Problem with anytone 578UVIII Plus

[jazzboypro]

Hello all,

Just received my anytone a few days ago. I'm having issues with DMR even if the code plug seems ok to me. The problem is that i can't reach any DMR repeaters. I decided to check on analog to see if i can get the radio to work.

The setup is as follow:

1- Anytone 578 and icom 9700 connected to a GP-3 via a coax switch.
2- 8600 connected to a discone that i use as my monitoring station.
3-Repeater used for test: VA2RLD 444.000+ T103.5

Test 1

-Coax switch positioned for 9700
-9700 power set to 3% (around 2.5W)
-8600 set to repeater output

When i key up the 9700 and can ear the repeater getting back to me on both the 9700 and 8600

Test 2

-Coax switch positioned for anytone 578
-Anytone power set to turbo (45W)
-8600 set to repeater input frequency (to confirm i'm putting out a signal)
-When i key up the anytone, the led goes red confirming tx and i can see the signal on the 8600
- 8600 set to repeater output frequency
- When i key up the anytone, the led goes red confirming tx but i don't get any answer from the repeater on the 8600

test 3

- Reverse ports on the antenna switch and repeat test 1 and 2 with the exact same results.


So my conclusions for now are:

- the coax switch is Ok
-The coax is ok
-The antenna is ok

I would like to add that this morning i listened to a net on analog FM so it appears that RX is working.

At the moment i can't reach any analog or DMR repeaters even though i should. I am wondering if the anytone is putting as much power as it should. Any other ideas ?

Many thanks
73 de va2fcs

 

[AB4BF]

Hello all,

Just received my anytone a few days ago. I'm having issues with DMR even if the code plug seems ok to me. The problem is that i can't reach any DMR repeaters. I decided to check on analog to see if i can get the radio to work.

The setup is as follow:

1- Anytone 578 and icom 9700 connected to a GP-3 via a coax switch.
2- 8600 connected to a discone that i use as my monitoring station.
3-Repeater used for test: VA2RLD 444.000+ T103.5

Test 1

-Coax switch positioned for 9700
-9700 power set to 3% (around 2.5W)
-8600 set to repeater output

When i key up the 9700 and can ear the repeater getting back to me on both the 9700 and 8600

Test 2

-Coax switch positioned for anytone 578
-Anytone power set to turbo (45W)
-8600 set to repeater input frequency (to confirm i'm putting out a signal)
-When i key up the anytone, the led goes red confirming tx and i can see the signal on the 8600
- 8600 set to repeater output frequency
- When i key up the anytone, the led goes red confirming tx but i don't get any answer from the repeater on the 8600

test 3

- Reverse ports on the antenna switch and repeat test 1 and 2 with the exact same results.


So my conclusions for now are:

- the coax switch is Ok
-The coax is ok
-The antenna is ok

I would like to add that this morning i listened to a net on analog FM so it appears that RX is working.

At the moment i can't reach any analog or DMR repeaters even though i should. I am wondering if the anytone is putting as much power as it should. Any other ideas ?

Many thanks
73 de va2fcs

Does your repeater have DCS or CTCSS tones to open it? If so, determine the codes and enter them for the analog side. You may also have to enter codes for both transmit and receive if the repeater also uses a code to open the receive part of the radio.

On the DMR side, if I remember correctly, there may be a small box on the digital page that you may have to uncheck or check which ever the case may be to get the radio to perform on DMR. I'm going to check my programming sometime today or tonight to refresh my memory as to which it is. In the meantime, someone else may have a better memory than mine (I'm sure they do, lol) and can give quicker better instructions than me.

Good Luck and 73!!

 

[jazzboypro]

On the 578 chanel configuration, the tone is configured exactly like it is on the 9700. There is no receive tone. This is the repeater i'm using.



This is the channel config on the 578

 

[AB4BF]

On the 578 chanel configuration, the tone is configured exactly like it is on the 9700. There is no receive tone. This is the repeater i'm using.

View attachment 185483

This is the channel config on the 578

View attachment 185487

Turn the CTCSS/DCS Decode ON to CTCSS and if the drop down needs it put in the 103.5 also. I can't remember if mine has anything entered on the right side at custom CTCSS. Yours is 251.1. See if you can enter zero or a blank space. That might be confusing the programming, IDK.

On your 8600, enter the transmit frequency, 449.0000 and see if you are transmitting. Separate the radios before you transmit or reduce the power on the 578.

Again, Good Luck and 73!

 

[AB4BF]

Turn the CTCSS/DCS Decode ON to CTCSS and if the drop down needs it put in the 103.5 also. I can't remember if mine has anything entered on the right side at custom CTCSS. Yours is 251.1. See if you can enter zero or a blank space. That might be confusing the programming, IDK.

On your 8600, enter the transmit frequency, 449.0000 and see if you are transmitting. Separate the radios before you transmit or reduce the power on the 578.

Again, Good Luck and 73!

Forget the custom CTCSS. It comes up as a random number on mine and doesn't affect the tones entered unless chosen.

 

[jazzboypro]

On he channel config i chose CTSS on both TX and RX and a value of 103.5. I confirm from the 8600 that the 578 is transmitting.

 

[AB4BF]

On he channel config i chose CTSS on both TX and RX and a value of 103.5. I confirm from the 8600 that the 578 is transmitting.

Did you hit the repeater?

 

[jazzboypro]

No i am not with the 578 but it works fine with the 9700.

 

[jazzboypro]

There has been some developments. While having a beer and enjoying the weather i realized that all my tests were done with UHF analog and DMR repeaters. I went and programmed all my VHF analog repeaters and to my surprise they are working. Unfortunately all the VHF DMR repeaters are too far for me to reach so i can't test that part.

The state of affairs is:

1- Having a beer is an interesting troubleshooting tool
2- VHF analog repeaters work fine but can't test VHF DMR repeaters
3 - UHF analog and DMR repeaters are not working (can't reach them)

Will continue testing tomorrow. In the mean time i'm listening for suggestions.

 

[jazzboypro]

Found my problem. I had forgotten that the antenna switch was connected to a 144/440 duplexer and it was the 2 meter port that was connected to the radio. That's why only VHF was working. The radio is now directly connected to the switch and both VHF/UHF are working. I can now go back and work on the DMR side of things.