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Programming Issues with IC-F3/4

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ksat

Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
Hi All...

Wondered if someone a bit smarter about this than myself can help me troubleshoot an issue I'm having with my recently procured IC-F3 and F4 radios..

My non-profit purchased 11 radios for use with an existing repeater system within our township. I've programmed one and cloned the image to each radio. About 5 of the 11 can communicate with the local repeater and the other 6 can not at all - no TX/RX at all. Again, they were all cloned from the same image.

I've also programmed 2 Motorola P1225 with the same frequency information and there is no issues communicating with the repeater and back to the radio (Moto and the ICOM).

I'm at a loss as to what else I'm looking for. Can any of you help me out, please?

Thanks!
KSAT
 

grumps96

Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
76
Location
Massachusetts
Hi Brother, You say only five radios work after programming. are all the radios the same IE: do they all have the same model numbers like IC-F3-? the question mark indicates a suffix that denotes the radios frequency
range. also F3 radios are VHF and F4 are UHF.
 

ksat

Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
I believe all of the radios are F3S-2's... I do have 1 F4S-2 that is currently on the bench being repair, but, has the programmed the same as all the others and is VHF - not UHF.
 

dwh367

Amateur Radio Operator
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
506
Location
Owensboro, KY (Daviess County)
I would go through each one that doesn't work and reread them with the software just to make sure that the programming didn't get corrupted somehow during the cloning process.
 

iamhere300

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
1,346
Location
Chappell Hill TX
I believe all of the radios are F3S-2's... I do have 1 F4S-2 that is currently on the bench being repair, but, has the programmed the same as all the others and is VHF - not UHF.

I am confused. The F4S is UHF.

I assume all of these were bought used - how do you know they were all working properly?
 

ksat

Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Hamilton, Ohio
dwh - good idea. In fact, I've started down this road already and had attempted to reprogram each one by cloning. Same results.

iamhere: Yes, they were all purchased used. I've programmed all of them with the same set of VHF frequencies. Channel 1 uses a repeater, the other 4 are basic marine channels with a private code. All of the radios operate fine on 2-5 but several of them are not connecting to and utilizing the repeater for whatever reason.

I'm not sure about the F4S either - It has been programmed and is operating fine on the VHF frequencies except for channel 1. I'm not too terribly concerned with this one at the moment as it's on the workbench getting a new base plate.
 

grumps96

Member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
76
Location
Massachusetts
Hi, If the radios are working except for connecting to a repeater, there may be an issue with the CTCSS, or DTCS, so read each radio and make sure that transmit tones are the same on those that are working and those that ar not. Even though you have an F4S that you say is working on VHF, it must have had the innards changed to F3, and the F4 label was not changed.
 

dwh367

Amateur Radio Operator
Joined
Mar 17, 2003
Messages
506
Location
Owensboro, KY (Daviess County)
iamhere: Yes, they were all purchased used. I've programmed all of them with the same set of VHF frequencies. Channel 1 uses a repeater, the other 4 are basic marine channels with a private code. All of the radios operate fine on 2-5 but several of them are not connecting to and utilizing the repeater for whatever reason.

I'm not sure about the F4S either - It has been programmed and is operating fine on the VHF frequencies except for channel 1. I'm not too terribly concerned with this one at the moment as it's on the workbench getting a new base plate.

Sounds like either a repeater offset and/or CTCSS/DCS problem on Channel 1. Speaking of CTCSS/DCS, why program a CTCSS/DCS on the marine channels when OEM marine radios (insert brand name here) are all carrier squelched and don't even offer the option of CTCSS/DCS? If you need to contact the Coast Guard on Channel 16 or 22A (for example) and you don't have one of the option buttons programmed for "monitor" (or you forget to press said button to put it in monitor mode) you're not going to hear them reply to you.
 
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stilako

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
4
Location
Williams Lake, BC, Canada
Hi All...

Wondered if someone a bit smarter about this than myself can help me troubleshoot an issue I'm having with my recently procured IC-F3 and F4 radios..

My non-profit purchased 11 radios for use with an existing repeater system within our township. I've programmed one and cloned the image to each radio. About 5 of the 11 can communicate with the local repeater and the other 6 can not at all - no TX/RX at all. Again, they were all cloned from the same image.

I've also programmed 2 Motorola P1225 with the same frequency information and there is no issues communicating with the repeater and back to the radio (Moto and the ICOM).

I'm at a loss as to what else I'm looking for. Can any of you help me out, please?

Thanks!
KSAT
Perhaps a bit late. I suggest you put one frequency in the units that don't work (the Tx and Rx the same -- simplex) -- could use the output frequency of your repeater. Once you have done that, try having the radios talk to each other, to see if each of them is receiving and transmitting. By doing it simplex, direct radio-to-radio, you cut out the double-frequency bit of the repeater, and distance of transmission. If they DO work at that level, also try changing antennae, microphones if you are using them. Don't know what your power supply is, but if using the tray with AA batteries, make sure there's no corrosion, no reversals of how the batteries are to be installed. Could also try changing battery packs with ones that work. Good luck.
 
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