CDM1550LS+ is not hitting the repeater. I need help.

[dispatcher7586]

Hey, this is my first attempt at programming a mobile. Ok here the problem. I have a cdm1550ls+ 403-470Mhz (model: M25RKF9DP6AN)

It will Rx and Tx on a talkaround channel, and it will Rx on a repeater channel, but it wont Tx on a repeater channel.

I just got a nmo 450-470Mhz mic kit. I dont know if its the antenna or if its somethign wrong in the programming thats preventing it from property transmitting.

Please help ASAP. Thanks

[Jim202]

Don't forget that UHF repeater input frequencies are 5 MHz higher that the frequency you put the RX on. Don't forget to program the proper CTCSS into the
transmit channel. This means if your receiver is 463.250, then the repeater input and your TX output would be 468.250 MHz.

Jim

Hey, this is my first attempt at programming a mobile. Ok here the problem. I have a cdm1550ls+ 403-470Mhz (model: M25RKF9DP6AN)

It will Rx and Tx on a talkaround channel, and it will Rx on a repeater channel, but it wont Tx on a repeater channel.

I just got a nmo 450-470Mhz mic kit. I dont know if its the antenna or if its somethign wrong in the programming thats preventing it from property transmitting.

Please help ASAP. Thanks

[dispatcher7586]

Yes I know. Its all correct. Im sure its something with programming. It transmits clear on a talkaround which is the same 2 freqs and codes. But when I put it on the repeater 453.XXXX RX/ 458.XXXX TX with a DPL of 244 it will recieve nice and loud/clear but it wont transmit! When I push and hold the PTT the red led comes on, and I get no signal antenna on the lcd and I get no kickback when I let go.

Can somebody look at this codeplug for me? Let me know ur email so I can send. Thanks

[Tom in D.C.]

Are you dead sure, 100% certain, that you're working on a conventional channel (FM) setup part of the program and not the LTR side? You seem to have covered all the bases except for that one item.

[dispatcher7586]

Yes, conventional personality.

[dispatcher7586]

I opened it up. It had a fresh new factory codeplug in it. I deleted "passport" and "passport revert" out of the conventional personalities. I than just clicked add conventional personality and started putting channels in from there. I than went to the zones and deleted zone LTR and Passport only leaving the conventional zone only.

Thats what I did.

[Bill_G]

Do you have another mobile or portable that works on the repeater that you can compare the programming to? Theoretically you can load conventional personalities into a LS radio and function just fine (though I have never been successful in removing all the LTR modes - I always had to leave one in). So, barring a weird failure in your CDM, I wondering if you are working with incorrect PL/DPL information. They may have a different xmit code from rx.

[Tom in D.C.]

I find more and more agencies using conventional FM analog doing exactly that these days. They use a different PL or DPL
on receive compared to the transmit side. On the PL it's usually a tone one or two steps up or down from the "other" tone, and the only way to figure it out is to have a code reader or a ham HT that scans for tones. Dumb luck tuning can also determine what the other tone is but can take forever, especially on a repeater that is not very active. Obviously if you're an authorized user a phone call to the system administrator will get you the information you need to solve the problem.

[dispatcher7586]

I am authorized and I have all the correct info. I contacted the guy who sold me the radio antenna (oem nmo). He said it sounds like a bad connector mini connection or its because there is not a good metal connection.

I didnt put it in the hole, I just layed it on the roof/trunk lid just to see if it works. Does that sound about right?

[Tom in D.C.]

At this point you need to find out if that antenna you got is radiating a signal. A cheap wattmeter will tell you this. You could/should also try listening on the repeater input channel, not the talkabound/receive channel, to determine if the setup in the programming is correct. The way to troubleshoot problems such as this is by checking individual items and by a process of elimination you eventually get to a resolution.

[Bill_G]

Yeah - you could be running into a vswr problem that prevents you from hitting the system and/or hearing it well if you just have an antenna laying on the roof at the end of a nmo cable. I take it you don't have a mag mnt handy to play with. But, your friend could be right - maybe the mini-u isn't applied correctly, or the lack of a ground plane is killing you. Hard to say. Your problems could be as simple as that. Got a radio shop you can visit and borrow a mag mnt for two seconds? Or have them throw the radio on a test antenna in the shop to see if it works? We do that all the time for folks. It just takes a moment.

[dispatcher7586]

I sent him a few pics of the mini connector. He said the problem is the connector. He said it was even set up right. Im just going to take it to my friend on Sunday and on monday to the radioshop if it doesnt get done on Sunday.

Thanks.

[fineshot1]

7586 - have you tried listening on the input freq to hear if you are
actually transmitting on the input?

have you tried using a watt meter to see if you are actually putting out wattage
to the antenna and to check reflected power?

i don't think its a good idea to transmit from an nmo mount antenna that has not been
installed yet. your probably not getting enough radiated power to the far field.

[dispatcher7586]

7586 - have you tried listening on the input freq to hear if you are
actually transmitting on the input?

have you tried using a watt meter to see if you are actually putting out wattage
to the antenna and to check reflected power?

i don't think its a good idea to transmit from an nmo mount antenna that has not been
installed yet. your probably not getting enough radiated power to the far field.

I have my portable radio, and I key up the mobile and look at the portable and it doesnt come over. I looked at the nmo instructions and I totally blew it. Its not set up right. The center conductive cable isnt even stripped and sticking out the tip alittle and crimped as it should. When I got the kit all I did was strip away the black outer wax and stick it onto the piece. I dont like instructions but according to motorola, it has to be done the right way or it wont work and it has to be installed in the hole to channel the signal.

I did use a watt meter either.

[dispatcher7586]

Problem solved. I unscrewed an antenna from my work vehicle and plugged it into my cdm1550 and it hit the repeater and gave kick back. it also came over my portable.

Thanks for your help.