ALINCO DR-M03R (01) PDF Document

The ALINCO DR-M03R features some of the most advanced functions and reliable engineering available. The ALINCO design philosophy is focused on developing innovative usable features, including the following:

• Three different styles of display are available on a large LCD panel including frequency, channel number or 7 digit alphanumeric label.

• Simple, clean layout of keys and knobs ensure convenient operation.

• High-quality materials are used throughout the product and a huge heat sink around the chassis ensures stable and durable operation.

• 100 fully programmable memory channels with alphanumeric memory channel labels.

• CTCSS, DCS and 4 different Tone-Bursts are standard for selective calling and repeater access worldwide.

• The transceiver has a cable clone capability.

• The Theft Alarm feature gives an extra measure of security for mobile installation. (An optional cable may be required).

Below is a feature comparison chart for the ALINCO DR-M03R:

When you unpack your ALINCO DR-M03R, you should find the following items in the package in addition to the instruction manual:

• Transceiver

• Microphone EMS-53

• DC power cable with fuse holder (UA0038)

• Mobile mounting bracket (FM0078Z)

• Mic Hanger Unit (EBC-7) with Tapping screws (M3.5*10mm) 2pcs. (AJ0025)

• Hardware kit for bracket (Complete set available as ADHK130), which includes:

• Black screws (M4*8mm) 4pcs. (AE0012)

• Tapping screws (M5*20mm) 4pcs. (AJ0003)

• Screws (M5*20mm) 4pcs. (AA0013)

• Washer (AZ0010) & S-washer (AZ0009)

• Hexagonal nut (M5) 4pcs. (AN0002)

• Small (spanner) wrench (FM0079)

• Spare fuses (a pair, 15A) 2pcs. (EF0005)

• Instruction manual (PS0530B)

The standard accessories may vary slightly depending on the version you have purchased. Standard accessories may change without notice.

To set up your ALINCO DR-M03R as a base station, follow these steps:

1. Connect the microphone to the front panel of the transceiver.

2. Connect the antenna port to a 50 ohm antenna that is tuned to the band of operation, using good quality 50 ohm coaxial cable.

3. The transceiver requires a 12-13.8VDC negative grounded power source. Use a regulated power supply capable of providing a continuous current of 12A or more. Connect the DC power cable to the power supply, ensuring the red lead connects to the positive (+) terminal and the black lead connects to the negative (-) terminal.

CAUTION: The body (heatsink) of this product may become very hot during and after operation. Never touch the unit until it cools down.

To install the ALINCO DR-M03R for mobile operation, follow these guidelines:

Location:

Install the transceiver in a location where the controls and microphone are easily accessible and do not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle. If your vehicle has airbags, ensure the radio will not interfere with their deployment. While installing, be aware that DC cables should never touch the heatsink of the unit, as it may become excessively hot and melt the insulation, causing a short circuit.

Installing a Mobile Antenna:

Use a 50 ohm coaxial cable to connect the antenna. Mobile antennas require an appropriate mounting base for proper installation and operation. After installing your antenna, ensure that you have the best possible SWR reading. High RF environments can cause severe damage to your unit.

RF Hazard Warning:

The electro-magnetic (Radio Frequency) exposure level of this device may exceed European standards when transmitting at high power with a unity gain antenna at a distance of 63cm or less. The hazardous RF exposure level can increase with antenna gain and other environmental factors. For safety, it is recommended that the antenna be installed outside of and as far as possible from the operator’s area. Avoid using an excessively high-gained antenna if the distance is limited. Always use the minimum necessary output power for communications.

Installing the Transceiver:

Use the provided mounting bracket and hardware to securely install the transceiver in your chosen location.

The front panel of the ALINCO DR-M03R has several keys and controls. Their primary functions are detailed below.

Primary Functions:

Functions activated after pressing the FUNC Key (F appears on display):

The ALINCO DR-M03R has several functions that are activated by pressing keys in combination with the FUNC key or by pressing them for a longer duration.

Functions activated while pressing the FUNC Key:

Functions that require continuous pressing to be activated:

The display of the ALINCO DR-M03R uses various icons to show the current status of the transceiver. Here is a guide to their meanings:

The microphone supplied with the ALINCO DR-M03R (model EMS-53) has several controls for operating the transceiver.

The T-version microphones (EMS-57) have additional DTMF and remote control capabilities.

Here are the instructions for the most basic operations of your ALINCO DR-M03R.

Turning the unit on and off:

Press the power (PWR) switch to turn the unit on. Press the power switch again to turn it off.

Audio Volume level setting:

Rotate the VOL knob clockwise to increase the audio level, and counterclockwise to decrease it. Set it at the desired level.

