MCS2000 wont xmit on repeater channels

[andyems10]

I am having a problem with one of our MCS200s at work, but I don't think it's a programming problem. I checked the code plug and all frequencies are entered correct in the radio. However, the radio will not key any channels that go through a repeater. They will receive fine but when the mic is keyed the xmit indicator lights on the control head, but the frequency doesn't key, and no repeater "click" is heard. If the radio is on a channel that is a direct or does not go through a repeater, the radio will key the frequency fine, you can xmit and receive fine and everything can be heard on both ends. The problem only seems to be present on a channel with a repeater programmed. It's weird that it will key and xmit on a direct channel, so that tells me the hardware, antenna, cable, etc are working. The mic appears to be working also, because it will xmit voice on the direct channel.
Anyone have any ideas on this problem?

[fineshot1]

In the code plug with the CPS software:

Go to each of the conventional personalities for these repeater channels
and look at the "Direct/TalkAround" Tab and make sure that the "Direct/
TalkAround" box is unchecked otherwise those conventional channels will
TX on the repeater output freq.

[andyems10]

I have tried that. All check boxes are correct everywhere, all the frequencies are correct. It's not talking on the repeater channels at all, it doesn't open up the channel or anything. I took a file from a different radio that works perfectly and wrote it to this radio, and this radio still did the same thing. Won't xmit on any channel with a repeater but works fine on any channel without one. I've been doing the radios for our service for 5-6 years and have been messing with this software since then. I've never saw or heard of anything like this before. If you look at the programming, every thing is perfectly correct. It operates prefectly on any channel that does not go through a repeater. Nothing was changed on this before it started doing it. One day it worked fine, the next day it didn't.

[Jim202]

I have tried that. All check boxes are correct everywhere, all the frequencies are correct. It's not talking on the repeater channels at all, it doesn't open up the channel or anything. I took a file from a different radio that works perfectly and wrote it to this radio, and this radio still did the same thing. Won't xmit on any channel with a repeater but works fine on any channel without one. I've been doing the radios for our service for 5-6 years and have been messing with this software since then. I've never saw or heard of anything like this before. If you look at the programming, every thing is perfectly correct. It operates prefectly on any channel that does not go through a repeater. Nothing was changed on this before it started doing it. One day it worked fine, the next day it didn't.

Let me ask 2 questions here.

1. have you put the radio on a service monitor and measured the TX power out on the repeater channel?

2. On the service monitor, does the radio show the proper CTCSS and at the correct deviation?

Without knowing these 2 answers, no one will be able to help you.

How about a 3rd question. Have you measured the forward and reflected TX power into the mobile antenna?

Jim

[andyems10]

No, I haven't done any of those things yet. I'm just a paramedic who does the radio programming at my service. I'm going to get in touch with our dealer tomorrow and get it to them for further analysis. It's just so weird that it worked one day and stopped the next with no changes, so I guess I already knew it was something more than a programming issue. I'll contact my dealer tomorrow and go from there. Thanks for all the help today though.

[Garyf629]

Check and make sure that none of the control head buttons are programmed for "Direct" or "Talk Around". Look at the control head and look to see if the "Direct" symbol is displayed. (It looks like an arrow between 2 vertical lines.) If it is, try pressing all the buttons to see if it goes away. Then remove the button through the CPS.

We had this on an ambulance. The techs would play with the buttons, and then complain when that can't reach dispatch. We thought that they were trying to get out of taking calls, when we installed a camera and watched.

[vhacmowilmob]

Weird...
Almost sounds like the VCO isn't locking up on teh repeater input, but is OK on the output.

What is the frequency range / spread? (ex. 463/468) VCO unlock is more likely on UHF where the repeater inputs are (typ.) 5MHz up, vs. <2Mhz on VHF.

[jackhackett]

I've seen this complaint a number of times where a customer will say they can only talk on simplex channels, and what I usually find is that the antenna cable has come unscrewed from the back of the radio so it's only making partial contact.

This allows enough signal to get through to be able to talk to other vehicles that are close by on the simplex channels, but not enough to reach the repeaters which are further away.

[d119]

VCO Unlock on an MCS 2000 would result in a FAIL 001 condition on the display, along with no red transmit LED.

OP: You've either got no antenna actually attached to this thing, or the RF power amplifier has died.