Motorola GP340 General help requested

[Fence_Judge]

Hi all

I'm a fence judge at local cross country events. We use two-way radios to comunicate with control, so that we can let everyone know whats happening out on the course. There are times however when fence judges don't get a radio (pricipally due to the cost of hiring), so I bought my own. The most common in use are Motorola GP340's, so that's what I bought. I already have a Yupiteru scanner, but it's not terribly robust or rain resistant. I also have the ribless usb cable and programming software for the GP340.

Now, the general help request. I can scan to find the radio frequency that the event uses, but the scanner dosn't give the Tone frequency (PL in Motorola parlance) How can I find that frequency or is it a case of trial and error using the 41 frequencies provided for in the GP340.

I hope I've made sense of this and that the wizzes out there can help. As you have probably realised I'm a complete novice at this so any info. (in single sylables would probably be best LOL) would be much appreciated.

 

[DPapay]

A good way would be to grab one of the existing gp340, read it into your computer, then clone your radio.

 

[Fence_Judge]

DPapay Good idea 'cus that's what I thought as well. Only one prob., I tried it at the comp. today but my Motorola software wasn't compatible with their radios!!!! It seems my software is a newer version codeplug ?? (What ever that is) I'm a newbie at this so I don't yet understand the terms and functions. When I asked the radiio suppliers what the tone code frequecy they used, they refused to tell me.

 

[C138NC]

How long have you worked with them? its probably because they dont want you to interfere in communications if they did not intend to give you one but hey thats just them.

Some digital scanners are able to pick up and decode the PL for you

 

[K8TEK]

DPapay Good idea 'cus that's what I thought as well. Only one prob., I tried it at the comp. today but my Motorola software wasn't compatible with their radios!!!! It seems my software is a newer version codeplug ?? (What ever that is) I'm a newbie at this so I don't yet understand the terms and functions. When I asked the radiio suppliers what the tone code frequecy they used, they refused to tell me.

If that is the case, your CPS is too old. CPS isn't forward compatible with radios containing firmware made after the CPS most of the time.

 

[DPapay]

Yeah, some radio shops can be protective of the information they give out, regarding "thier" customers. Can you ask the person who controls the radios if they know? Also, if the radios are just being rented, the freq may not always be the same. C138 is correct, some scanners will decode the TPL/DPL.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Hi all Now, the general help request. I can scan to find the radio frequency that the event uses, but the scanner dosn't give the Tone frequency (PL in Motorola parlance) How can I find that frequency or is it a case of trial and error using the 41 frequencies provided for in the GP340.

unless you have a scanner that can scan for and display a PL tone that a radio is transmitting you are out of luck and will have to do it by trial and error.

Some digital scanners are able to pick up and decode the PL for you

WOW. you got it right for a change... sorry mods i could not resist.

 

[DPapay]

Maybe he is not right, I am not sure. I just realized that when the scanner manufacturer states the scanner will do TPL/DPL decode, that might just mean you have to ENTER the code, then the scanner will decode it. It does not mean the scanner will just display a received code. Anyone else know?

 

[DPapay]

OptoElectronics makes a nice little decoder for FINDING codes.
DC442, just need to hook up to a receiver.

 

[kayn1n32008]

my vx-170, will do pl and dpl search.

if you know an ham radio operator he may be able to help you find the pl tone