Squelch level setting:

A squelch eliminates the background noise when a signal is not received. Higher settings keep the squelch “closed” more tightly for quieter monitoring but may prevent weak signals from being heard. Lower settings allow weaker signals to “open” the squelch, but noise may also cause it to open.

1. Press the SQL key. The SQL icon appears on the display, and the squelch level (0-20) will be shown. “0” is the lowest setting.

2. Rotate the main dial or use the UP/DOWN keys on the microphone to adjust the squelch to the desired level. To return to normal use, press PTT or any other key on the front panel. If there are no operations within 5 seconds, the unit will store the setting and return to its original status.

VFO (variable frequency oscillator) mode allows you to change the frequency manually. To use VFO mode on your ALINCO DR-M03R, first ensure you are not in Memory (“M” icon) or Call (“C” icon) mode. If you are, press the “V/M” key until those icons disappear.

Change frequency by the channel step:

Rotate the main dial clockwise to increase the frequency and counterclockwise to decrease it. The UP/DOWN keys on the microphone perform the same function.

Change frequency by 1 MHz step:

This allows for a quick change in frequency.

1. Press the MHz key. The digits after 100 kHz will disappear from the display.

2. Rotate the main dial or use the UP/DOWN keys to change the frequency in 1 MHz increments.

To change the frequency tuning step used in VFO mode on your ALINCO DR-M03R, follow these instructions:

1. Make sure the unit is in VFO mode. Press and hold the FUNC key for more than 2 seconds to enter the Parameter Setting (SET) mode.

2. Rotate the tuning knob until the channel step setting is displayed (e.g., STP-20). The available steps are 5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 50 kHz.

3. Rotate the main dial to select your desired channel step.

4. Press PTT or any one of the keys except SQL on the front panel to enter the desired step into the transceiver’s memory. The display will then return to the original status.

To use a repeater with your ALINCO DR-M03R, you need to set the shift direction and offset frequency. The difference between the repeater’s receive (UP-LINK) and transmit (DOWN-LINK) frequencies is the offset frequency. If the UP-LINK is higher, the direction is positive (+), and if it’s lower, it’s negative (-).

The default offset value for the DR-M03R is 0.100 MHz (100 kHz) in the negative direction.

1. Press the F key. While the F icon is on the display, press the MHz key. The display shows the current status of the shift direction (+, -, or blank for simplex) and the offset frequency.

2. Press the MHz key repeatedly until the desired shift direction is set (+, -, or neither for simplex). If SIMPLEX mode (no offset) is desired, select the position where both – and + icons have disappeared.

3. Rotate the dial or use the UP/DOWN keys on the microphone to change the offset frequency. The frequency changes according to the selected channel step.

4. To change the offset frequency in 1 MHz steps for faster setting, press the F key again while in this mode.

5. Press PTT or any key except F or MHz on the front panel to save the setting and return to the original status.

Note: It is practical to use the memory mode to operate repeaters by programming the shift and offset settings into the memory channels.

Many repeaters require a CTCSS tone or a DCS code for access. These can also be used for selective calling. On the ALINCO DR-M03R, you can set encode (transmit) and decode (receive) tones.

1. Press the TS/DCS key. The current setting will be displayed. Repeatedly press the key to cycle through the options: T (CTCSS Encode), T/SQ (CTCSS Encode/Decode), DCS, and OFF (no icon).

2. When “T” (Tone Encode) is displayed, the numbers (e.g., 88.5) represent the CTCSS frequency in Hz. The unit will transmit this sub-audible tone when you press PTT.

3. When “T/SQ” (Tone Squelch) is displayed, this enables CTCSS decode. The audio will only be heard when a signal with the matching tone is received.

4. When “DCS” is displayed with a 3-digit number, this enables DCS encoding and decoding.

5. While the desired mode (T, T/SQ, or DCS) is displayed, rotate the main dial or press the UP/DOWN keys on the microphone to change the tone or code.

6. Press any key (except TS/DCS or UP/DOWN) to enter the setting and return to normal operation. The corresponding icon will remain on the display.

To turn off CTCSS/DCS, press the TS/DCS key until the T, T/SQ, and DCS icons disappear.

The standard 39 CTCSS tones and 104 DCS codes are available for selection.

The ALINCO DR-M03R provides up to 100 memory channels (0-99), 1 call channel, and program-scan edge channels. Here’s how to program them:

Programming a Memory Channel:

1. Start in VFO mode. Set the desired frequency, repeater offset, shift direction, CTCSS/DCS tones, and any other settings you wish to store.

