johnboyreb1
Member
My radio is transmitting but no one can hear me. What could be the problem ?
Kenwood: Kenwood tm-281a Transmit Problem
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FKimble
Member
You could be on a different frequency. They may have their radios set for a receive tone. No tone from you so their radios stay squeched. Your radio could be broke and off frequency. They could be too far away. Probably another reason or two. Give us more details. New radio? Radio that has been working but suddenly quit?
johnboyreb1
Member
Radio has been working just stopped. You can see the signal bar on others radio just not my voice.y handheld works but not my truck mount.
rapidcharger
Member
The first thing I would check is to see if the frequency offset is correct.
The second thing I would check is the coded squelch tones.
The second thing I would check is the coded squelch tones.
The first thing I would do is read the user manual.
K5MPH
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you need to give more info like are you trying to talk on a repeater or simplex ........
mikepdx
Member
What have YOU done to troubleshoot the radio?
We can then go from there with advice.
BTW: Why do you believe it's transmitting?
Simply because you see a red light?
johnboyreb1
Member
Because my handheld recever is showing its receiving but can't hear.
You might want to check your mic. Easiest and most logical thing to check first. Key the mic and Press one of the dtmf keys and see if you hear the tone. Try swapping out the mic for another one.
WB4CS
Member
You're not talking loud enough?
As others have asked, what troubleshooting have you done?
Since the TM-281A is for Amateur Radio, I'm assuming you have an Amateur Radio license. As a licensed ham, you should have a basic understanding of frequency, repeater offset, and PL tones. Have you tried narrowing down those settings first?
Not trying to be rude, but you're not giving us much to go on to help you out.
Actually, since they started giving out ham licenses after a few hours of memorizing answers that are given to you, I don't think most hams know the first thing about radio.
N8IAA
Member
If your receiver is too close to the radio, it will overload and not be heard.
Did you buy the radio new? If you did, why not take it back to where you bought it, and let them show you how to program the radio correctly.
If you bought it used. Take it back to who you bought it from and have them show you how to use the radio.
We can't help without knowing how and what you have programmed into the radio.
Larry
johnboyreb1
Member
Actually I've been using citizens bands and vhf radios my whole life so don't know why people have to be rude to others ! I've never used ham we use them for hunting on private channels.
lken37
Member
My TM-281 goes dark when I key the mike, is this normal. I am used to seeing the called channel with the off set.
Thank.
W1AYZ
Thank.
W1AYZ
You mean the back-lighting of the display goes dark? If that's happening, I suspect your power supply isn't providing enough current to keep the voltage where in needs to be on transmit. Or, there's something wrong with the power wiring between your power supply and the radio causing a large voltage drop.
lken37
Member
lken37
Member
W9BU, You were absolutely correct. I was using a power supply for my Car cooler with a cigarette lighter plug in to program the radio inside out of the cold, and it apparently does't have enough umph needed to transmit. Connected it back in the car and it's fine. Thank you so much.
Ken, W1AYZ
NZ4ZN
Member
Does it not transmit a carrier?
Does it not modulate?
What is the current draw on transmit? Should be about 8-9 amps.
So now you're saying that your HT can pick up a signal from the TM-281a but does not respond to modulation? As posted above, if the HT is in close proximity to the TM-281a, it can be overloaded. It can also pick up a signal internal to the TM-281a that never makes it to the antenna jack. You must have a pretty good separation distance to even try this method.
I think you are getting the sharp questions because you want help and then provide almost no factual information.
That, and it is becoming apparent that you are transmitting with a ham radio (as quoted above) with no license and/or no technical knowledge.
If you've never used ham, how do you know the radio quit working. How did you know it worked before?
There are no "private channels". If you are transmitting at all with the TM-281a and not a licensed ham, you are both breaking the law and possibly creating interference with legal operators. If your other "VHF all my life" experience relates to using Marine Band radios on land, this too is breaking the law and potentially interfering with legitimate users and may even interfere with response to a distress call.
At first, I thought I could help here because my TM-281a quit transmitting too, in fact, that's how I got it. Another ham had it and said that it just quit working. It was only drawing 2 amps when the mic was keyed, so I knew the final amplifier stage was not loaded or not working. I took it apart and did a little basic troubleshooting and found diode D602 had a bad solder joint. Of course, this information is of no help because we are not even clear on your symptom.
Folks, the OP started this thread over a year ago and hasn't logged into the forum since November 2014. Replying to him is probably not worth your time.
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