Kenwood TK-380 Programming help, and questions.

[RubberBanned]

So, I'm still around with these radios, and now after getting a little more knowledge, and a cheaper bangaround radio, I'm ready to actually program this trunking style radio. In the time they've sat, two of the batteries are no good, and as such I am down to one radio. Anyway, I'm getting a programming cable shortly, but I would like to know where to find my model number.

Sorry for the threadromancy.

-RB

 

[kayn1n32008]

So, I'm still around with these radios, and now after getting a little more knowledge, and a cheaper bangaround radio, I'm ready to actually program this trunking style radio. In the time they've sat, two of the batteries are no good, and as such I am down to one radio. Anyway, I'm getting a programming cable shortly, but I would like to know where to find my model number.



Sorry for the threadromancy.



-RB

Model number is under the battery. Once you get the cable, reading the radio will give you the model number as well.

 

[matty909]

Do these radios program by channel slots or zones because on mine i can select a channel with the knob then select other channels under it by using the "b" or "c" button on the front

 

[kayn1n32008]

Do these radios program by channel slots or zones because on mine i can select a channel with the knob then select other channels under it by using the "b" or "c" button on the front

They keys are programable. You choose a function from a list of avalible functions. The radio does something like 250 channels amd 128 zones(I think) been a while since I played with mine, it has been retired, more or less, in favor of a newer UHF DMR radio.

 

[searchrescueff]

The TK-X80 series radios are 250 channel radios over a spread of 250 groups. (I just had my TK-280 on the computer before I caught this post) You can have all 250 channels in 1 zone, or spread across several zones.

The top knob and all buttons (except PTT) are user programmable. Scan, scan delete, channel up, channel down, monitor, back light, and LO power are just a few of the options you have.

It's a tough Radio and hard to brick. I got my KPG-36 Cable from Kawamall on Ebay. Awesome aftermarket cables. And the software is easy to navigate.

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[searchrescueff]

Oh, and yes. These radios will go down into the ham bands. It needs to be the right band split on the UHF radios though. You will get a warning when programming that the frequency is out of range, but a click of the enter key will get rid of that box and your frequency will still be there.

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[matty909]

I have a 470-512mhz, can that go down to the 464 range? And got lucky on ebay and got the cable plus the kpg-49d and loaded it up to my windows 10 on the hp stream and it opens up just fine

 

[searchrescueff]

The Type 2 model (470-512 split) "might" go down to 464, but not the ham bands. The type 1 model (450-490 split) will program down to around 440.

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[searchrescueff]

And my "might" comes from the fact I've not had much experience programming the UHF models. And how it sounds and receives is something that you'll need a radio shop to work on. If you plan to transmit below the split range, it'll need to be realigned and adjusted, or tuned, for that frequency range.

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[matty909]

Ok. Im not very familiar with Kenwood but i know Motorola has TPT and mdc1200, do these radios have any features like that because i have seen the ptt id box? Also can it be used on conventional simplex? I think 2 channels are trunked because when i key the radio i have to wait for a beep to talk or i get an alarm and have to try again before a friend can hear me (he works as a freelance reporter and his company got new radios so he gave me a old radio so we can use them together on scenes and around la/oc/riverside counties)

 

[searchrescueff]

Kenwood has Fleetsync, and YES, this radio will do Fleetsync. You'll have to make sure you have Fleetsync selected for it to work. (Under model tab)

It will do both conventional, simplex and repeater channels, and trunking.

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[matty909]

And if both radios have a id and fleetsync activie that enables selective calling as well correct?

 

[searchrescueff]

With the 80 series radios, I'm not entirely sure how that works. The radios will send the id and show incoming id's I know. I've never really messed with the Selcall feature on these radios. Only on its successor, the x180 series radios, have I done that.

But I would say yes, it should do it. As long as you have a key set for Selcall function.

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