Feature #9043
closedBusy Channel Lockout feature added for Retevis RT22FRS
Added by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago. Updated over 3 years ago.
100%
Description
First, I want to thank the team for taking the time to make Chirp the go-to software for programming radios.
I noticed that the OEM's software for RT22FRS (link below) adds BCL to the radio (screenshot attached). It would be great if this feature is accessible in Chirp.
https://www.retevis.com/RT22-Channel-lock-FRS-Business-Radio#A9121GX1
Files
| RT22 BCL.JPG (135 KB) RT22 BCL.JPG | Screenshot of RT22 FRS software with BCL column | Ched Cuaresma, 05/05/2021 11:56 PM | |
| RT22 with Signal ON.PNG (667 KB) RT22 with Signal ON.PNG | Ched Cuaresma, 05/19/2021 05:00 PM | ||
| BF-888 Channel Properties.PNG (138 KB) BF-888 Channel Properties.PNG | Ched Cuaresma, 05/19/2021 07:56 PM | ||
| RT22 Info.jpg (3.52 MB) RT22 Info.jpg | Ched Cuaresma, 05/19/2021 08:14 PM | ||
| Retevis_RT22FRS_20210520v2.img (1.17 KB) Retevis_RT22FRS_20210520v2.img | Ched Cuaresma, 05/20/2021 07:53 AM | ||
| retevis_rt22_with_BCL_draft_#1.py (21.6 KB) retevis_rt22_with_BCL_draft_#1.py | Jim Unroe, 05/21/2021 03:18 PM | ||
| Channel BCL.PNG (57.7 KB) Channel BCL.PNG | BF-888 with BCL set per channel | Ched Cuaresma, 05/21/2021 04:46 PM | |
| Global BCL.PNG (392 KB) Global BCL.PNG | BF-F8HP with BCL set globally | Ched Cuaresma, 05/21/2021 04:46 PM |
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
- Status changed from New to Feedback
Hi Ched,
Nice find. Support for the FRS and PMR models was done with the standard Retevis RT22 programming software and it does not include support for BCL.
Do you happen to know what the Signal column is used for? It is another setting that the standard RT22 programming software doesn't have so I might as well take a look at it at the same time once I get a chance to look into this.
Jim KC9HI
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
- File RT22 with Signal ON.PNG RT22 with Signal ON.PNG added
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
- File RT22 Info.jpg RT22 Info.jpg added
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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.
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
- File retevis_rt22_with_BCL_draft_#1.py retevis_rt22_with_BCL_draft_#1.py added
- Status changed from Feedback to In Progress
- Assignee set to Jim Unroe
- Target version set to chirp-legacy
- % Done changed from 0 to 50
Attached is a draft driver module for the Retevis RT22FRS and Retevis RT622 radios that add support for BCL and Signal. Please give it a good test to make sure it works (at least the same as it does using the factory software). Report your results so I can squash any bugs. If all goes well, I will work up a formal patch and submit it for inclusion into CHIRP.
Here is what you need to do in order to try the test driver module...
1 save the test driver module to a convenient location
Note: Do not right-click the link to download. Left-click the link and than click the "download" link on the next page that appears.
2 in the Help menu enable the Enable Develop Functions feature
3 click File followed by Load Module
4 locate and load the test driver module that was saved in step 1
CHIRP should now have a red background indicating that it has a temporary driver module loaded. This does not permanently change your CHIRP installation. If you close CHIRP, you will have to load this test driver module again to be able to access these temporarily added features.
Jim KC9HI
Updated by Ched Cuaresma over 3 years ago
- File Channel BCL.PNG Channel BCL.PNG added
- File Global BCL.PNG Global BCL.PNG added
Jim Unroe wrote:
Attached is a draft driver module for the Retevis RT22FRS and Retevis RT622 radios that add support for BCL and Signal. Please give it a good test to make sure it works (at least the same as it does using the factory software). Report your results so I can squash any bugs. If all goes well, I will work up a formal patch and submit it for inclusion into CHIRP.
Here is what you need to do in order to try the test driver module...
1 save the test driver module to a convenient location
Note: Do not right-click the link to download. Left-click the link and than click the "download" link on the next page that appears.
2 in the Help menu enable the Enable Develop Functions feature
3 click File followed by Load Module
4 locate and load the test driver module that was saved in step 1CHIRP should now have a red background indicating that it has a temporary driver module loaded. This does not permanently change your CHIRP installation. If you close CHIRP, you will have to load this test driver module again to be able to access these temporarily added features.
Jim KC9HI
Thanks for the patch, Jim. So far so good. The BCL works as we expect. I have to check the Signal feature and see if it works with other RT22FRS.
Going back to the quirky BCL of the RT22. I have a Baofeng BF-888S and its BCL behaves just like the RT22FRS. The BCL doesn't work when its RX CTS/DCS doesn't match the transmitting radio. I'm not sure if this is a quirk of radios that has BCL that can only be set per channel via Channel's properties within Chirp (screenshot attached), like the RT22 and BF-888. 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.
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
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
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
- Status changed from In Progress to Resolved
- % Done changed from 50 to 100
- Model affected changed from RT22FRS to RT22FRS, RT622
I went ahead and submitted this patch. Once approved, support for the per-channel BCL and Signal settings will be in the following CHIRP daily build.
Jim KC9HI
Updated by Jim Unroe over 3 years ago
- Status changed from Resolved to Closed
Patch accepted. Support will be in the next CHIRP daily build.
Jim KC9HI