Help with Radio
- Thread starter KF0SOP
- Start date
Best thing to do is to say this:
“Good afternoon. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa. I am a new ham and I would appreciate a radio check. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa in Olathe, Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa standing by.”
“Good afternoon. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa. I am a new ham and I would appreciate a radio check. This is Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa in Olathe, Kilo Foxtrot Zero Sierra Oscar Papa standing by.”
Say that when the repeater is idle / not being used. Don’t interrupt an ongoing conversation (QSO) for a radio check.
Do you hear the repeater respond after you unkey your radio? You should receive a short little bit of noise. If you're not hitting the repeater, then that would be your problem. Check the transmit frequency and ensure you're using the correct PL code. If the database is correct, your radio should be programmed as follows:
TX 144.87 MHz
RX 145.47 MHz
PL 151.4 Hz (analog)
Make sure the PL tone is on the transmit side, otherwise you'll never open the repeater. The repeater is listening for that PL tone and won't respond if it doesn't hear it.
TX 144.87 MHz
RX 145.47 MHz
PL 151.4 Hz (analog)
Make sure the PL tone is on the transmit side, otherwise you'll never open the repeater. The repeater is listening for that PL tone and won't respond if it doesn't hear it.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Where are yo when you are testing?
A hand held radio in a poor location, like inside a home or car, can have a really hard time reaching a repeater. You may be getting just enough signal into the repeater to trigger it, but your audio may be so bad that they cannot understand you.
If you've double/triple checked your programming, go outside, or get much closer to the repeater and see if it helps.
A hand held radio in a poor location, like inside a home or car, can have a really hard time reaching a repeater. You may be getting just enough signal into the repeater to trigger it, but your audio may be so bad that they cannot understand you.
If you've double/triple checked your programming, go outside, or get much closer to the repeater and see if it helps.
I tried outside, but it just goes through as static when I transmit. I contacted an operator via my Baofeng, and he reported that to me when I used my Yaesu. He said that if they are both on at the same time, there'll be interference because they are so close together, so that makes sense. But even when I'm on my Yaesu by itself, no signal gets through. Is there something I can do?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I'd send it back if it's still under warranty.
or,
Get an RF watt meter and a 50Ω dummy load and check the output power.
or,
Try another antenna
What assets do you have?
- Dummy Load
- SWR/Wattmeter
- Coax Jumper Cables
- Different Antennas (Yagi, High Gain Whip, etc.)
- Anything else?
What radios do you have? Just the VHF/UHF HT or do you have an HF rig too? Any other radios?
Check your menu setting to be sure you have high power selected. Try a better antenna.
Above are a dummy load and SWR/Wattmeter. Not the best in the world but something that will not break the bank while being 100% compatible with your HTs. For an HF station, you will need some different/additional equipment to do the same.
The dummy load will screw onto the SWR/Wattmeter but you will need a flexible coax cable between the SWR/Wattmeter and the HT. You might also need a coax adapter if the HT’s antenna jacks are different to interface with the coax cable.
This will get you started. In the long run, you will probably need a much larger dummy load when you become HF capable. The SWR/Wattmeter above does not cover HF so you will need another meter for HF.
Let us know if you have any questions. Also, others may chime in with alternate choices. I tried to keep costs to a bare minimum. If I were to recommend nicer equipment with better quality and better performance, you could be looking at spending hundreds of dollars. Should you wish to go that route, myself or someone else will suggest the better equipment.
I programmed them to the same frequency, and I managed to get a signal! Wasn't strong, but it was something!
You said that the signal “wasn’t strong” — is that from the Baofeng to the Yaesu, from the Yaesu to the Baofeng, or in both directions? If both HTs are 25 feet or less apart, the received signal should be very strong at both HTs. Was that the case?