2. Press the FUNC key. The “F” icon will appear on the display.

3. While “F” is displayed, an “M” icon and a memory channel number will also appear. An empty channel is shown with a flashing “M” icon.

4. Rotate the main dial or press the UP/DOWN keys to select the memory channel number where you want to store the settings.

5. Press the MW (V/M) key. The VFO settings are copied to the memory channel and a beep will sound. You can overwrite a previously programmed channel.

Using Memory Mode:

1. Press the V/M key to switch between VFO and Memory mode. The “M” icon appears when in memory mode.

2. In memory mode, rotate the main dial or press UP/DOWN keys to change the memory channel number.

Deleting a Memory Channel:

1. Select the programmed channel you wish to delete in memory mode.

2. Press the FUNC key, then press the MW key while the “F” icon is on. The memory is deleted, a beep sounds, and the “M” icon starts flashing, showing the channel is empty.

Data that can be programmed into a memory channel includes:

• Frequency

• Shift frequency and direction

• CTCSS tone (encode and decode)

• Tone Squelch setting

• DCS code (encode and decode) and squelch setting

• Scan skip channel

• Busy Channel Lock Out setting

The CALL mode on the ALINCO DR-M03R is a memory mode that allows you to quickly recall one assigned memory channel, regardless of the current status of the unit.

1. Press the CALL key. The “C” icon appears on the display, and the transceiver enters the CALL mode, recalling the frequency stored in the Call channel.

2. In this mode, the main dial and the UP/DOWN keys cannot change the frequency or memory channels.

3. Press the CALL key again or press the V/M key to exit CALL mode.

To store a desired setting in the CALL channel, follow the memory mode programming instructions and assign your selected settings to memory channel “C”. The Call channel can be modified but cannot be eliminated or hidden.

To receive signals:

1. Ensure the unit is connected to an appropriate antenna, powered on, and the audio volume and squelch levels are properly set.

2. Select the desired receiving frequency or browse frequencies. The S-meter will show the relative signal strength when the transceiver detects an incoming signal and “BUSY” appears.

3. If the S-meter indicates an incoming signal but you hear nothing, check the audio level, squelch level, and CTCSS/DCS decoding status.

4. For weaker signals, use the Monitor function. Press and hold the SQL key for more than 1 second. This will open the squelch regardless of the setting, and the “BUSY” icon will appear. Press any key on the front panel to exit.

To transmit:

1. Select the desired frequency and ensure you are authorized to operate on it. Monitor the frequency to make sure you are not interfering with ongoing communications.

2. Select the output power. Press the FUNC key, then press the CALL/H/L key while the “F” icon is on the display. The output power changes among 3 levels: Lo (LOW), Mi (MEDIUM), and HIGH (no icon). The output power cannot be changed during transmission.

3. The default setting is High power. Press the PTT key on the microphone to transmit and release it to receive. During transmission, the relative power output is shown on the RF meter (S-meter).

• LOW power = 2 segments

• MID power = 3 segments

• HIGH power = 5 segments

By entering the Parameter Setting mode on your ALINCO DR-M03R, you can change some of the radio’s operating parameters to suit your application.

To use the Parameter Setting mode:

1. Press the FUNC key for more than 2 seconds to enter the Parameter Setting mode.

2. Use the SQL key or UP/DOWN keys to select the menu item you wish to change.

3. Rotate the main dial to select the desired setting for that menu item.

4. Press the SQL or UP/DOWN keys again to enter the selected setting into the radio’s memory.

5. Press any key OTHER than SQL/UP/DOWN to exit the Parameter mode. The only exception is the Channel Tag setting, which accepts only PTT, FUNC, MHz and TS/DCS keys to exit.

The selectable parameters menu includes:

• **STP-20:** Channel Step setting

• **TIMER:** Scan type (time scan/busy scan)

• **BEEP-ON:** Beep sound ON/OFF

• **TOT-OFF:** Time-Out-Timer ON/OFF

• **TP-OFF:** TOT penalty ON/OFF

• **APO-OFF:** Auto-Power-Off ON/OFF

• **TB-1750:** Tone-Burst Frequency setting

• **BCLO-OF:** Busy-Channel-Lock-Out ON/OFF

• **SCR-OFF:** Theft Alarm ON/OFF

• **(A):** Alphanumeric Channel Tag setting (appears only after memories are programmed)

Here is a detailed explanation of the features available in the Parameter Setting Mode of the ALINCO DR-M03R:

• Channel Step setting: Selects the channel step to be used in VFO mode. Available steps are 5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 50 kHz.

