TK5310 does not unmute but speaker works

[Sunshineandmonkeys]

Here's an odd one:

I have a tk5310 that appears to not transmit or decode QT and DQT no matter what i do.

I have the radio programmed to 2 active analog repeaters that have QT on one and DQT on the second. I have verified the tx/rx frequency and QT/DQT info on the channels, verified that the channel has active traffic on it and repeaters are functional with a known good radio, have tried setting the qt/dqt options in the 5310 to None, and have tried programming a monitor button and turning it on.

No matter what I try, I cant get the audio to unmute on the 5310 so that I can hear these 2 repeaters. When I have tried transmitting with the 5310 I can hit the repeaters, but not hear the squelch tail or CW IDs as the repeaters ID or key up. On a direct/simplex channel, my transmission does not cause a known, good radio to unmute either.

All tones and other audio feedback work great though (ie self test tone, button press tones), and the volume adjusts normally. This is a tk5310k6 with FW 4.22

What am I missing?

 

[hill]

Too many varieties to find out online. Ham, GMRS or commercial/public safety repeater?

Things to check make sure you have the transmit and receive frequencies programmed correctly and also the PL and DCS. Make sure the DQT Is programmed for normal with an N and not inverted with a I.

You might have programmed the bandwidth wrong for Wide or Narrow.

If radio is older it may need an alignment.

Going forward you could remove the decode tone and see of you receive the repeater. The information for repeater may list the wrong tone code.

You could post your programming file here for us to look over. You will. need to zip it first
.

 

[mmckenna]

I'll add a few:

Is this radio new to you?

Did it ever work correctly?

Try putting the old file back in and see what it does.


Couple of things to look at:

Under the "Extended Function" window, make sure the Optional Board field is set to None.

 

[hill]

I see he also posted on Kenwood buy and sell group on Facebook and some said it could e off frequency. That's why said it should be aligned

 

[Sunshineandmonkeys]

Too many varieties to find out online. Ham, GMRS or commercial/public safety repeater?

Things to check make sure you have the transmit and receive frequencies programmed correctly and also the PL and DCS. Make sure the DQT Is programmed for normal with an N and not inverted with a I.

You might have programmed the bandwidth wrong for Wide or Narrow.

If radio is older it may need an alignment.

Going forward you could remove the decode tone and see of you receive the repeater. The information for repeater may list the wrong tone code.

You could post your programming file here for us to look over. You will. need to zip it first
.

Mornin all,
Thanks for taking a look at my tale of woe and offering feedback.

hill----
I was testing it on hamster repeaters (yes, i have a license)
tx/rx freqs, PL and DPL, and Normal vs Inverted DPL were all checked/verified.
Bandwidth was checked/verified
The radio is older, but in PERFECT condition.
I've tried removing the decode tone, with no change.

mmckenna
The radio IS new to me; The seller stated that it came out of a VFD in Texas and had been sitting for a while after they upgraded.
At least a year of chillin in a closet at the station.
Seller claims was working, but showed up with a dead battery, so no idea how they determined it was working.
I'm a dip**** and deleted the old codeplug.
I'll try extended function >> Optional Board = None as well.

Thanks again everyone!




I'll check the

 

[mmckenna]

mmckenna
The radio IS new to me; The seller stated that it came out of a VFD in Texas and had been sitting for a while after they upgraded.

A volunteer fire department giving up a perfectly good radio raises one red flag.
May be totally legit, but VFD's usually run things into the ground.

But, maybe they really needed the money.

At least a year of chillin in a closet at the station.
Seller claims was working, but showed up with a dead battery, so no idea how they determined it was working.

Yeah, that's a concern.

I'm a dip**** and deleted the old codeplug.

Ouch. #1 rule of radio guy world is always save the codeplug. But nothing you can do about that now, and it's the learning experience we all go through. Welcome to the club, we've all been there.

I'll try extended function >> Optional Board = None as well.

OK, that's good.

If programming is spot on, then the next steps:

Have another set of experienced eyes look at the programming file. It's easy to miss something when one is staring at the same screen for too long. A fresh set of eyes might catch something. There's some obscure programming stuff that might be causing this, but without the file to look at, we'd just be throwing mashed potatoes at the wall.

Alignment is always a good idea, especially with an older radio with questionable maintenance. They do drift over time. Will probably run you $100 or so to get it done right, or hope there's a local ham that has a service monitor that will help you out.

 

[hill]

I'm a dip**** and deleted the old codeplug

When getting a new radio it's always a best practice in the future to read the radio and save that file before reprogramming with your file.

The sellers really should wipe radios before selling so it will just show unprogrammed, but many don't.

but showed up with a dead battery, so no idea how they determined it was working.

Battery could be old and won't hold a charge for too long.or they used a known good battery and just shipped radio with an older battery.

 

[Sunshineandmonkeys]

When getting a new radio it's always a best practice in the future to read the radio and save that file before reprogramming with your file.

The sellers really should wipe radios before selling so it will just show unprogrammed, but many don't.




Battery could be old and won't hold a charge for too long.or they used a known good battery and just shipped radio with an older battery.

Heh I routinely save codeplugs.....just goofed.
Got a new battery....
SOLVED! The optional board was NOT set to none. Great reports from other hamsters; still going to have this aligned.

Thanks again ya'll!

 

[hill]

Glad you got it working and thanks for the update on what the issue was. That will most likely help others that reach out for help on Radio Reference and search out old posts to assist them.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

[Sunshineandmonkeys]

Glad you got it working and thanks for the update on what the issue was. That will most likely help others that reach out for help on Radio Reference and search out old posts to assist them.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Closing the loop is good.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[mmckenna]

SOLVED! The optional board was NOT set to none. Great reports from other hamsters; still going to have this aligned.

Nice! Wonder if the VFD or the seller knew that. Sometimes you can get some excellent deals on radios like that.

 

[Sunshineandmonkeys]

Nice! Wonder if the VFD or the seller knew that. Sometimes you can get some excellent deals on radios like that.

Unsure. Could have also been an ID10T error on my part.