TK-3200/L Help?

[Fenix6372]

I have come into 3 handsets, 2 are TK-3200s (8 channel models) and one is a TK-3200L (15 channel model.) Whenever I tune any of the handsets to a channel above 3, all it does is put out a tone and flash the LED red/orange over and over. Also, I have noticed that I can't do any of the programming described in the manual that require you to hold buttons while you turn it on. When I try, it just acts like normal, power on beep and then nothing. It should flash the LED after a couple of seconds and announce things depending on what I am trying to do.

On the TK-3200L I was able to get it to do something with the reset-to-default where you hold all 3 buttons while powering on, but I didn't have the volume up high enough to hear what it said, and now it won't reset again; I can't change buttons, reprogram frequencies, or anything else. It's like that on all the handsets (well I say all, but one of the TK-3200s had a dead battery and is in the process of charging, but I am assuming it's going to be trouble like the other two.)

Does anyone know why the handsets are behaving this way? If I didn't give enough information, just let me know and I'll do what I can to give you what you need.

Oh by the way they do transmit on the 3 channels I can get to, and they sound pretty good too!

Thanks for any help you can give!

[ramal121]

Well it looks like you are trying to program via the buttons and do not have the program software to access the radio from a PC.

If the radios were previously programmed by PC, there is an option to disable the self programming mode. Sounds like this was done and is preventing you from user programming as stated in the manual. The only way to re-enable this function would be through the FPU software.

[Fenix6372]

Hmm, that's not good news... Would that option even disable the ability to reset to factory default?

If that's the case, does anyone know where I can get the software without paying 100-150 bucks for it? I'm not a business, these radios would actually be used by a non-profit organization working with the local fire department. We're not allowed to use the city radios, so these would be great for on-scene communications between our teams. I doubt they want to shell out for the programming software, budget is tight enough as is.

Thanks for the info, even if it isn't exactly what I wanted to hear. Do you know if there might be some way to reset them to factory default if I can take them apart and get to the circuit board? Shorting some jumpers or something maybe?

[ramal121]

Don't know any way to hard reset radios. Software programming trumps user programming. You could go after the eeprom with a cattle prod (just kidding). Wouldn't pay the $$ for software, but you would need to find someone with FPU that can check and re-enable self program feature. After that you are gold. Dealers will charge, any friends (or enemies) you know that could help you with a quick one?