Programming 2 tone for on duty and off suty

donrcollins · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 02:02 PM

I have searched the threads and still come up clueless. I would like to change our radios to have channel 16 as a off duty (no traffic until tone) and channel 1 to be the on duty with normal radio traffic and still have the alert tones to make sure we are paying attention.

I have to software for the VX-180 radio, CE44 and I am currently waiting for a promised copy of the software for our VX-354 radios. I would assume the setup would be the same, so if some can educate me on the process for the VX-180, I'll figure it out for the VX-354.

I've read over the help files and read "If a user needs to be able to switch between "On-Duty" and "Off-Duty" modes, two channels can be used - one for each mode." So I should be able to set the up, but understand nothing at all about programming the radios. All I've used the CE44 program for is to copy radio to radio, change the Power ON tag so it;s an ID for who's radio and change a couple of frequencies here and there.

We appreciate any help on the matter.

donrcollins · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 12:57 AM

Anyone? Please... I still need the CE86 program as well

silverbk · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 09:43 AM

It is not good form to ask for programming software here. Some boards will ban you outright. The only place to get it legally is from a Vertex dealer. Any dealer will sell it to you for about $29.00.

That being said, to answer your question, you will need to program two different tone setups on the tone page. They will of course have the same tone values and timing, the only difference is one will have on duty selected. Then in your frequencies set one for channel 1 for the on duty tone setup and channel 16 for the off duty setup.

donrcollins · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 11:06 AM

Sorry to break form etiquette, meant no harm. I found a website that offers free downloads for most of the Vertex software, so why would be far off to expect someone to know of a site that offers the CE86 free as well.

I really appreciate the help with the programming. My problem is, I see where to change the on duty and off duty setting, but it seems to be an option to set once for all channels. I do not see how to set it specifically for each individual channel. Thanks again for any help.

silverbk · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 01:25 PM

You are correct, after reviewing the software. I do not see any way to change the of duty/on duty by channel.

I would leave it as on duty and use the monitor switch to set the silent paging, if possible. I will have to get one of my 350s back from the field to experiment further.

donrcollins · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 02:55 PM

What's confusing to me is, in my first post I copied and pasted a statement out of the help file that states you can use 2 channels to set this up. It's kind of kicking my butt right now

lbfd09 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 10:12 PM

We normally hush up at our station when tones are being sent. I have the VX-180 HT's and see one can set the HT's to operate like this (you may change the channels as you wish)--

Ch 1 OnDuty open receive and Xmit, in scan bank
Ch 16 OffDuty pager tones set, Priority on, in scan bank

When on duty for those that want more bells and whistles to activate, just monitor ch 1 in scan mode with 16 picking up the tones I think that should work. One could also choose not to reset the tones after morning ring down tests, and listen in on ch 16 (enabling the xmit). Most HTs will not monitor with the ring down tones active, those are considered a way to hush out the radio traffic until needed.

Option #3 may be getting a Minitor or Plectron type pager.

donrcollins · #8 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 11:47 PM

I think my problem is, and I seem to not be able to communicate it properly, but I am very radio programming illiterate. I do not see how to set channel 1 to on duty and set channel 16 to off duty. I've tried setting ch 16 to priority and off duty where ch 1 is the same frequency. Ch 16 is priority, so i never hear any traffic on ch 1 or ch 16 until alerted.

firefighter89 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 07:58 PM

We use VX-354's and VX-180's. Our dispatch channel is Ch. 1 and it's set to off duty. If we want to monitor the traffic and transmit, press the monitor key. Set one of your key functions to monitor, so you don't have to waste channel space programming the same frequency twice.

donrcollins · #10 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 09:38 PM

That would make sense... don't know why I didn't try that. Thanks.