• Scan Type: Selects the scan resume condition. TIMER setting allows the radio to resume scanning after 5 seconds, regardless of signal status. BUSY setting resumes scanning only when the received signal is gone.

• Beep Sound: BEEP-ON enables a confirmation beep when keys are touched or settings are made. BEEP-OF disables it.

• Time-Out-Timer (TOT): Prohibits transmitting after a selected period of time has elapsed (up to 450 seconds). The radio alerts the user 5 seconds before time-out.

• TOT Penalty: When transmission is shut down by TOT, this function prohibits another transmission for a selected period (up to 15 seconds).

• APO – Auto Power OFF: Automatically shuts off the transceiver after 30 minutes of inactivity to avoid draining the vehicle battery.

• Tone-Burst-Frequency: Selects the tone frequency (1750, 2100, 1000, 1450 Hz) required to activate some “sleeping” repeaters.

• Busy-Channel-Lock-Out (BCLO): Prohibits transmission as long as there is a signal on the receiving frequency, unless the tone-squelch is opened by a corresponding CTCSS/DCS code.

• Theft Alarm: Select ON or DLY to activate the theft alarm function, which requires an optional alarm cable.

• Alphanumeric Tag: Allows memory channels to be displayed with a custom name (up to 7 characters) instead of the frequency. This menu only appears after memories are programmed.

The ALINCO DR-M03R offers several types of scanning to automatically search for signals. The scan direction (up or down) can be changed by rotating the main dial or pressing UP/DOWN keys during the scan.

[VFO Scan]

Scans all VFO channels according to the preset tuning step.

1. Enter VFO mode.

2. Press the UP (upward scan) or Down (downward scan) key, or the MHz key, for more than 1 second but less than 2 seconds.

3. The scan starts. It stops on a busy frequency and resumes according to the scan resume setting (Timer or Busy). Press any key (other than UP/DOWN) to exit.

[Memory Scan]

Scans all programmed memory channels.

1. Enter Memory mode.

2. The sequence to start the scan is the same as in VFO scan.

To skip a channel during memory scan, select the channel in Memory mode, press FUNC, then press V/M. The 10 MHz order decimal point will be displayed for that channel, indicating it is skipped. Repeat to undo.

[Tone Scan]

Automatically searches for the CTCSS tone on an incoming signal.

1. Press the TS/DCS key to enter CTCSS decode (TSQ) setting mode.

2. Press the UP/DOWN key for more than 1 second but less than 2 seconds to start scanning. It scans the 39 tones in order.

3. The scan stops when the matching tone is detected. The scan will not resume automatically. Press any key (other than UP/DOWN) to exit.

[DCS Scan]

This is the same as Tone Scan, but for searching DCS codes.

1. Press the TS/DCS key to enter DCS setting mode.

2. Press the UP/DOWN key for more than 1 second to start. It searches the 104 DCS codes.

3. The scan stops when the matching code is detected. Press any key (other than UP/DOWN) to exit.

The Key-Lock function on the ALINCO DR-M03R locks most keys to avoid unintentional changes.

1. Press the FUNC key, then press the TS/DCS key while the “F” icon is on the display.

2. The key-lock icon will appear on the display.

3. With this function activated, only the following commands can be accessed:

• PTT

• FUNC + TS/DCS to cancel the key-lock function

• Monitor function (to release squelch for weak signal reception)

• Squelch setting

• UP/DOWN keys

To send a tone burst, which is sometimes required to activate a repeater, press and hold the DOWN key on the microphone while the PTT key is pressed. The tone burst will be transmitted for as long as both keys are pressed together. Usually, just a few seconds of burst is enough to activate the repeater. The tone burst frequency can be changed in the Parameter Setting Mode.

The Auto-Dialer on the ALINCO DR-M03R automatically transmits pre-programmed DTMF tones, which are often used for remote control or autopatch systems on repeaters.

To program tones in the Auto-dialer memory:

1. Press the FUNC key and the TS/DCS key at the same time to enter the setting mode. The display will show the memory channel (0-9).

2. Use the UP/DOWN keys to select the desired auto-dial memory channel.

3. Rotate the main dial to select the first digit, then press the TS/DCS key to enter it. The cursor moves to the right. Repeat this sequence to complete the number.

4. You can store numbers 0-9, pause (-), *, and # up to a total of 16 digits.

5. To delete, press the CALL key. Press PTT, V/M, MHz, or SQL keys to exit and return to original status.

To transmit tones in the Auto-dialer memory:

1. Press and hold the PTT key, then press the “UP” key on the microphone while transmitting. The last programmed code will be transmitted.

2. To change the auto-dialer memory channel for transmission, press FUNC and TS/DCS keys, then select the desired channel by pressing the UP/DOWN keys on the microphone.

