Newbie not getting out.

[Paulster]

Howdy all, some time ago I decided I'd like to dabble in the world of HAM radio...a recently retired engineer, I found my fishing skills failed to keep me occupied in my 'golden years'.
I started off by purchasing a TID Radio H8 HAM. It was suggested this might be a good way to kick off.
It was fun learning how to program it with CHIRP.
I located and wrote the Australian UHF CB radio channels...I was after all 'good buddy' way back .
All looked good, all 80 channels displayed, all with the correct frequencies. I could hear discussions clearly....ah the memories
My smiles soon changed when I hit the PTT button the nice prompting lady yelled at me..."CANCEL' she says. On every channel I tried.
I was beginning to dislike that lady a lot.
Any ideas as to what I have done wrong and, more importantly how can I correct it?

Thanks
Paul
Queensland
Australia.
RC05Q (My old callsign from 1976!)

 

[jwt873]

I took a quick look at the TID radio site. It appears that there are two version of the H8 amateur (ham) radio. One is locked and the other is unlocked.

You might have a locked version which will only transmit on the ham bands. (144-148 MHz and 430-450 MHz. Locked radios will receive the Australian CB UHF band, but will not transmit on those frequencies. (And for info.. To transmit on the ham bands, you require an operator's license).

The reason they sell locked radios is that in many countries they aren't legal to use outside the ham bands. This keeps people honest.. CB radios in many countries require government type approval which these radios can't meet.

 

[Paulster]

Thank you for your quick and comprehensive reply.
In purchasing the Tid Radio 8H I was attracted by the 10 watt output, this is twice what most CB Radios in Australia operate at.
To find now that I am prevented from TX'ing on the CB spectrum is quite disappointing...I did some more research.
There are a number of Youtube videos giving instructions on how to unlock the H8 to allow it to operate, RX & TX on a number of HAM frequencies.
However I do understand, and respect, the legalities, the worldwide requirement of requiring a license before proceeding that way...I do hope to achieve the necessary license in the near future.
As mentioned, I uploaded the Australian 80 UHF channels via CHIRP, only to find I am unable to transmit.
I tried manually entering several of the frequencies into the radio and found them to work correctly, transmitting and receiving!
This suggests to me that the downloaded CHIRP information might be the issue...it appears possible that I can enter all 80 of the frequencies by hand but this is a little daunting, with this in mind could you suggest a setting in CHIRP that could impact on my ability to transmit?

Thanks again.
Paul

 

[doriboni]

Can't use the manufacturer's software? (to see any error messages)

TD-H8 (HAM)

tidradio

walkietalkiesoftware.com

 

[jwt873]

Just took another peek at the TID radio page for the H8.. Apparently it can be switched between locked ham, unlocked ham, and locked GMRS. It's just a matter of pressing buttons. (I missed that the first time I looked).

Press and hold the * key, the # key and the PTT button at the same time..

See here --> Latest Gen! TIDRADIO H8 Ham Radio

 

[Tonyw1922]

Hello, not sure if you have figured out how to switch between gmrs and ham and unlocked. Here you go turn off the radio hold the ptt button, the talk button. While pressing and holding the * button and turning the radio on then let go once the radio is on. You will see it ask if you want to open it in gmrs select the menu button for yes or exit for no. Now you will repeat the same steps turn off the radio hold down the ptt button and the 0 number zero button and turn on the radio this time it will ask do you want to use the ham radio menu for yes and the exit for no. And the last is the same way turn off the radio press the ptt button and the # button hold them down and turn on the radio it will ask if you want to unlock it press menu for yes and exit for no. Hope this helps.

 

[KE5MC]

...snip...
As mentioned, I uploaded the Australian 80 UHF channels via CHIRP, only to find I am unable to transmit.
I tried manually entering several of the frequencies into the radio and found them to work correctly, transmitting and receiving!
This suggests to me that the downloaded CHIRP information might be the issue...it appears possible that I can enter all 80 of the frequencies by hand but this is a little daunting, with this in mind could you suggest a setting in CHIRP that could impact on my ability to transmit?

Thanks again.
Paul

Across the spectrum of different companies and their models sold, CHIRP does not work well for all. I'm not saying your model is one of the models that has a problem with CHIRP. Nor is it wide spread. Just the possibility CHIRP is mishandling the data transfer or a needed function in the application is missing.
Good Luck with your journey, I hope it goes well.
Mike

 

[Radiochika]

Across the spectrum of different companies and their models sold, CHIRP does not work well for all.

Hi! Please, tell me, does it work for Baofeng radios if you know of course I mean cheap Baofeng like UV 3 R, BF 88e...

 

[KE5MC]

My comment is based on following this forum and QRZ for persons reporting difficulties with CHIRP. I use RTS System programming for my needs. As a pay to use any problems I have had the issue was addressed and fixed.

So directly I can’t help with Baofeng. They are popular and if there was a wide spread issue I expect it to be known. I think the biggest issue is matching the correct version of CHIRP to a model number. Cheap asian radios are based on a limited number of chip sets, but several name variants and features. Easy to mismatch programming to radio and have bad results. Or for CHIRP developers keeping up with variants.

My 2cents…