Kenwood FPU 89D Test mode open/ tight squelch not adjustable.

[UTLForlife]

Okay, so I've got a TK 7180 in test mode with an open squelch of 67 and tight squelch of 64.. I need those settings to be around 136 and 200 respectively. The kpg 89D test mode is not letting me adjust the squelch settings.. the data adjustment buttons are "grayed out" and the slider is not movable. Other setting are adjustable in test mode, just not the squelch or RSSI settings. Thoughts on how to fix this would be appreciated.. the radio firmware is up to date, v1.22 checksum: 035C and the FPU is v1.02.

 

[mmckenna]

Are you injecting a signal from your service monitor?

 

[UTLForlife]

Are you injecting a signal from your service monitor?

Ah no I am not.. could you walk me through that a bit?

 

[mmckenna]

Ah no I am not.. could you walk me through that a bit?

Do you have a signal generator or a service monitor?

 

[UTLForlife]

Do you have a signal generator or a service monitor?

I don't have one, do you have any advice on where to find one or what I'm looking for? I appreciate your time sir.

 

[tweiss3]

iirc the numbers in test mode are just for calibration, and not RSSI values. You need proper test equipment to input a signal at -120 and adjust accordingly per the service manual.

 

[UTLForlife]

iirc the numbers in test mode are just for calibration, and not RSSI values. You need proper test equipment to input a signal at -120 and adjust accordingly per the service manual.

I'm assuming that's the same on the squelch settings then.. there's no way to set it from the face plate either like on the x90 series?

 

[mmckenna]

I don't have one, do you have any advice on where to find one or what I'm looking for? I appreciate your time sir.

Neither are cheap pieces of test equipment. You'd be much better off paying the money to send it to a radio shop that handles Kenwood radios and have them do an alignment on it. That'll bring it back to factory specs using the correct test equipment.
You'd be looking at 30 minutes to an hour of bench time, which should be less than $100. In exchange, you'll get a radio that works to factory specs like it was brand new.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm assuming that's the same on the squelch settings then.. there's no way to set it from the face plate either like on the x90 series?

I don't have my KPG-89 on this computer, but see if you can program a key for "Squelch Level". That will let you adjust squelch on the fly. If I get some time today, I'll grab my programming laptop and double check the software.

 

[AM909]

Yes, you can program a Squelch Level key. It lets you set the squelch level 0-9 with a default of 5. I haven't used it, but similar settings on other makes/models seem to be either too coarse or too fine. Keep in mind that squelch settings on VHF can be kind of variable, too, depending on the exact channel.

 

[mmckenna]

Right, just got in the shop and pulled up my KPG-89. Squelch Level is one of the button functions that can be chosen. Hit the button and use the right side up/down arrows to adjust the coarse squelch level. I've got an old TK-3180 set up with that.

No, not as good as actually having the radio aligned, but it is free...