Testing, re-setting my radios etc
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:39 pm
On a recent weekend outing I had
coms problems with my radios ...
could recieve/hear radio calls but unable to answer. ... so today took my radios in for
a check-up with a radio guy in Rand Park Ridge
I have a hand-held and a fixed set ,
both Kenwoods.
First he cross-checked each of my radios
against his (correctly set !) one...
send and recieve signals.
My handheld proved to be correct on all 9
channels but the fixed unit had 3 channels
that didnt work ... sending or recieving.
ie channels 2, 4 & 9
he. then connected his computer to my fixed unit via the microphone jack and invoked
an app that scanned the radio and its channels
and it produced an array table of
channels, frequencies, subtones etc for each
It was immediately evident that my 3 problem channels , 2, 4 & 9 had the wrong frequency
settings which he then corrected on his
keyboard.
The table below shows rqd channel info
https://ibb.co/cJwqVxX
It transpired that channels 2,4& 9 are
meant to be set to freq 160....
whereas mine were set. 161.... !
In talking to this guy I learnt a number
of other things:
- if you touch the bare aerial whilst its
transmitting it can burn you!
- the best aerial location is in the middle of the flat cab-roof else on the bull- bar
preferably based above the level of the bonnet
so that its furthest from the wndscreen .
- The ‘Scan’ feature is not a good default setting
as it may indicate a different channel with same frequency (not approp sub-tone?)
Its best that drivers nominate a channel
(typically 3) and all set radios to stay on
and use that channel.
- that my hand-held has another button that when pressed in reduces the ‘squelsh’
when reception is faint or unclear.
contact is:
Ramao Radios
(appointment by phone rqd)
cell +27 (82) 552-4440
29 Farrow Av
Randpark Ridge
coms problems with my radios ...
could recieve/hear radio calls but unable to answer. ... so today took my radios in for
a check-up with a radio guy in Rand Park Ridge
I have a hand-held and a fixed set ,
both Kenwoods.
First he cross-checked each of my radios
against his (correctly set !) one...
send and recieve signals.
My handheld proved to be correct on all 9
channels but the fixed unit had 3 channels
that didnt work ... sending or recieving.
ie channels 2, 4 & 9
he. then connected his computer to my fixed unit via the microphone jack and invoked
an app that scanned the radio and its channels
and it produced an array table of
channels, frequencies, subtones etc for each
It was immediately evident that my 3 problem channels , 2, 4 & 9 had the wrong frequency
settings which he then corrected on his
keyboard.
The table below shows rqd channel info
https://ibb.co/cJwqVxX
It transpired that channels 2,4& 9 are
meant to be set to freq 160....
whereas mine were set. 161.... !
In talking to this guy I learnt a number
of other things:
- if you touch the bare aerial whilst its
transmitting it can burn you!
- the best aerial location is in the middle of the flat cab-roof else on the bull- bar
preferably based above the level of the bonnet
so that its furthest from the wndscreen .
- The ‘Scan’ feature is not a good default setting
as it may indicate a different channel with same frequency (not approp sub-tone?)
Its best that drivers nominate a channel
(typically 3) and all set radios to stay on
and use that channel.
- that my hand-held has another button that when pressed in reduces the ‘squelsh’
when reception is faint or unclear.
contact is:
Ramao Radios
(appointment by phone rqd)
cell +27 (82) 552-4440
29 Farrow Av
Randpark Ridge