1 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTTH-D72A/E CONTENTS 3In addition to the functions related to the internal GPS unit, the transceiver has more new features.Following are some major functions worth to be presented.• USB interface:RS-232C has been the most common interface to connect a transceiver and a PC; however, inrecent years only few PCs are equipped with an RS-232C connector. TH-D72A/E is equipped witha Mini-B USB connector. The USB connector allows you to directly connect to a computer byusing the supplied USB cable.• Connecting weather stations:The weather stations from Peet Bros. Company, Incorporated and Davis Instruments Corporationcan be connected. The acquired weather information can be displayed on the screen ortransmitted in APRS format.• Digipeaters (Digital Repeaters):Packet signals can be relayed. The transceiver can serve as a temporary relay station when youare on a trip or on other occasions. TH-D72 is the first handheld transceiver that has this function.• APRS LOCK:This is a function to lock the settings of the data band during the operation of APRS to prevent thetransceiver configuration from being changed accidentally. For example, locking the frequency ofthe data band, locking the [PTT] switch, and locking the TNC so that it could not be disabledwithout realizing it, are all possible as a user prefers.• Cross tone:Any combination with Tone, CTCSS or DCS can be used. For example, you can use DCS fortransmission and CTCSS for reception.• Automatic cursor advancement:While entering characters of a menu name or an APRS message with the numerical keypad, uponelapse of a specified period of time after one character is entered, the cursor automatically movesto the next digit. For example, assume you need to enter “AB” (both “A” and “B” must be enteredwith the same [2] key). Upon lapse of a programmed duration of time (e.g. 1 second) after youenter “A”, the cursor moves to the next digit automatically, and you don’t have to advance itmanually so as to simplify and enhance the key operation.• Adjusting wait times:Lengths of wait times that were fixed on the previous models now can be adjusted by a user. Forexample, you can set the illumination timer, the delay time until resuming Time-Operated Scan orCarrier-Operated Scan after a pause and the duration of an interrupted display upon receipt ofAPRS data.• Weather channel scan (USA/Canada only)A total of 10 weather channels can be scanned. It is possible to search for adjacent weatherchannels with the strongest signal. Also, the scan can automatically be done with a programmedinterval and it is most effective during the operation by a mobile or portable station.In addition to the above, the TH-D72A/E has more applied functions, and we hope your actual use ofthe transceiver presents excellence!1.3 Other New Functions