Tait Programming Assistance

[webby52]

Forgive me if I picked the wrong forum...We have 2 ambulances both have /\/\ Spectra A9 100w dual head remote mount radios VHF. I inquired with my local radio vendor who suggests that since the Spectra can not narrow band, we should replace the radio with a Tait TM8250 40w (dual head) as the /\/\ solution would be costly as we'd have to buy two radios. I was told the Tait would do everything the Spectra could do, (I mean it was made in 1991) Encode, Decode MDC and PTT Side Tone, as the drivers are used to hearing the beep before they talk which prevents them front end clipping and talking over the CWID from the communications center on the simplex channel.Of course I trust my vendor and go ahead a have him install one of Taits. Its suppose to have MDC1200. I get the radios and they are looking pretty sharp, the software is almost user friendly, but the issue is it will send the MDC but it does not receive (decode) the incoming MDC. I don't believe it can store any alias databases and after being on hold with Tait tech yesterday they tell me that even though I have the AUDIBLE SIDE TONE checked, the radio will not beep like I want it too. Of course the TM9100 model does this, so my question is, does anyone out there have any programming experience with the TM8200? I think I need to get into the greyed out menu for Channels> Signalling Preset Tab> Tones Settings> "Channel Lead-in Tone" ?? Proceed to talk has been enabled in audio settings of UI Preferences in Global settings, I can live without the decode option really but I need the "beep" audio before transmission because members are so used to it, they think the radio isn't transmitting...any help would be appreciated.

 

[KJ4NFP]

I have not messed around with TAIT very much. I do however spend a lot of time with Kenwood. You currently have 100w mobiles, but if you don't need that much horsepower, Kenwood makes the "7180" which is a 45w mobile and it does MDC decode/encode out of the box. If you need the extra push, the TK-790 is a 110w unit and you can install the optional MDC board. The 790 with the add on board will not decode the ID's for the end user as far as I know. I am using the 7180 in a rural, mountainous area and it works flawlessly.


RJC
KJ4NFP

 

[webby52]

Well since not much help here, and Tait never got back to me, I pretty much put them in the same category as mother /\/\ and think the radio sucks. You would think that they would at least offer the same technologies as the main rival. I am just going to reprogram the radio with DTMF, because that will at least allow the operator to hear the signalling go over and not allow them to talk while its transmitting, thus eliminating the front clip. At this point looking for a new radio vendor as well...