCTION button and 1 to press the keypad with the
desired 2nd key function.
The Solution:
I modified the operation of the FUNCTION button so that it only has to be
pressed MOMENTERLY to activate the function mode, it remains in the function
mode for approximately 4 seconds thereafter. Any second key functions may be
selected any time during the 4 second interval the function mode remains
active. The beauty of this feature is that now you can squeeze the FUNCTION
button with your thumb and then have up to 4 seconds to select the desired
2nd key function with the index finger of the same hand!
The Mod:
Implementing this modification requires one 4.7uF 10 volt chip capacitor
and one 1K Ohm chip resistor. The negative terminal of the chip capacitor
is soldered to ground. The 1K Ohm resistor is soldered directly to the
positive terminal of the chip capacitor. The other terminal of the chip
resistor is soldered to the FUNCTION key PC board contact via a small
length of fine wire. THATS IT! It works great! I had mine in operation for
over 1 year. I could NEVER go back to the original procedure!
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