Gentlemen,
I have a VHF XTL 5K Consollette that I want to use as a mutual aid base it is mixed mode 2 Astro conventional modes and 6 Analog conventional modes. I have it connected via 4 wire to a BIM and the TRC board has been configured for 4 wire and for Centracom tone commands (have several Astro Spectra consollettes working like this in Analog only mode with no problem). My question is will it do mixed mode with tone control or do I have to buy a $pecial fla$h to enable it to work? I'm not getting any audio out of the TRC and it won't key. Also verified the TRC option has been checked in CPS (version 12.00.00) and the flashcode for the base is 580008-000480-2. Did try configuring the base for 2 wire opps with same result - no RX audio, channel change, or PTT. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Tim
XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
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XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
MicorRT
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
If you want full console control of the XTL, your Centracom must have an ACIM associated with the BIM. In this configuration the connection to the XTL uses Astro remote control. If you did configure the resource this way but have no ACIM you should see a yellow exclamation point error icon on the resource to warn you that the ACIM is not responding.
You can make the XTL work without the ACIM, just set the Centracom BIM up as a standard analog only resource. You won't pass any ID's to the screen and the dispatcher will just have to 'know' which channel selections are analog and which are digital.
You can make the XTL work without the ACIM, just set the Centracom BIM up as a standard analog only resource. You won't pass any ID's to the screen and the dispatcher will just have to 'know' which channel selections are analog and which are digital.
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Batwings21
- Posts: 930
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Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
There are dip switches on the trc board for 2 or 4 wire, and also tone or acim keying. Check those against the manual for your setup.
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
Well thank you both for replying. I'm not concerned about the Astro IDs or using an ACIM link. I have it currently configed for an analog only plain jane 4 wire tone keyed base to 4 wire BIM (Dip switches are set correctly per manual for Centracom tones and 4 wire). I guess my question was since it wasn't doing anything at all maybe it will only work as an analog tone controlled base in analog mode not in mixed mode or maybe it was purchased with out the TRC option (proper flash to turn it on)? Of course it might be defective!? Well in any case thank you gentlemen for your time.
MicorRT
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
The XTL Consolette comes with two different boards inserted between the radio and the control head: an AIB (audio interface board) and a TRC (tone remote control board). For openers, use your manual to find out which you have.
We have a couple of these Consolettes with the TRC, which are controlled by a Zetron Series 4000; they work just fine with one exception: we could never make FT-steered mode change work. Since the Consolettes are within arm's reach of the console operators, we gave up. Other than that, the TRC keying and audio passage works just fine.
We have a couple of these Consolettes with the TRC, which are controlled by a Zetron Series 4000; they work just fine with one exception: we could never make FT-steered mode change work. Since the Consolettes are within arm's reach of the console operators, we gave up. Other than that, the TRC keying and audio passage works just fine.
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
What is FT - steered mode change?
If your trying to say that changing the function tone on a tone remote control is
being used to select different modes (channels), then it should work. There is a
setting in the radio that should be set, but can't think of it off the top of my head
right now.
One thing I did find out in playing around with a multi zone consolette, is that if
by some chance you have the radio manually selected for something other than
the first zone and mode, when the consolette gets the first keying from the
tone remote, it will switch to the first zone and the selected mode (1 to 8 only)
and leave the zone it was manually moved to.
Jim
If your trying to say that changing the function tone on a tone remote control is
being used to select different modes (channels), then it should work. There is a
setting in the radio that should be set, but can't think of it off the top of my head
right now.
One thing I did find out in playing around with a multi zone consolette, is that if
by some chance you have the radio manually selected for something other than
the first zone and mode, when the consolette gets the first keying from the
tone remote, it will switch to the first zone and the selected mode (1 to 8 only)
and leave the zone it was manually moved to.
Jim
RKG wrote:The XTL Consolette comes with two different boards inserted between the radio and the control head: an AIB (audio interface board) and a TRC (tone remote control board). For openers, use your manual to find out which you have.
We have a couple of these Consolettes with the TRC, which are controlled by a Zetron Series 4000; they work just fine with one exception: we could never make FT-steered mode change work. Since the Consolettes are within arm's reach of the console operators, we gave up. Other than that, the TRC keying and audio passage works just fine.
