HT1250 issue

[michy]

I purchased a used HT1250 (VHF) and when it arrived and turned it on, the signal strength meter always is lit up and showing 2 to 4 bars of signal.

I tried programming different frequencies on it, with no change... it still shows varying signal. If I set the channel to CSQ, it doesn't squelch the audio at all. Only if I use TPL or DPL, will it squelch (sort of makes sense). I compared the programming to another HT1250 VHF, and I can't find why it is showing this signal.

Does anyone have any idea what may be wrong with the radio, or if its a programming issue (although I can't find what)?

Thank you

Michelle

 

[KevinC]

I'm not too HT1250 savvy, but it sounds like your squelch softpot needs to be adjusted. You would need the tuner software to correct this.

 

[michy]

Thanks.. I have the tuner software actually... but that wouldn't explain the abnormal constant (and varying) signal strength would it (and knowing there is nothing transmitting on that freq within range)?

Thanks
Michelle

 

[m-gerty]

A computer or wireless router will cause the same symptoms.Have you tried taking it away from the house?

 

[michy]

m-gerty - thanks for responding.

I haven't. I have a few of the HT1250 VHF radios, and only one does this. I hope its just a tuning issue, but hope someone has experienced the issue.

I will bring them both out away from the house and test.

Thanks!

 

[N1SQB]

HMM!

This is definitely a strange issue. Neither of my 2 HT1250s do this. They both sit near my PC really close too. Interesting!

Manny

 

[michy]

Yes, out of the roughly dozen HT1250 and HT1550 radios I have (mostly UHF), this is the only one that has this issue.

If I remove the antenna, the signal strength bars almost disappear, but the led blinks red all the time because perhaps it thinks the channel is in use.

Shop rate around here is $90/hr plus taxes, and given the radios are worth about $150 to $200, I'm apprehensive to bring it in until I have an idea of what causes the it.

 

[cifd64]

Is there anything functionally wrong with the radio? If it is operating normally, dont bother bringing it to a shop.

 

[michy]

Probably a good idea

If I use TPL or DPL, it seems fine. It transmits and receives ok.

 

[SteveC0625]

I purchased a used HT1250 (VHF) and when it arrived and turned it on, the signal strength meter always is lit up and showing 2 to 4 bars of signal.

I tried programming different frequencies on it, with no change... it still shows varying signal. If I set the channel to CSQ, it doesn't squelch the audio at all. Only if I use TPL or DPL, will it squelch (sort of makes sense). I compared the programming to another HT1250 VHF, and I can't find why it is showing this signal.

Does anyone have any idea what may be wrong with the radio, or if its a programming issue (although I can't find what)?

I take it that these problems are on the receive side?

It might be a programming issue. Check these items on each personality: On the Advanced tab, disable Expansion and Compression. Your Emphasis type should be set for both De & Pre. On the Personality Options tab, disable VOX.

On the Radio Configuration menu, in the Monitor tab, make sure you've selected Silent.

You may have all these things done, but it's a good double check and begins to rule out possible causes.

 

[michy]

Thank you Steve.

Yes.... issue appears to be only with receive.

Thank you for the detailed configuration items to check... I will look those over.

Michelle

 

[michy]

I take it that these problems are on the receive side?

It might be a programming issue. Check these items on each personality: On the Advanced tab, disable Expansion and Compression. Your Emphasis type should be set for both De & Pre. On the Personality Options tab, disable VOX.

On the Radio Configuration menu, in the Monitor tab, make sure you've selected Silent.

I confirmed these settings, and it doesn't appear to resolve the issue.

I noticed if I enable "busy channel lockout" it won't let you transmit, which verifies that the radio sees a signal on a specific frequency, even though there is nothing there. Almost like it is over sensitive.

One other weird thing, is that when I click on the button to load the configuration to the radio, it outputs loud un-squelched audio for 5 seconds or so... which none of my other radios do either.

 

[MCCSolutions]

Question.

I take it that these problems are on the receive side?

It might be a programming issue. Check these items on each personality: On the Advanced tab, disable Expansion and Compression. Your Emphasis type should be set for both De & Pre. On the Personality Options tab, disable VOX.

On the Radio Configuration menu, in the Monitor tab, make sure you've selected Silent.

You may have all these things done, but it's a good double check and begins to rule out possible causes.

I have always wondered what exactly Emphasis changes, all mine are set to Expansion and Compression, I enabled them because I noticed a difference in the audio quality. What exactly do they do? Do these setting affect the range?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[AK4FD]

I have always wondered what exactly Emphasis changes, all mine are set to Expansion and Compression, I enabled them because I noticed a difference in the audio quality. What exactly do they do? Do these setting affect the range?

Thanks,

Mike

Just curious, Mike, did you ever get an answer to your question about Expansion & Compression? I, too, am wondering what it does. CPS doesn't really explain it fully to me.

 

[cifd64]

From 'another page.'

For 25 kHz channels, use pre-emphasis and de-emphasis on.

For 12.5 kHz channels, you have to experiment with compression and expansion; Motorola intended them to be used to compensate for the narrow bandwidth, but a lot of folks believe the radios sound better with them off.

The most reliable (in terms of falsing) unmute/mute combination is "AND" "OR". This means that the radio will not unmute until it had detected both valid freq and valid tone, and that it will mute if it loses detection of either. According to Motorola, this combination suffers a bit in terms of range, but that has not be our experience.

 

[Mkillmer]

Has anyone figured out original problem of this post? I have a radio doing the same.