Explorer QRZ-1

The radio most new US hams hold first (QRZ Jumpstart). The menu numbers below are the ones in its printed manual, so what you read here is what the screen shows.

Photo: Explorer product photo

The keys you will use

Knob on top

turns the radio on and sets the volume. Turn until it clicks, then about a third of the way.

PTT

the big button on the side. Push to talk, let go to listen. It also gets you out of any menu.

MONI

the small button under PTT. Hold it to hear everything on the frequency, static included; handy for setting the volume.

MENU

opens the settings. Inside a setting, MENU also means "start changing it" and "save it".

▲ ▼

move up and down a list, or nudge the frequency.

# Radio

switches between typing a frequency (the screen shows a frequency) and a saved channel (the screen shows a channel number). Hold it and you get the FM broadcast radio; hold it again to come back.

A/B

the screen shows two lines, A and B, and an arrow points at the one that is live. A/B moves the arrow. It also backs out of a menu.

✱ Lock

hold for two seconds to lock or unlock the keys.

Number keys

type a frequency, or jump straight to settings 1 to 10.

How the menu works

The whole radio is one list of 27 numbered settings, and every change goes the same way:

• Press MENU. The screen shows a setting and its number.
• Settings 1 to 10: press the number, and the value is ready to change.
• Settings 11 to 27: press ▲ or ▼ until the number shows, then press MENU once more to start changing it.
• Press ▲ ▼ to pick the value, or type digits where a step says so.
• Press MENU to save. Press PTT to leave the menu.

If a key does nothing, the keypad is locked: hold ✱ Lock for two seconds. If the screen shows a channel number where you expect a frequency, press # Radio once.

Set it up, in this order

1. Charge it and put it together

   The battery ships part-empty. Charge it in the cradle until the light turns green. Slide the battery onto the back until it clicks, and screw the antenna on clockwise until it is snug. Never press PTT without the antenna on.

2. Turn it on and set the volume

   Turn the top knob until it clicks, then keep going to about a third. Hold MONI: you should hear static. Set the volume so the static is clear but not loud, then let go of MONI.

3. Start from the factory settings

   So the radio matches this guide, reset it once. It has no channels yet, so nothing is lost.

   • Press MENU, then ▲ or ▼ until 26 (Reset) shows. Press MENU.
   • Press ▲ ▼ to All. Press MENU.
   • The radio restarts on its own.
4. One line on the screen

   The QRZ-1 listens on two lines, A and B. Work on one for now.

   • Press A/B until the arrow points at the top line.
   • Press MENU, 5 (Dual RX). Press ▲ ▼ to Off. Press MENU, then PTT.
   • If a channel number shows instead of a frequency, press # Radio once. A frequency on the screen is what you want.
5. Squelch

   Squelch is the gate that keeps static out of the speaker. The factory setting of 5 hides weak stations; 3 lets them through.

CHIRP knows this radio as Explorer QRZ-1: you can load the repeaters from Near you into channels later; for the first contact the steps above are enough.