Hey folks I have a KG UV920P Wouxom mobile radio and I am having a problem with transmitting and I am wondering if I have something set up wrong in the TX part of the menu. I purchased the antennae that was listed on the accessories part. Just don’t know if I have something set up wrong or what. Any help would be appriciated.
You’re going to have to be a bit more specific in what you mean by “a problem with transmitting.” Are you trying to access a repeater? Are you trying to talk directly to someone else (simplex?) Is the problem on both bands or just one? Does the problem exist on both VFOs? And so on…
No one is hearing me even though I can hear them clearly. The repeater is only about 30 miles away and I have both the TX and RX frequencies programmed in the radio. My radio is a 50 watt radio you’d think I could reach that repeater.
Most repeaters operate with CTCSS or “Continious Tone Coded Squelch System.” This is more commonly known by the proprietary Motorola name of “Private Line” or PL. Essentially what this means is that the repeater won’t hear the calling radio unless that radio transmits the proper CTCSS tone. It’s likely the repeater you are trying to access has tone squelch. Have you checked and programmed the proper tone into your radio?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System
I know I have the proper input and output frequencies I will check on th CTCSS setting.
You’ll need some kind of reference that shows the repeater frequencies and CTCSS tones. Most clubs that operate repeaters will have this information on their websites and there are also other online resources that can give you that information.
Would the PL be a tone? On my repeater app I have it states for that repeater there is a PL of 100 what does that mean
CTCSS (or PL as it’s sometimes called) is a sub-audible tone that is transmitted along with with the audio. The repeater hears this tone and responds by re-transmitting the signal. If the repeater doesn’t hear this tone, it just sits there like a brick.
If your reference source says that particular repeater has a PL of 100, then it means that repeater has to hear a sub-audible tone of 100 Hz to be able to respond. You have to program your radio to emit this tone upon transmitting so the repeater will hear you and resend your signal. To do that you need to look up “Transmitting CTCSS Settings (TX-CTC)?Menu 28” in your radio’s manual and follow the steps indicated there.
To access repeaters, there are essentially three steps you have to do before writing the repeater to the radio’s memory. You have to set the receive frequency, the transmit frequency (know as the “offset”) and the CTCSS (PL) tone, if one is required. Once you do this you can write to memory and you’ll be good to go.
Another question… I assume you are trying to access amateur radio repeaters and you have your license, correct?
When you can hear a repeater it doesn’t always mean you can access it? Although with that radio an 50W I’d have expected you to be able to work it if you can hear it.
Please forgive me, but you seem terribly lacking in radio knowledge, having to look these things up. Before you pile in and try to talk, I think if I were you, I’d do LOTS of research on operating procedures and the usual stuff. If we’re talking about an amateur repeater, it’s so easy to show yourself immediately as a total newbie and discover that nobody wants to talk to you. That’s always very awkward when it happens, and sometimes, people will take you under their wing, but mostly your calls get ignored. The clever newcomers listen a lot, learn what is liked and what is not liked and hopefully, their operating practice doesn’t give their new status away.
I’m not up on US license types, but these kinds of things surely should be part of the training before they hand out the license? Here in the UK, we also have power limits for the basic licenses too?
Most US repeaters require a specific sub-audible tone to operate. This is what I’m trying to get across to the OP
It hasn’t been determined if the OP even has a license at this point…
Yes I am licensed and I am a newbie to the ham system I just got my mobile for Christmas. I have a handheld but obviously that doesn’t go too far. I appriciated the help you all have given me so far. I have my CTCSS set on 100 which is what the PL for that repeater is and still I can’t get any response. I will keep trying.
That PL is set on the transmit side, correct? Do you hear the squelch tail on the repeater? If you key up and everything is working correctly, you should hear the repeater come back and you should see an indication on your radio’s S-meter (if it has one.)
Where are you located? Are there any clubs in your area? There is only so much we can do via this forum and having someone assisting you in person is always better.
I live in Perryville Mo and the repeater I’m trying to reach is only about 30 miles south of me. I’m thinking it’s my antennae so I ordered a better antennae for my radio and I’ll see if that doesn’t help my problem
What are you currently using for an antenna and what makes you think that’s where the problem is?
And which repeater specifically are you try to access? If you give specifics, I might be able to find the group it belongs to.
Problem solved thank you for all your help!
What was the final solution?
Had the wrong **** transmit frequenciy programmed in. Stupid mistake. Works great now.
We all do things like that from time to time. I was trying to run a net last week and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t hitting the repeater. Turned out I had my antenna coax switch turned to the wrong position… :mad: