How to program TD H8 gen3 radio

[wrzy562]

I have odmaster and still unable to figure this programing out, Santiago peak is near my town,WRUW 923 emailed me the information but as yet I can hear others but when i key the mic it beeps. I watched a few videos and did lots of reading yet still no luck. I need a good tutorial on the TD-H8 gen 3. WRZY562

 

And yes Im a newb at GMRS

[amaff]

1 hour ago, wrzy562 said:

I have odmaster and still unable to figure this programing out, Santiago peak is near my town,WRUW 923 emailed me the information but as yet I can hear others but when i key the mic it beeps. I watched a few videos and did lots of reading yet still no luck. I need a good tutorial on the TD-H8 gen 3. WRZY562

 

And yes Im a newb at GMRS

The beep is the radio saying it's programmed to not transmit on that channel / frequency. Usually it's just a configuration issue.
Can you post a screen shot of your programming for that channel and see if we can't figure out what's up?

[OffRoaderX]

IIRC the TD-H8 is a H.A.M. radio, so its probably not going to want to transmit on GMRS.

[amaff]

Derp, forgot about that. I had H3 in my head, a pair of which I have in the GMRS flavor. That's probably the main issue. It'll need to be reset and unlocked to transmit on GMRS then.

I mean...no...don't do that...it's against the rules and you'll go to jail forever 

[Northcutt114]

5 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

IIRC the TD-H8 is a H.A.M. radio, so its probably not going to want to transmit on GMRS.

It will, you just have to have it in the right mode. OP, see video below, but the short version is. power off the radio then press and hold the "PTT" button and the "#" (pound sign or hashtag if you're a millennial) while powering it back on. Then press "Menu." This will delete your settings so make sure you have them backed up.

 

Apologies in advance to The Queen for posting a video that is not they/theirs.

 

[TrikeRadio]

31 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

IIRC the TD-H8 is a H.A.M. radio, so its probably not going to want to transmit on GMRS.

Not correct. the TD-H8 is like the H3- can be sest for GMRS, Ham, or "NORMAL" (open)

But if he has it in HAM... yeah it might scream at him trying to transmit in a GMRS frequency

[wrzy562]

1 hour ago, amaff said:

The beep is the radio saying it's programmed to not transmit on that channel / frequency. Usually it's just a configuration issue.
Can you post a screen shot of your programming for that channel and see if we can't figure out what's up?

 

[wrzy562]

10 hours ago, TrikeRadio said:

Not correct. the TD-H8 is like the H3- can be sest for GMRS, Ham, or "NORMAL" (open)

But if he has it in HAM... yeah it might scream at him trying to transmit in a GMRS frequency

It's in GMRS mode.

[wrzy562]

I saw that video and many others, the radio is in GMRS mode, I hear others on the channel . I know it a programing issue I just need help finding out what I'm doing wrong.

[amaff]

10 hours ago, wrzy562 said:

 

Ok...I meant in ODMaster, the screen that shows all the settings for that channel (not a picture of the screen of the radio), but there's a couple things going on...

My initial thought was that you weren't set up for a repeater (there's no frequency offset indicator on the screen, usually indicated on GMRS by a "+" symbol). And that might still be true, but that wouldn't explain why you can't transmit on GMRS 21. IE: It shouldn't be giving you the "I can't" tone when you hit the PTT...

I'm curious if the H8 in GMRS mode simply won't let you transmit when you're in VFO mode? Maybe test it by putting it into MR (memory) mode, put it on channel 21 and see if it'll at least let you transmit without giving you the beep.

From there, you should be able to set it to channel 29 (usually called "RPT21" or something along those lines) and select the appropriate tones. 

[wrzy562]

55 minutes ago, amaff said:

Ok...I meant in ODMaster, the screen that shows all the settings for that channel (not a picture of the screen of the radio), but there's a couple things going on...

My initial thought was that you weren't set up for a repeater (there's no frequency offset indicator on the screen, usually indicated on GMRS by a "+" symbol). And that might still be true, but that wouldn't explain why you can't transmit on GMRS 21. IE: It shouldn't be giving you the "I can't" tone when you hit the PTT...

I'm curious if the H8 in GMRS mode simply won't let you transmit when you're in VFO mode? Maybe test it by putting it into MR (memory) mode, put it on channel 21 and see if it'll at least let you transmit without giving you the beep.

From there, you should be able to set it to channel 29 (usually called "RPT21" or something along those lines) and select the appropriate tones. 

Yes it's in GMRS and now i understand heres a screenshot of odmaster,  This morning I tried again the screenshot you see and when I press to talk itgoes from 462.725 to 467.725 and say my call sign and now no beep or any tones. I did the memory mode and no tones either

[SteveShannon]

5 minutes ago, wrzy562 said:

Yes it's in GMRS and now i understand heres a screenshot of odmaster,  This morning I tried again the screenshot you see and when I press to talk itgoes from 462.725 to 467.725 and say my call sign and now no beep or any tones. I did the memory mode and no tones either

So now you’re successfully transmitting.  I have no idea whether that’s the right frequency for the transmitter you’re trying to reach or whether the repeater requires that DTCSS code (D261N) but if it does, and if you’re in range you should be able to hit the repeater.

