TK-2170 into a pager

[Raptor05121]

Yes if you cycle through the channels it will beep when it returns home. It also beeps every time you change groups. no idea on the light on with the channel. I've never seen an option to my knowledge and in reality, sounds like it would be unnecessary

 

[brasstownvfd]

Similar problem

My local dispatch installed a new radio system about 8 weeks ago. Since that time my pager option quit functioning. Kenwood 2170. Previosly it worked just fine. Dispatch doesn't know what was changed, tech says my radios are programmed wrong. Tech changed my program and now pager function is 'open channel' not a pager anymore. I have just tried the instructions previous in this post. What could have happened? The tones are supposed to be 539.0/510.5 (actually measured at 548.8/496.7
Any ideas?

 

[jrw14493]

In the Zone Information change optional signaling to "and" instead of "or."

If you're not able to figure it out, let me know and I'll get you my email address and you can email me the file and I'll make the changes and email it back with the changes outlined.

Also, how were you measuring the tones?

 

[brasstownvfd]

measured the tones

JRW you called it right. Changed to 'and' then input the code frequencies that were measured and it worked perfectly. The actual codes broadcast were measered by Bob Grove owner of Grove Enterprises, a radio-commutications equipment supplier. He had recently acquired a program to measere everything about a signal. THe dispatch insists they have programmed the Motorola code ''198" which should be my pager tones, but the signal broadcast is too far from the correct tone frequencies, and thus my radio wouldn't 'open'. I switched to the 'and' setting and still no joy. Entered the actual measured tones and it worked.
So I have to convince a know it all (actually knowledheable tech) that his setup is flawed, not my radios.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that my Fire District lies in 2 countiel and we are dispatched by both. Some tones, different frequencies. I could just reprogam for the one county but can I set each channel differently to accomodate both counties, like AB on one channel and CD on the other.
I'd like to just get the tech's who installed the system to correct the problem but have no power over the vendor. 2 other stations in the county are also wrong. Members with a good ear can tell the tones were changed.

 

[jrw14493]

Ahhhhhh, Ok. Love politics. My county is just a couple months from switching to a 800 p25 trunk system...the problems are abound and I know exactly what you're talking about

I used a 396xt to decode my pager tones about a year ago and found them to be off from what was programmed in the district's pagers. Not that I trust the 396's decoding...

The lower end Kenwood's do have a problem decoding at lower levels though. We did a setup for a local FD with a TK-7302 decoding and then using the aux port on the back on the radio for shutting off gas valves and turning on lights in the station. Even at full quieting, the radio wouldn't decode the tones. One was in the 300 range and the other was in the 900 range. Calling Kenwood tech support they told us that the lower end radios are just that, lower end and if we wanted this setup to work we'd have to replace the 7302 with a higher tier radio. We did that and problem went away.

However, I would expect the 2170 to not have this problem. I never had a problem with mine not decoding pager tones, no matter where I was. But if its programmed for tones that the console is not putting out then I think we know where the problem is.

Did this happen to coincide with a narroband transition?

 

[brasstownvfd]

Great quote

Thanks for taking the time JRW. I have copied a great quote about if I'm programmed to what the console isn't broadcasting then we know where the problem is. I have sent the information to the Dispatch director but since it's under the Sherrif's office we get hind tit.
This has not been as a result of narrow banding, one of my counties did that about 3 months ago without mishap, we just had to reprogram.
My primary county last week added CAD console and i expect we will return to the dispatch of the 1970's where the Chief discharged his handgun when there was a call and everyone within hearing would respond.

 

[brasstownvfd]

Update, the problem has been resolved. The Zetron console was geneating the wrong tone frequencies. A software issue solved in about 2 hrs when tech were finally convinced they were wrong and contacted Zetron. I had to get a radio specialist to meet with the installation techs and they still wanted to argue my equipment was the problem.
But ultimately it now all works! THanks for the help here.
Chief JD Robinson
Brasstown FD

 

[brushfire21]

Slightly off topic question.....

How are the 2170's holding up to use and abuse for your fire use?

 

[brasstownvfd]

2170 holding up

i got the 2170 because my dealer said they were intrinsically safe. Overall I am very satisfied.
THe bad:
Belt clips fail
Other radios have better sounding speakers
THey are a little heavier than some of the newer stuff
If you don't have a radio pouch on a wildland fire you constantly drop em (all radios are this way)

We also have some 272k's, they break the battery loose when dropped on a hard surface and the battery holder breaks. Hasn't been a problem with the 2170.
I'd pick up a few more used ones to try to tide me over til we have to go digital.
Chief JD Robinson
Brasstown FD

 

[sspo10]

We have had them for a few years now and are still going only prblem was bad batch of ant. All oficers have 2170 and FF use 2160 they work great, take a beaten and still going.

 

[lrcrabtree]

Trouble programming pager feature

Recently purchased a Kenwood 2170 because of the 'pager' feature; however I have not been able to get the pager (2-tone) function to work.

I set up a receive only channel, set the 2 tone for the two tones sent by dispatch, and listed that in the channel for optional signaling. When I turn to that channel, the speaker mutes as expected. When the tones are transmitted by dispatch the green 'busy' LED lights up (also when any other traffic is on that frequency), however the speaker does not unmute, nor does the radio send any alert tones through the speaker.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Larry