CHIRP

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the response. I'm trying to find out what the Signal column is either, but I can't figure out what it is. I'll update the thread when I find more info.

Ched

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Hi Jim,

I just wanted to follow up on what I found regarding the Signal column. It seems that the column adds a layer to DCS transmission.

For example, I configured the RT22, within Retevis' software, with DCS to D023N and Signal turned "On" (screenshot attached). My other radio (BaoFeng BF-888S set to DTCS 023 NN) cannot hear the transmission. I scanned the DCS with my other radio (BaoFeng BF-F8HP) and it couldn't find the right code. Setting the RT22 to CTCSS with Signal turned "On" did not show anything unusual (i.e. I was able to hear the transmission with the BaoFeng set to the same CTCSS).

I'm not sure what's happening, but I hope this helps.

Ched

What happens when Signal is set to Off on channel 8? Can the BF-888S pick it up, then?

I'm trying to get my current project wrapped up so I can hopefully start working on this one.

Jim KC9HI

Jim Unroe wrote:

What happens when Signal is set to Off on channel 8? Can the BF-888S pick it up, then?

I'm trying to get my current project wrapped up so I can hopefully start working on this one.

Jim KC9HI

Thanks for the quick response.

Yes, the BF-888S can pick it up with the same DCS/CTS. Of course, as with any tone squelch, any radio tuned to the frequency with no CTS or DTS will pick up the transmission, even if the Signal is turned On. I'm sure you already know this - I just wanted to clarify. :)

Ched

Ched,

I did a quick test and enabled BCL on a channel. It didn't not work. I seem to vaguely recall that this was the reason that I did not implement it. Are you able to get BCL to work?

Jim KC9HI

Jim Unroe wrote:

Ched,

I did a quick test and enabled BCL on a channel. It didn't not work. I seem to vaguely recall that this was the reason that I did not implement it. Are you able to get BCL to work?

Jim KC9HI

Jim,

I can confirm that BCL works for me.

Ched

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

Ched,

I did a quick test and enabled BCL on a channel. It didn't not work. I seem to vaguely recall that this was the reason that I did not implement it. Are you able to get BCL to work?

Jim KC9HI

Jim,

I can confirm that BCL works for me.

Ched

It only works for me when the channel has no CTCSS tone or DCS code. It does not work when the channel selective squelch is enabled (and that is when you need it).

Jim

Also with Signal set to On, my UV-82 detected both CTCSS tones and DCS codes. So it is still a mystery what Signal does.

Jim

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

It only works for me when the channel has no CTCSS tone or DCS code. It does not work when the channel selective squelch is enabled (and that is when you need it).

Jim

I can confirm that mine works with both DCS & CTCSS. I made sure both radios have the same tone squelch for both their TX and RX. For the BF-888, I had to go to set the tone squelch in the channel's properties (screenshot attached).

Ched

It shouldn't matter what tone is (or even if there is no tone) on the transmitting radio. If there is a carrier being received, BCL should block transmitting. That's what BCL is for (keeps you from transmitting on someone using the frequency that you can't hear). If it requires the same tone/code on both radios, then the feature is broken.

Attach an image from a radio with working BCL so I can compare it with what I have.

Jim

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

It shouldn't matter what tone is (or even if there is no tone) on the transmitting radio. If there is a carrier being received, BCL should block transmitting. That's what BCL is for (keeps you from transmitting on someone using the frequency that you can't hear). If it requires the same tone/code on both radios, then the feature is broken.

Attach an image from a radio with working BCL so I can compare it with what I have.

Jim

I agree with you. Tone squelch, present or not, doesn't matter when it comes to BCL. My radio works either way. Attached is an image of the info sticker behind the battery. Please let me know of other information you seek.

Ched

I'm looking for you to attach a CHIRP Radio Images (*.img) file, not a picture.

Jim

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

I'm looking for you to attach a CHIRP Radio Images (*.img) file, not a picture.