One thing I would recommend if you’re just starting out, clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz).  If it’s set wrong you’ll hear nothing.  If you leave the receive tone empty you’ll hear everything on that channel.  You can always go back in and change just the receive tone, but it must exactly match the repeater.

[wrzy562]

45 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

So now you’re successfully transmitting.  I have no idea whether that’s the right frequency for the transmitter you’re trying to reach or whether the repeater requires that DTCSS code (D261N) but if it does, and if you’re in range you should be able to hit the repeater.

One thing I would recommend if you’re just starting out, clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz).  If it’s set wrong you’ll hear nothing.  If you leave the receive tone empty you’ll hear everything on that channel.  You can always go back in and change just the receive tone, but it must exactly match the repeater.

(clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz)) is that the  decode (RX) (162.2 Hz) ?, I've had the radio on for a while now and I heard someone say there call sign testing and then heard a reply I guess the repeater  identifying the station then said welcome. When I say wrzy 562 i done hear that .

[wrzy562]

51 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

So now you’re successfully transmitting.  I have no idea whether that’s the right frequency for the transmitter you’re trying to reach or whether the repeater requires that DTCSS code (D261N) but if it does, and if you’re in range you should be able to hit the repeater.

One thing I would recommend if you’re just starting out, clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz).  If it’s set wrong you’ll hear nothing.  If you leave the receive tone empty you’ll hear everything on that channel.  You can always go back in and change just the receive tone, but it must exactly match the repeater.

Almost forgot, I'm buying a Nagoya UT-72G S antenna and wondering if I need a swr meter ?. And is that a good GMRS antenna ?.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, wrzy562 said:

(clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz)) is that the  decode (RX) (162.2 Hz) ?, I've had the radio on for a while now and I heard someone say there call sign testing and then heard a reply I guess the repeater  identifying the station then said welcome. When I say wrzy 562 i done hear that .

If you hear the repeater, don’t worry about the decode tone; it must be working. However, what is the correct frequency.  For the photo of the radio you had it on .700.  In the configuration you show it at .725.  

You shouldn’t expect to hear yourself when you transmit, but if you’re in range and if the tone or code for your radio is correct, you might hear someone come back to you.

So, the big question is whether that’s truly the correct TX code for you to access the repeater. Are you certain that it’s supposed to be D261N? 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, wrzy562 said:

Almost forgot, I'm buying a Nagoya UT-72G S antenna and wondering if I need a swr meter ?. And is that a good GMRS antenna ?.

I’ve never used it, but other people here seem to like it.  If it’s designed for GMRS then you don’t need an SWR meter.  Of course I think everyone could benefit from owning one at some point, but let’s get you into the repeater first.

[WRTC928]

6 hours ago, wrzy562 said:

Almost forgot, I'm buying a Nagoya UT-72G S antenna and wondering if I need a swr meter ?. And is that a good GMRS antenna ?.

You'll get varying opinions on almost any piece of equipment. Some of the people who participate here have a low opinion of the UT-72, but it worked just fine for me. Likely it's related to different use cases. Folks have reported that they got more range from other antennas vs the UT-72, but where I am, the terrain is the limiting factor. A better antenna might get me another mile or so, but pretty much the range is what the range is. There's not really a definitive answer to your question. My advice is to try it and see. It might do everything you need.

[wrzy562]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

You'll get varying opinions on almost any piece of equipment. Some of the people who participate here have a low opinion of the UT-72, but it worked just fine for me. Likely it's related to different use cases. Folks have reported that they got more range from other antennas vs the UT-72, but where I am, the terrain is the limiting factor. A better antenna might get me another mile or so, but pretty much the range is what the range is. There's not really a definitive answer to your question. My advice is to try it and see. It might do everything you need.

I ordered it, TY

[Northcutt114]

10 hours ago, wrzy562 said:

(clear out that decode tone (162.2 Hz)) is that the  decode (RX) (162.2 Hz) ?, I've had the radio on for a while now and I heard someone say there call sign testing and then heard a reply I guess the repeater  identifying the station then said welcome. When I say wrzy 562 i done hear that .

I could just be that no one is on the radio when you call out? It sounds like you are transmitting. As @SteveShannon has said, double check that the frequency numbers and input tones are correct.

 

ETA: Ok, I guess I misunderstood. It sounds like this is an automated repeater? So if it is not responding to you, one of two things is going on. Either A) you are not in range of it...not close enough to it, or B ) your TX tone is not correct and you are getting to the repeater, but your tone is not opening it up.

 

[DougMV]

Santiago Peak is a great site for a repeater for Orange County California. I used to live there. It is good you are trying it out.