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EFJ Challenger info?

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Otis413

Otis413

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May 10, 2013
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72
Location
Cass WVa
I recently acquired two EF Johnson Challenger radios, a 7164 8ch 45W VHF model, and what appears to be a "Mix and Match" 7186, 99ch 15w UHF. I also found the software online.

Info on these radios online seems to be a bit sparse, I found a little on Repeater Builders, some on CCDX.com and radionerds.com, so far the Yahoo group everybody links to seems to have fallen into disuse, I requested to join a while back but never heard back from them. I'v been programming my own Motorola and Kenwood LMR radios for a while now so I'm familiar with DOS/RSS. I'm building a RIB as soon as the parts get here.

Questions about the Challenger radios;

What's the difference between the "Challenger" and the "Challenger Plus" radios?

What's involved in swapping in a 99ch audio Logic board in place of a 8ch board?

Is there anything "odd" about the EFJ software I should know about? (Compared to the Motorola or Kenwood RSS?)

Any tips or advice is appreciated, thanks in advance!

Otis
KD8VBV

Sources I'v found so far:

EF Johnson Challenger Series Mods

EF Johnson Challenger Series Information - RadioNerds

EF Johnson Information Index
 
Otis413

Otis413

Member
Joined
May 10, 2013
Messages
72
Location
Cass WVa
Is anyone here a member of the yahoo group "EF Johnson Radios and Parts" , I need any VHF Challenger (715x or 716x) manuals and/or info on Programming and swapping audio/Logic boards.

Example: When programming channels, what is the three digit number beside the two letter code for the PL Tone?? (000 by default)
 
Otis413

Otis413

Member
Joined
May 10, 2013
Messages
72
Location
Cass WVa
Anyone?? Anything??

The Yahoo groups that are always linked too "for more information" have all been worse then useless, if you're going to have a restricted group, check you d**ned join requests and/or email once in a f**king blue moon or so...

If anyone is interested, I'll post what I find out through trial and error (and dumb luck).
 
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