Ok, no bites but a lot of views. Let me cross post a message I put on a different forum.
Greetings! I'm a new ham (licensed for a year, but just got a radio to try to get on the air). I just got a Yaesu 3100 mobile 2m radio. Hooked it up to a power supply at the table, slapped a 1/4 wave antenna on a mag mount on a cookie sheet, programmed a repeater, and silence... lol I didn't hear anyone, no one replied to my call, so not sure if I'm hitting the repeater or not.
Had some questions and since I can't find any good info on this new model, thought others might find this thread helpful. Yes, I've searched, but if you have better google-fu skills, please point me at a thread that already covers these.
1.) How do you set just the xmit or receive tone? I only see one setting, so can you only set them both or none?
2.) How do you skip over a channel with lots of static pushing through the squelch? I went to that channel and turned on the busy channel lock out but it didn't work. I obviously don't know how to use it, and there's no info I can find in the manual. All it says is "this is how you toggle it off or on" that made no difference.
3.) The manual says I need a power supply with 20A continuous, but I calculated 65w at 13.8v (or 14.1, which is what my PS is putting into the radio) is only 4.6A. Why in the world would they ask for such a beefy PS? Mine is only rated at 9 or 10A continuous.
Is there a better reference for these radios? The manual seems a little sparse.
thanks!!
Brian (KE0CHB)