MCS2000 CPS Programming for Repeaters (PL/DPL Tones)

[DougTucker]

I'm having trouble programming my MCS2000 for repeaters and could use some assistance. I have successfully programmed specific channels with no PL tones, and can transmit and receive clearly. However, when I try programming PL tones, I cannot hit the repeater, and cannot hear traffic from the repeater. I need some assistance navigating the screens in the software.
Here's some background info:
Software & Hardware:

• MCS2000 Ver. R02.02.00
• USB cable (MCS2000 FTDI USB Serial Cable)
• Windows XP, 32 bit

Software Settings for Personality:
1. General: Frequency, DPL, codes per repeater owner
2. RX Options: Standard (I tried different settings with same results)
3. TX Options: 3.4 kHz (I tried different settings with same results)
4. Direct/Talkaround [ ] (un-checked)
5. Signaling (None)
6. Secure (no settings)
7. Phone (None)
8. Smart PTT: Disabled
9. Scan (None)
10. VRM (nothing)
11. Advanced: (nothing selected)

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer.
~Doug T. WRFL449

 

[rescue161]

Are you sure the repeater is transmitting the same tone as the receive? The reason I ask is that one of my repeaters uses DCS on the input and PL on the out. Did the repeater owner specifically say standard on the output of the repeater? What did he mean by standard? Are you sure you have the correct code for the input?

 

[DougTucker]

Are you sure the repeater is transmitting the same tone as the receive? The reason I ask is that one of my repeaters uses DCS on the input and PL on the out. Did the repeater owner specifically say standard on the output of the repeater? What did he mean by standard? Are you sure you have the correct code for the input?

KE4FHH, I am programming my radio for several repeaters and have not had success with any of them. One has DCS in and PL out. The others are DPL tones. And a third one is PL, with the same tone in and out. The repeater owner only provided the frequency in, frequency out, PL in, and PL out. All the other settings are Motorola settings that are not specified by the repeater owner. I have programmed Kenwood and other radios successfully using the information provided by the repeater owner. There are settings in Motorola programming that do not exist for other radios, and I believe it’s one of those settings that are blocking me from communicating with the repeater.

 

[rescue161]

The MCS2000 is a strange bird as far as the channels go. You need to also make sure that you put the channels into a zone (I think that what it's called in this series). You can program the channel info, but if you don't assign it to a zone, you'll be talking on whatever was previously programmed. I assume you are using CPS, but the RSS is even worse.

 

[cmjonesinc]

If you want to post your codeplug and a list of what you're trying to program, I'd be happy to take a look.

 

[DougTucker]

If you want to post your codeplug and a list of what you're trying to program, I'd be happy to take a look.

Hi cmjonesinc. Is there a way to private message so I can email the file? Given that some repeaters are private, I would prefer to limit the distribution.
rescue161, I did figure out the personalities, and assigning those to a channel, and placing them into a zone. That was my first success, and I'm able to successfully talk on simplex. The part where I'm hung up is the PL tone programming. There's something (perhaps in another setting) that's blocking or altering the tone success.

 

[cmjonesinc]

Pm sent

 

[DougTucker]

I’m following up on this to confirm that after much trial and error I was able to get my Motorola radio working just fine with repeaters. An earlier test indicated that it had very little signal (low wattage). After trying it with different antennas and power sources, it now works successfully. Things that did not work before now suddenly work. Maybe it just needed to wake up a little bit. Thank you all for your guidance while I got these radios working.

 

[cmjonesinc]

Glad you got it going!