Maratrac Programming/transmitting issue

HRN · Post by **HRN** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:57 pm

I installed a maratrac radio into an ambulance using the existing antenna the same day a newer radio was taken out to put in a newer ambulance. I programmed the radio with 18 channels and two different PLs. No one will answer when I call and I am not breaking squelch at County. I thought the first radio was bad, so I got a second one and have the same results. Both receive well, just don't want to transmit. I put a tester on the end of the antenna mount and it is getting power when the mic is transitted. These are a UHF radio. Is there something tricky about programming the PL information other than putting it under the TPL (I believe, I don't have the RSS in front of me)? What would you look at next if you didn't really have any other test equipment? Thanks.

phrawg · Post by **phrawg** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:52 pm

Check for "duh" mistakes such as did you put the offset xmit
freq in the xmit entry field or let the rx freq in both.
How about mistakenly prog the xmit to -5mhz instead of +5mhz
Did you just dump the same archive from the first radio to the
second one. If so they both got an errored code plug.
Start from scratch and you will, chances are,
find the problem. Phrawg

Rick Rock · Post by **Rick Rock** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:40 am

Also try talking to them on direct. Something I've found with some people's NMO installations is that the coax is pinched inside causing the same problem. So if you have a multimeter, remove the antenna, disconnect it from the radio, and make sure there is NO continuity from the center to the shield.

HRN · Post by **HRN** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:04 pm

I did program both from scratch. I am going to try putting the second one in my vehicle and see if I can reach County then. I just find it odd both are doing the same thing (but it could be because of an atenna problem) in that ambulance, when I am pretty sure they are programmed correctly. Thanks for the help. I am going to go play around with it again.

HRN · Post by **HRN** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:43 pm

Embarrassingly enough, I have found out that the County, which is my neighboring county, has different Tx and Rcv frequencies. Can I say DUH! All works well now.