NX5700 Selectable Tone issue

[jadonoff]

Hello everyone,
Gonna take a crack at my first post on this forumn, and no time like the present given my current issues.

I am currently working through programming the radios at my Fire Department and one of our engines is giving me a bit of trouble. Our VHF system requires our users to be able to select tones as they move throughout the county.

Radio with the issues is an NX5700

The problem:
When attenpting to communicate on our command channels (repeated channels) I can hear radio traffic but can not transmit. When attempting to transmit the transmit light engages but there is no kickback from the radio tower and no indication of any received signal on any radios monitoring the channel. The radio shows that I am selecting tones and I can use my portable BKR5000 on the same frequency and tone with no issues. On our simplex channels that don't require a tone the radio is receiving and transmitting without issue.
Despite the fact that the radio says I'm selecting the right tone it feels like its not pushing out the tone and opening the repeater.

I'm fresh out of COMT training and hoping someone out here can help point me in the right direction to troubleshoot the problem. I've already called kenwood support and the tech sounded as confused as I am.

Thanks in advance, Jacob

 

[kd4efm]

1, are you using OST?
2, if yes, is OST standard or pre-configured with non standard encode decode formats? (DPL TX, PL RX or TX/RX = alike)
3, Are you using DTMF mics to make OST entry easier?

Your turn.

 

[jadonoff]

1, are you using OST?
2, if yes, is OST standard or pre-configured with non standard encode decode formats? (DPL TX, PL RX or TX/RX = alike)
3, Are you using DTMF mics to make OST entry easier?

Your turn.

-We are using OST
-We are encoding with non standard encode formats. Decode is all none and encode QT/DQT has 32 tone options for the crews to cycle through
-We do not use dtmf mics. The end user selects between the 32 tones using the up/down arrows to the right of the screen on the Radio Head.

Your turn 🤙

 

[dryfb]

Some ideas I have; input offset setup correctly in the 5700? Also are you using inverted DPLs and put it in as a normal DPL?

 

[ramal121]

Not too hard to set up. Confirm the following on your multi PL repeater channels:

Personality > You have the common receive tone from the repeaters as decode. Encode should be set to none.

Optional Features 1 > Sub LCD Display set as OST (not required but handy to always know what tone you're on). Sub LCD Display Priority is set to high.

Optional Features 2 > OST Status Memory is set for personality. Tone Off unchecked. Use Channel Information as "None" checked. All OST decodes set as none and encode is your specific tone usage.

Lastly you have the up/down buttons as OST Up and OST Down as you have mentioned.

That is all I can think of and this is the way I program 5700s for fire service. Nobody has complained yet. Check over your programming and confirm your information is correct. Should just work.

Oh and is this a single band or multi band radio setup?

 

[jadonoff]

Not too hard to set up. Confirm the following on your multi PL repeater channels:

Personality > You have the common receive tone from the repeaters as decode. Encode should be set to none.

Optional Features 1 > Sub LCD Display set as OST (not required but handy to always know what tone you're on). Sub LCD Display Priority is set to high.

Optional Features 2 > OST Status Memory is set for personality. Tone Off unchecked. Use Channel Information as "None" checked. All OST decodes set as none and encode is your specific tone usage.

Lastly you have the up/down buttons as OST Up and OST Down as you have mentioned.

That is all I can think of and this is the way I program 5700s for fire service. Nobody has complained yet. Check over your programming and confirm your information is correct. Should just work.

Oh and is this a single band or multi band radio setup?

It's a single band set up. And I went through all those settings and they are exactly as you stated above.
Could it be a hardware issue?

Some ideas I have; input offset setup correctly in the 5700? Also are you using inverted DPLs and put it in as a normal DPL?

I had to google what an inverted dpl tone tbh. What I do know is the QT/DQT tones are correct if that is what you mean.
Not sure what input offset is ether so I couldn't say.

Update:
I tried reinstalling the firmware and reflashing the radio load with no change. I took a video of the symptoms and opened a ticket with kenwood support. I have a meeting with two of my local radio reps tomorrow for something else and they offered to help take a look so I'm hoping I get an answer. I appreciate everyone's input so far. Really hoping its just a learning curve issue and not a broken radio, really don't want to tell the Chief one of his engines is going to be out of service going into fire season.

 

[ramal121]

If other channels work correctly then there is no separate adjustment for OST nor would that indicate a hardware failure.

You could try this. Pick a solid repeater for you and put the encode tone into the personality. This will disable the ability to use OST. If this doesn't work you'll have to work on the personality until it does. If otherwise the channel works then the need to dig into this further as to why there is an issue for OST.

What version firmware are you sporting?

 

[tweiss3]

Why not skip the OST and just make a channel for each tone/repeater/area?

 

[dryfb]

Why not skip the OST and just make a channel for each tone/repeater/area?

This is what the depts in my area do for what seems like the same concept. 3 unlinked repeaters, all on the same frequency and same output tone, just different input tones. Specifically put the user's main area first, then talk around, then other areas.

 

[ramal121]

Three repeaters wouldn't be too bad. Fire services around here use a minimum of 16 tones, recommended to have a full 32 and many many repeater systems they would need to access for mutual aid. Logistic nightmare to put them all on separate channels.