Jim

Sorry I misunderstood. Please find the attached image of the RT22 from Chirp.

This is really odd. The image file that you added provides BCL as expected. When I enable BCL on a channel with the radio set to factory defaults, it does not work. Nothing that I do with the OEM software related to BCL works. Which OEM software are you using? I am using the Retevis v1.05 software downloaded from the Retevis website.

Jim

OK. I think I found the difference. Like I was saying last night, I can only get BCL to work when the selected channel does not have any CTCSS tones or DCS codes enabled. Your image does not have any tones/codes except for channel 8 and BCL does not work on channel 8. When I take my factory image, remove the tones and enable BCL and upload it to the radio, BCL works.

Now I think I need to try a different radio to see if it is just this particular radio.

Jim

Jim Unroe wrote:

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

I'm looking for you to attach a CHIRP Radio Images (*.img) file, not a picture.

Jim

Sorry I misunderstood. Please find the attached image of the RT22 from Chirp.

This is really odd. The image file that you added provides BCL as expected. When I enable BCL on a channel with the radio set to factory defaults, it does not work. Nothing that I do with the OEM software related to BCL works. Which OEM software are you using? I am using the Retevis v1.05 software downloaded from the Retevis website.

Jim

I am using RT22 v1.05. One thing I noticed is that BCL only works if it matches with the same DCS/CTS (or open) of the transmitting radio. I confirmed this with all my radios.

Ched

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

Jim Unroe wrote:

I'm looking for you to attach a CHIRP Radio Images (*.img) file, not a picture.

Jim

Sorry I misunderstood. Please find the attached image of the RT22 from Chirp.

This is really odd. The image file that you added provides BCL as expected. When I enable BCL on a channel with the radio set to factory defaults, it does not work. Nothing that I do with the OEM software related to BCL works. Which OEM software are you using? I am using the Retevis v1.05 software downloaded from the Retevis website.

Jim

I am using RT22 v1.05. One thing I noticed is that BCL only works if it matches with the same DCS/CTS (or open) of the transmitting radio. I confirmed this with all my radios.

Ched

I expect that you are correct. I will try that tomorrow. So basically BCL is broken on these radios. What I am trying to figure out is if BCL will work on the original RT22 models or not. Hopefully it is there but not exposed by the original RT22 programming software. That will make programming easier. I will need to remember to add comments in the RT22 driver module explaining how it is broken in case someone turns in a ticket complaining about CHIRP not supporting BCL properly when in reality it is the radio that is the culprit.

Jim

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

I am using RT22 v1.05. One thing I noticed is that BCL only works if it matches with the same DCS/CTS (or open) of the transmitting radio. I confirmed this with all my radios.

Ched

Yes. I have now confirmed this as well. Using this knowledge, I have determined that the original RT22 does not support BCL. I will attach a draft patch soon for you to test.

Jim KC9HI

Jim Unroe wrote:

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

I am using RT22 v1.05. One thing I noticed is that BCL only works if it matches with the same DCS/CTS (or open) of the transmitting radio. I confirmed this with all my radios.

Ched

Yes. I have now confirmed this as well. Using this knowledge, I have determined that the original RT22 does not support BCL. I will attach a draft patch soon for you to test.

Jim KC9HI

Thanks for your help on this, Jim. Looking forward to the patch.

Ched

Ched Cuaresma wrote:

I have a BF-F8HP with a BCL that can be set globally through the Setting tab in Chirp (screenshot attached). I only have a sample set of two radios and more radios need to be tested to confirm, but I hope this sheds some light on the matter.

That is not entirely correct. Global menu 23 (BCL) only affects the 2 VFOs. It has no direct affect on any of the 128 (0-127) memory channels. To change the BCL setting of a memory channel using the keypad you must first erase the channel using menu 28 (DEL-CH) and then program the memory back from scratch with the new BCL setting. To update the per-channel BCL setting without first erasing the memory channel requires programming software.

See my menu reference guides "here":https://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_MenuDef.php.

Jim