CP200XLS & Repeater Programming

[trwmodela]

Macon County, North Carolina uses 6 different Towers/Repeaters for Emergency Communication. The main Fire dispatch frequency is 453.3500. I talked to one of the paid Firefighters at Cowee Fire & Rescue earlier this week. They can switch on their portables between Repeaters depending on the location for TX & RX. I only use my CP200XLS for monitoring since it does much better then my Minitor IV.

Is it necessary to program different repeaters in my radio depending on where I may be in the County? Or does my radio just receive the strongest signal anyway? I am closest to Franklin Tower 1 most of the time and my reception is strong and clear. When dispatch transmits on Highlands Tower the signal is the weakest. But, if I was in Highlands I assume it would be loud and clear.

FYI...Macon County is a mountainous area with plenty of valleys and 3000-5000 foot elevations.

 

[KG4INW]

From looking at the RR DB, they appear to simply have several discrete repeaters available and you'd have to manually switch when you're in that area. Otherwise, perhaps they have satellite receivers to help increase coverage but either way, you'd still just program all the repeaters in normally and manually switch them. There's no kind of automatic switching that takes place in the CP200XLS.

 

[trwmodela]

Does it make sense to program repeaters into the radio if it is only used for RX? It seems to receive from all of the Towers just some are weaker depending on my location at the time.

 

[KG4INW]

For RX only, no need to program in the input (TX). Yes, that makes sense with regards to signal strength.

 

[hollywoodjr62]

Monitor Mode

How does one program monitor mode into the CP200XLS so it does not have open squelch. Silent monitor mode is what i believe it's called. There is no option in the drop down box, only "monitor" and "sticky monitor" and they are open squelch. Thanks

 

[SteveC0625]

How does one program monitor mode into the CP200XLS so it does not have open squelch. Silent monitor mode is what i believe it's called. There is no option in the drop down box, only "monitor" and "sticky monitor" and they are open squelch. Thanks

Open a code plug or read your radio.

Then click on View and select Expert, not Basic.

Go into General Settings and there should be a drop down box, 4th from the top that says Monitor Type. There are two choices: Open Squelch and Silent. Select Silent, write to the radio and save a copy of your new codeplug.

FWIW, many folks like open squelch as a monitor choice because it's an easy way to quickly verify your receive volume setting without looking at the radio.