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
I did verify that I indeed do have a TRC board and not an AIB board... I guess I'll wait till "Mom" gets off vacation and open a case. Thanks guys for you thoughts and input.
MicorRT
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
Jim202: "If your trying to say that changing the function tone on a tone remote control is
being used to select different modes (channels), then it should work..."
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He is right. It should work because that is exactly how it works. The TRC board in the consollette changes the operating 'mode' of the radio to one of the first eight modes in response to the CCII TRC tones.
There is a dip switch setting on the consollette's TRC board that tells it to use the CCII tone to channel mapping.
I don't know what else to tell you except that we have a whole rack full of these XTL consollettes connected to a Gold Elite console and they work fine.
We have some modes programmed as analog conventional channels and some that are trunked and some that are also P25. All of that programming is done to the XTL 'brick' with the CPS.
The consollette TRC board is dumber that a stone and has no idea what sort of format the radio is actually using, it just selects a 'mode' in response to the console channel selection / keying commands.
being used to select different modes (channels), then it should work..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He is right. It should work because that is exactly how it works. The TRC board in the consollette changes the operating 'mode' of the radio to one of the first eight modes in response to the CCII TRC tones.
There is a dip switch setting on the consollette's TRC board that tells it to use the CCII tone to channel mapping.
I don't know what else to tell you except that we have a whole rack full of these XTL consollettes connected to a Gold Elite console and they work fine.
We have some modes programmed as analog conventional channels and some that are trunked and some that are also P25. All of that programming is done to the XTL 'brick' with the CPS.
The consollette TRC board is dumber that a stone and has no idea what sort of format the radio is actually using, it just selects a 'mode' in response to the console channel selection / keying commands.
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chartofmaryland
- Batboard $upporter
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- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2002 11:25 pm
- What radios do you own?: Alot
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
Micor RT
I had this exact problem with an 800 XTL conset and I traced the audio path back through J2 where I found an input DIP with hot glue all over it. after I had probed the input pin two or three times the station worked like a champ. I removed the hot glue from around the pins in the area and reflowed all seven on one side of the chip. It has been working ever since.
Just a note, follow the audio input and check for a full path.
CoM
I had this exact problem with an 800 XTL conset and I traced the audio path back through J2 where I found an input DIP with hot glue all over it. after I had probed the input pin two or three times the station worked like a champ. I removed the hot glue from around the pins in the area and reflowed all seven on one side of the chip. It has been working ever since.
Just a note, follow the audio input and check for a full path.
CoM
If the lights are out when you leave the station and then come on the second you key up, you know you have enough power.
Re: XTL 5K Consollette TRC problem
I should have been more specific.
There are two issues with the TRC board in an XTL Consolette. One is getting the radio to change channels in response to a console-generated FT; the other is keeping the radio from switching back to Z1C1 when the console sends a tone key sequence.
We have successfully done this where only four channels are used (they must be the first four channels in Zone 1) and once with eight channels (ditto). However, the applications we have most often faced involve radios with more channels, and what was desired was console selection from among the first 8 channels and manual selection the control head by the RTO for any other channels, and then keying from the console. Regardless of what channel is selected from the control head, the radio will always revert either to Z1C1 or Z1C<last set by console, from 1 to 8>.
If you are willing to forego console channel selection, then setting SW101-5 through -8 for "No Mode Sel" will cause the radio to hold the control head selected channel on a console-generated tone key sequence.
There are two issues with the TRC board in an XTL Consolette. One is getting the radio to change channels in response to a console-generated FT; the other is keeping the radio from switching back to Z1C1 when the console sends a tone key sequence.
We have successfully done this where only four channels are used (they must be the first four channels in Zone 1) and once with eight channels (ditto). However, the applications we have most often faced involve radios with more channels, and what was desired was console selection from among the first 8 channels and manual selection the control head by the RTO for any other channels, and then keying from the console. Regardless of what channel is selected from the control head, the radio will always revert either to Z1C1 or Z1C<last set by console, from 1 to 8>.
If you are willing to forego console channel selection, then setting SW101-5 through -8 for "No Mode Sel" will cause the radio to hold the control head selected channel on a console-generated tone key sequence.