/\/\ Nucleus VHF range 2 to 147 MHz??

MSS-Dave · Post by **MSS-Dave** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:16 pm

I thought I've seen this topic before but can't find it. Will the R2 (150-160) Nucleus (not a Nuc II as far as I can tell..) go out of band to 147.xx? Has a in band RX and the UHSO option. Done 900 MHz stations but not VHF...

TIA!

Dave

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:25 pm

I don't know about VHF, but I'd be interested in finding out how to make a Nuke 2 on 929-941 go down to 927. The firmware on the SCB seems to be limiting it to 929, not the exciter or PA.

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:53 pm

On VHF there is a range override. You select override and enter the new frequency.
I turned one into a 300 Watt weather transmitter for marine use.

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:58 pm

OK, so the burning question is:

HOW/WHERE do you select over-ride to change the range limits on VHF?

Does this also work to change 929-941 to 927-941?

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:16 pm

kcbooboo wrote:OK, so the burning question is:

HOW do you over-ride the range limits on VHF?

Does this also work to change 929-941 to 927-941?

Bob M.

Its in one of the menus I'll have to wait till I'm on site again but I was suprised when I saw it and gave it a go. worked fine.

It must be in the menu where you setthe frequency
I'm on vacation but try and look next week

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:24 pm

Thanks. I have gone through all the menus on my 900 MHz unit and there's nothing that resembles an over-ride or any other way to change the limits. In fact, the frequency range is reported on the control panel when the menu system is active, and it's a read-only item.

I was hoping for such a simple solution, but I fear none is available.

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:19 am

I wonder if its a firmware issue or one of the dip switches on the controller board.
I'll let you know next week

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:01 am

On 900, it could be in the firmware or some data in an EEPROM. The menu entries on my unit match what's printed in the User Manual. That doesn't preclude a later revision of eithe, however.

There are four DIP switch sections on the SCM boards I have. One allows front panel frequency changes. Another sets the board to factory defaults. The remaining two go nowhere. That's been confirmed by speaking to a Motorola support technician.

Bob M.

MSS-Dave · Post by **MSS-Dave** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:03 am

kcbooboo wrote:OK, so the burning question is:

HOW/WHERE do you select over-ride to change the range limits on VHF?

Does this also work to change 929-941 to 927-941?

Bob M.

There is a range check selection in the menu chain, just don't remember where. Was able to program the RX to 147.5 and it took, didn't have a radio to check it though. TX freq would not program but maybe I have to move the switch on the controller?? I'll try it later today and see. Encouraging if you got the R2 to TX at 162.xxx Bruce....

Dave

MSS-Dave · Post by **MSS-Dave** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:36 am

MSS-Dave wrote:
kcbooboo wrote:OK, so the burning question is:

HOW/WHERE do you select over-ride to change the range limits on VHF?

Does this also work to change 929-941 to 927-941?

Bob M.
There is a range check selection in the menu chain, just don't remember where. Was able to program the RX to 147.5 and it took, didn't have a radio to check it though. TX freq would not program but maybe I have to move the switch on the controller?? I'll try it later today and see. Encouraging if you got the R2 to TX at 162.xxx Bruce....

Dave

Well... by golly it works. On the TX, disable range checking and slide switch 1 on the DIP switch to allow freq changes, enter the freq. On my RX it's range 2 150-174, did the same in the RX setup, disabling range checking in the same menu as chaning channels and frequency. BAM!!! 350 Watts on 147. Haven't retuned the RX yet, was on 155. I don't know HOW far down the TX will go, problem would probably be in the exciter staying locked but there is adjustment on VCO steering.

I'll work on the audio routing later, at least I have a mah-vel-ous platform to start with.

Dave

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:57 am

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh ! ! ! Boo-Hoo. I'm jealous. 929-941 Nucleus II units don't have that range checking enable/disable feature, at least not that I could find in my menu tree.

But I think I know of a VHF unit somewhere that could use the same treatment. Dave - are you watching this!?!?!?

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:48 pm

Ok MSS-Dave you beat me to it.
I went and looked at the site last night.
I have a VHF Range II
Version 4.0.40 firmware

Enter password.
Press Stn
press align down twice
Tx Range checking enabled should come up.
Press enter
press toggle
press enter.

You can now enter a new out of range tx as long as the VCO locks.

Dont forget the dip switch!

MSS-Dave · Post by **MSS-Dave** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:11 am

kcbooboo wrote:Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh ! ! ! Boo-Hoo. I'm jealous. 929-941 Nucleus II units don't have that range checking enable/disable feature, at least not that I could find in my menu tree.

But I think I know of a VHF unit somewhere that could use the same treatment. Dave - are you watching this!?!?!?

Bob M.

The VHF Nuc I have is not a Nuc II. The s/n is 711EXCxxxx. The last 900 Nuc I worked on had a s/n of 711EXNxxxx. Both have the same firmware at 3.12 on the controller but don't remember the other version on the chipset. I think the freq issue will be in the exciter module firmware. The 900 box also had a "inband" RX, think the split was 928-956 or something like that. I never tried to reprogram the 900 box into 927 so can't help there....

Dave

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:31 am

I don't know the difference between a Nuke and a Nuke-2. I also don't have any local record of the firmware version. Last time I played with the station, I had a spare exciter/SCM matched pair that ran from 929-941, whereas the original pair ran from 927-941. I could mix and match the exciters or SCMs and got the usual "mismatch" error which doesn't seem to be fatal. I found the freq limit was caused by the SCM. If I swapped just the plug-in memory module between SCMs, the limit followed one module. The boards didn't care; I could get any combination to operate from 927-941 by installing the proper memory module. So I fear that the restriction is in the memory, either firmware or some other read-only parameter in the EEPROM.

And with no support available on this product any more, Motorola doesn't even want to acknowledge that they ever made it. They've laid off anyone at the factory who would have known about it, so what I've got is what I'm stuck with.

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:31 am

Oh well all I have is Nuc II's in VHF including some with a newer version firmware. I will see if they have the same option and post the firmware version.

At least those buying used units now know what to look for.

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:03 am

Unfortunately, a potential buyer doesn't often have the ability to power up a unit and go through the menu system to check if the freq limits can be disabled, or to find the firmware version, nor can the seller be expected to provide some of this information. In my case, I bought the unit mail-order and all I could do was be happy that it went down to 927.

At this point in life, it's working well, so I won't mess with it. But it's good for the future, should I ever run into another unit.

Bob M.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:10 pm

The units I have display the firmware version on power up