Hi all
I have a Motorola GP68 but it doesn't transmit. The red light comes on on the receiver but no sound. Any ideas. Thanks
GP 68 need help
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RadioSouth
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Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
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- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
GP68
From the info you gave it's difficult to understand exactly
what the problem is you're having. Do you mean that the
radio makes no noise, or that it has no RF output, or what?
Do a search on this board; it's loaded with GP68 information
including, I think, a link to the GP68 setup manual and/or
instructions.
Unfortunately you won't get much if any help from Motorola
as this radio is not supported in the USA (if that's where
you're located).
what the problem is you're having. Do you mean that the
radio makes no noise, or that it has no RF output, or what?
Do a search on this board; it's loaded with GP68 information
including, I think, a link to the GP68 setup manual and/or
instructions.
Unfortunately you won't get much if any help from Motorola
as this radio is not supported in the USA (if that's where
you're located).
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
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Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
GP68
No, it was made primarily for the Asian market. Lots of them
were imported to the US, the early ones with FCC government
ID/type acceptance numbers, although no one can figure out
why Motorola did this and then disclaimed any responsibility
for the radios. The ones I owned all did 12.5 kHz channels with
no problem so what you're probably needing is the setup
manual for this as well as the PL setup. Have you tried
listening via the headphone jack on the radio? It's the larger
of the two jacks.
were imported to the US, the early ones with FCC government
ID/type acceptance numbers, although no one can figure out
why Motorola did this and then disclaimed any responsibility
for the radios. The ones I owned all did 12.5 kHz channels with
no problem so what you're probably needing is the setup
manual for this as well as the PL setup. Have you tried
listening via the headphone jack on the radio? It's the larger
of the two jacks.
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
-
Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
GP68 output...
The red light may or may not mean that the radio is
transmitting; it depends on how the unit was built.
The red light may only mean that the power to the
RF amplifier is being applied, OR it may mean that
RF energy is being generated and transmitted.
What you need in the simplest sense is what we call
a field strength meter to see if there is RF coming off
the antenna of the radio. These are cheap to get and
will definitely tell you whether or not the radio is
transmitting. Your radio shop can do this simple
test for you in a few seconds.
A longer shot, as we say here, is to make sure that the
radio you're using to listen is set up correctly. If it is
set to receive with a PL tone and your transmitter is
not sending that exact correct PL tone then you'll
never hear anything on the other radio until you either
shut off the PL requirement or set the correct PL tone
on the transmitting radio. If you're using a scanner
to listen there's probably no PL tone involved, and in
that case if you're certain that both units are on the
same channel you could have a more serious problem.
One last thing to watch out for is that these radios, like
almost all comm radios, can be set up for repeater
operation. This means that, for instance, when the
radio's display shows 146.520 being received the radio
is actually transmitting on another frequency when the
transmitter is actuated. This is called an offset and it
is set up in the radio via the front panel controls, but
without the GP68 book you will never be able to figure
out to do it unless you were one of the designers of
the radio. The radio SHOULD show you the frequency
being transmitted when you transmit so look closely
at the display when you do transmit and see if the
numbers change. The other radio should be listening
on that frequency for your transmissions and not on
your radio's receive frequency.
As I read what I've written above it occurs to me that
you might want to start with the last part of this message
in your troubleshooting and work upwards.
transmitting; it depends on how the unit was built.
The red light may only mean that the power to the
RF amplifier is being applied, OR it may mean that
RF energy is being generated and transmitted.
What you need in the simplest sense is what we call
a field strength meter to see if there is RF coming off
the antenna of the radio. These are cheap to get and
will definitely tell you whether or not the radio is
transmitting. Your radio shop can do this simple
test for you in a few seconds.
A longer shot, as we say here, is to make sure that the
radio you're using to listen is set up correctly. If it is
set to receive with a PL tone and your transmitter is
not sending that exact correct PL tone then you'll
never hear anything on the other radio until you either
shut off the PL requirement or set the correct PL tone
on the transmitting radio. If you're using a scanner
to listen there's probably no PL tone involved, and in
that case if you're certain that both units are on the
same channel you could have a more serious problem.
One last thing to watch out for is that these radios, like
almost all comm radios, can be set up for repeater
operation. This means that, for instance, when the
radio's display shows 146.520 being received the radio
is actually transmitting on another frequency when the
transmitter is actuated. This is called an offset and it
is set up in the radio via the front panel controls, but
without the GP68 book you will never be able to figure
out to do it unless you were one of the designers of
the radio. The radio SHOULD show you the frequency
being transmitted when you transmit so look closely
at the display when you do transmit and see if the
numbers change. The other radio should be listening
on that frequency for your transmissions and not on
your radio's receive frequency.
As I read what I've written above it occurs to me that
you might want to start with the last part of this message
in your troubleshooting and work upwards.
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
-
Bob KB1MNE
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:51 am
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RadioSouth
- Batboard $upporter
- Posts: 2884
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
I believe Darwin is transmitting from a GP68 to an un-mentioned radio which apparently is receiving something from the GP68 as the red channel busy light is coming on (GP68 has no red light). Frequencies aren't an exact match but apparently close enought to open the receiver. So it sounds like either
1) GP68 is lacking Tx audio
2) Unknown receive radio has no Rx audio
3) Check again on possibility that the receive radio is looking for a PL
or DPL to unmute. (Which is the likely senario assuming both radios
work OK).
Oops, looks like I cross posted with Wicho and as he mentioned there is no red light on the GP68 so I'm assuming the red light is on the unknown type receive radio.
1) GP68 is lacking Tx audio
2) Unknown receive radio has no Rx audio
3) Check again on possibility that the receive radio is looking for a PL
or DPL to unmute. (Which is the likely senario assuming both radios
work OK).
Oops, looks like I cross posted with Wicho and as he mentioned there is no red light on the GP68 so I'm assuming the red light is on the unknown type receive radio.
Radio South has explained the problem that I have.
"Radio South
2) Unknown receive radio has no Rx audio "
The receiving radio is OK it work with al other radio's.
"Wicho
Anyway, let me know if you need a copy of the GP68 manual - I can email it to you. "
I have the manual thanks.
"Bob KB1MNE
Are you sure you're out of programming mode? In theory it shouldn't transmit in that mode."
Yes I am out of the programming mode. I'll double check anyway.
The main problem is that the local radio store isn't to happy at seeing the GP68. They usually charge just for inputting the frequency. I was turned away as I had a radio that they didn't work with. They didn't like seeing a radio which is programmable through the keypad. Most radio's around here require cable & software just for inputting the frequency
"Radio South
2) Unknown receive radio has no Rx audio "
The receiving radio is OK it work with al other radio's.
"Wicho
Anyway, let me know if you need a copy of the GP68 manual - I can email it to you. "
I have the manual thanks.
"Bob KB1MNE
Are you sure you're out of programming mode? In theory it shouldn't transmit in that mode."
Yes I am out of the programming mode. I'll double check anyway.
The main problem is that the local radio store isn't to happy at seeing the GP68. They usually charge just for inputting the frequency. I was turned away as I had a radio that they didn't work with. They didn't like seeing a radio which is programmable through the keypad. Most radio's around here require cable & software just for inputting the frequency