[amsat-bb] Icom W32A transmit below 440 for satellite work?

Hi,

New to the list.

I have an Icom W32A HT (one of the 5-digit serial number ones, ca. 1998) and an Arrow antenna. I used them around 10 years ago for AO-27 and, after reading the recent QST article, thought I'd try some of the newer satellites.

Much to my surprise, I can't seem to get the W32A to transmit below 440 MHz., so I can't use it on AO-85, AO-91, etc. I looked at the specs and, sure enough, it says that it transmits only about 440 MHz. Yet, a google search seems to indicate that this was a popular satellite radio.

Is there some trick to getting it to transmit below 440?

Or is it necessary to perform a hardware mod to get it to do so? If so, is there someone who has done the mod (successfully) who can provide documentation on what he did that worked?

Thanks

K6DAJ