The Theft Alarm on the ALINCO DR-M03R uses a beep sound to alert you if the unit is about to be removed in an improper manner. This function is useful for vehicle installations and requires the optional ADALM135 alarm cable.

Setting up the Theft Alarm:

1. Connect the DC power cable directly to the vehicle’s battery.

2. Connect the provided alarm cable to the DATA jack on the front panel. Secure the other end of the cable to a fixed object in the vehicle.

3. Enter the Parameter Setting mode (press FUNC for >2 seconds). Select the Theft Alarm menu (SCR) and rotate the dial to set it to SCR-ON or SCR-DLY.

4. Exit the setting mode and turn off the unit with the main power switch. The TX LED will be lit, indicating the alarm is armed.

Alarm Functionality:

• The alarm functions only when the unit is turned off.

• If the alarm cable is removed from the DATA jack or cut, the alarm sounds for 10 minutes. During the alarm, the unit will receive on memory channel 99.

• The alarm stops if a signal is received on channel 99.

• Turning on the unit with the SQL key pressed also cancels the alarm.

Delay Operation (SCR-DLY):

If you set the alarm to SCR-DLY, there is a 20-second delay period after turning off the unit before the alarm is armed. During this delay, the LCD illumination stays on. You can turn the unit back ON during this “DELAY” period to cancel the alarm arming process.

To turn off the alarm function, turn on the unit, enter the Parameter setting mode again, and select SCR-OF.

The Cable Clone feature on the ALINCO DR-M03R will copy the programmed data and parameters from a master unit to one or more slave units.

Connection:

You will need to make a cable using 3.5 mm stereo-mini plugs for the connection between the DATA jacks of the two radios. Set up and program the master unit as desired. Turn off both units before connecting the cable.

Setting the Slave Side:

1. Turn on the slave radio. Go to receive mode (VFO or Memory).

2. When it starts receiving the clone data, “LD***” will show up on its display.

3. When the transmission is successfully finished, the display will show “[PASS]”.

4. Turn off the power. Disconnect the cable. You can now repeat the sequence to clone another slave unit.

Setting the Master Side:

1. Press the CALL key with the FUNC key pressed. “CLONE” will be displayed and the radio enters the clone mode.

2. Press PTT. “SD***” will be displayed and it will start sending the data to the slave unit.

3. “[PASS]” will appear on the master display when the data is successfully transmitted.

4. The master radio may stay turned on for the next clone. Turn off the unit to exit from the clone mode.

If the data is not successfully transmitted, turn off both units, check the cable connection, and repeat the entire operation. If you quit the operation while incomplete, you may need to reset the slave unit.

Resetting the ALINCO DR-M03R transceiver returns all programmed contents to their factory default settings. This can sometimes correct erroneous operation.

Reset Procedure:

While holding the FUNC key down, turn the power on. All segments of the LCD will be displayed, and then the default settings will be displayed.

NOTE: Take special care when resetting because all settings are initialized.

Factory Default Settings for ALINCO DR-M03R:

If the power is on but the display of your ALINCO DR-M03R is blank, it is likely that the positive (+) and negative (-) polarities of the power connection are reversed. Check your wiring and connect the red lead to the plus terminal and the black lead to the minus terminal of the DC power supply.

If the fuse on your ALINCO DR-M03R is blown, you must first check for and solve the problem that caused the fuse to blow (such as a short circuit). Once the underlying issue is resolved, replace the blown fuse with a new fuse of the correct rating.

If no sound is coming from the speaker of your ALINCO DR-M03R, check the following possible causes:

• The squelch may be muted. Try decreasing the squelch level.

• The Tone Squelch (CTCSS) or DCS squelch may be active. Turn off the CTCSS or DCS squelch function to see if that allows audio to pass through.

If the keys and dial on your ALINCO DR-M03R do not function, the Key-lock function is likely activated. You will need to cancel the Key-lock function. To do this, press the FUNC key followed by the TS/DCS key.

If rotating the dial on your ALINCO DR-M03R does not change the memory channel, the transceiver is most likely in CALL mode. Press the VFO (V/M) or memory (V/M) key to exit CALL mode and return to normal operation.

If you press the PTT key on your ALINCO DR-M03R but it does not transmit, check the following possible causes:

• The microphone connection may be poor. Disconnect and reconnect the microphone to ensure it is connected properly.

• The antenna connection may be poor. Check that the antenna is connected properly and securely.

Below are the general, transmitter, and receiver specifications for the ALINCO DR-M03R.

General

Transmitter

Receiver

Note: All specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.