TYT radios won't talk to BTech repeater

[WRTC928]

I'm doubtful there is anything which can be done, but I'm going to throw this out there. Even if nobody can help, it still might be useful for others to know this.

I have a BTech RPT50 repeater operating on 462.55000 tone 233.6. I also have a TYT TH-9800 and a TH-7900, neither of which will connect reliably to the repeater. The 9800 will sometimes connect after holding the PTT button for 5 seconds or so, but the 7900 just flatly refuses to connect at all. I tried them on a Retevis RT97L repeater using the same frequency and tone and they connected just fine. They work just fine on all the other repeaters I've tried, but obviously I don't know the brand/type of those repeaters. I quadruple-checked all the frequency and tone settings and I'm absolutely certain they're right. I tried the radios on the same repeater using various frequencies and CTCSS/DTCS tones with the same result. They'll receive but they won't transmit to the repeater. I checked all the settings and reprogrammed them using CHIRP and also the TYT CPS with no change.

Baofeng, Retevis, QYT, AnyTone, and Arcshell radios have no problem connecting to the repeater. I can only conclude that there's some sort of incompatibility between the two brands. At this point, the only thing I can think of to do is replace the radios.

If anyone else has tried TYT radios on a BTech repeater, I'd be interested to know if you ran into this problem.

[WRTC928]

1 minute ago, WRXL702 said:

Might want to re-read the specs on the TH-9800 & TH-7900. According to their manuals, they will receive only 462.550 MHz (320 to 512 MHz) - but will not transmit on that frequency band.

Their UHF transmit band is 420 to 450 MHz.

I would say you're right except that they will connect to other GMRS repeaters. They connected to my RT97L without any problem.

[WRYZ926]

First off. Are the TYT radios that you are trying unlocked for GMRS?

I ask because the TH-7800, TH-7900, and TH-9800 are amateur band only from the factory. Which means they won't transmit on GMRS. 

Next

What antenna(s) are you using and have you checked the SWR on them?

How far away are you from the repeater the trying to talk with the TYT radios?

 

I have two TH-7800 radios that have been unlocked and they will connect to any and all repeaters I can reach as long as I have the tones correctly programmed. I've talked on BTech, Bridgecom, Motorola Quantar and other brands of GMRS repeaters without any issue.

Double check your setting on the radio as it should work no matter what brand of repeater you are using.

[WRTC928]

53 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

First off. Are the TYT radios that you are trying unlocked for GMRS?

Read the entire post. I tested the TYT radios on a Retevis RT97L with the exact same settings and they worked.

57 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

What antenna(s) are you using and have you checked the SWR on them?

I used half a dozen antennas including the ones that worked just fine with the QYT and the AnyTone. Yes, I checked SWRs on all of the antennas and they were all below 2.0:1.

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

How far away are you from the repeater the trying to talk with the TYT radios?

Everywhere from my driveway to several miles away. I carried an HT to make sure I had contact with the repeater at the tested distance.

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Double check your setting on the radio as it should work no matter what brand of repeater you are using.

No kidding, Sherlock? Of course it should. That's why I'm baffled.

[MarkInTampa]

Try disabling tone on the repeater input. At least it will rule out incompatibility of the tone settings between the radio and repeater. 

[WRTC928]

Just to be sure I wasn't hallucinating, I tried it again just now with the 7900. Same antenna, same settings, only changing repeaters. It worked just fine with the Retevis but would not open the BTech. Based upon my (admittedly limited) knowledge of how radios work, this shouldn't be possible.

[WRTC928]

1 minute ago, MarkInTampa said:

Try disabling tone on the repeater input. At least it will rule out incompatibility if the tone settings between the radio and repeater. 

Hmmm... That's a thought. I'll try that.

[WRTC928]

17 minutes ago, MarkInTampa said:

Try disabling tone on the repeater input. At least it will rule out incompatibility if the tone settings between the radio and repeater. 

There doesn't seem to be any way to do that, either from the software or from the front of the machine. It only allows a CTCSS tone or a DTCS tone. There's no way to leave it blank. FWIW, it doesn't work with either CTCSS or DTCS.

[WRYZ926]

59 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Read the entire post. I tested the TYT radios on a Retevis RT97L with the exact same settings and they worked.

I used half a dozen antennas including the ones that worked just fine with the QYT and the AnyTone. Yes, I checked SWRs on all of the antennas and they were all below 2.0:1.

Everywhere from my driveway to several miles away. I carried an HT to make sure I had contact with the repeater at the tested distance.

No kidding, Sherlock? Of course it should. That's why I'm baffled.

Well no need for the attitude that you displayed nor was there a reason for name calling. Even the best of us will overlook the simple things when trouble shooting.

I won't bother to try to help you ever again since you want to get an attitude, Good luck figuring things out.

[WRTC928]

To test @MarkInTampa's hypothesis that maybe the two radio don't understand one another's tones, I changed the setting on the radio from "tone" to "TSQL". If I open the repeater with another radio, the TYT hears it just fine, but it still won't open the repeater. 

[WRTC928]

5 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

Well no need for the attitude that you displayed nor was there a reason for name calling. Even the best of us will overlook the simple things when trouble shooting.

I won't bother to try to help you ever again since you want to get an attitude, Good luck figuring things out.

You're right. I was testy because I was frustrated. I apologize. I do appreciate it when people are willing to help, but sometimes when things aren't going my way, I become a dick. I'll try to do better.

[LeoG]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

There doesn't seem to be any way to do that, either from the software or from the front of the machine. It only allows a CTCSS tone or a DTCS tone. There's no way to leave it blank. FWIW, it doesn't work with either CTCSS or DTCS.

There is an update to the repeater 1.008R that should allow you to operate the input with no tone.  There is also a squelch function with the new version.  Mine was defaulted to 5 and interferred with low signals.  I dropped it to 1.

 

I see that they have a new update of 1.010R now.

[WRTC928]

42 minutes ago, LeoG said:

There is an update to the repeater 1.008R that should allow you to operate the input with no tone.  There is also a squelch function with the new version.  Mine was defaulted to 5 and interferred with low signals.  I dropped it to 1.

 

I see that they have a new update of 1.010R now.

Thanks! I'll update it tomorrow and see if it changes anything.

[LeoG]

Just talked with Btech and the 1.010R is a minor bug fix.  If you've put the 1.008R update in there you're good to go as far as updates go.

If you are still on 1.003R then do the update, it's fairly straight forward if you have the RJ45 connector.  It's just a straight cord with a USB-A and an RJ45, no chip.

[WRTC928]

34 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Just talked with Btech and the 1.010R is a minor bug fix.  If you've put the 1.008R update in there you're good to go as far as updates go.

If you are still on 1.003R then do the update, it's fairly straight forward if you have the RJ45 connector.  It's just a straight cord with a USB-A and an RJ45, no chip.

I'm not sure if I have that cord. I'll have to look.

[LeoG]

Btech will send you one for free.  You just have to email them that you need it and send them a picture of your repeaters serial number.  Took it about 3 days to get to me.  The new setups come with the cord.