Radioddity DB-20G Squelch

[ladysmithgwl]

I recently purchased a Radioddity DB-20G to replace a Midland 115 that I was having audio issues with.  I am trying to find the sweet spot for my squelch setting and seeking input and experience from others.

I am trying to find the sweet spot for the squelch setting.  I can set it at 2 and not have static; however, when I receive some transmissions the squelch will remain open.  I have set it higher (about mid-point) and still experience the intermittent squelch remaining open.  I can "clear" the open squelch with a key of the mike.  I have also not set it to the highest setting because I am concerned about reception range.

Like I said, just putting this out there for any input and experiences others may have had with this radio which I do think is a decent radio for under $90.00.

[Guest]

For sure that is not the best placement of an antenna or the best antenna but if it’s doing the job for you on every other note I wouldn’t sweat it.   If you find your self needed to transmit further or you start having using to the rear then I’d look into a no ground plane 3ft or even 4ft “off road” unit that has more gain and you can get it higher up above everything thing. 

[Guest]

I set all my radios to 6-8 depending on the radio.   If it’s less then that the transmissions are all static anyway.  In less quality radios the squelch doesn’t do too much anyway. Not a load of difference in 1 or 10.     Glad the new one is working out better than the 115.  What antenna re you using and how is it set up?  

[ladysmithgwl]

4 minutes ago, WRXP381 said:

I set all my radios to 6-8 depending on the radio.   If it’s less then that the transmissions are all static anyway.  In less quality radios the squelch doesn’t do too much anyway. Not a load of difference in 1 or 10.     Glad the new one is working out better than the 115.  What antenna re you using and how is it set up?  

Thanks for the input.  I will try going higher.  Good to know the squelch doesn't do a whole bunch on these radios.  I was concerned about reception range.  Also, it isn't too difficult at all to change/adjust it.

I am running a Browning BR2445 antenna.  It is the "ghost", no ground plane antenna.  I have a-pillar/ditch lights on my truck and I have the antenna mounted to a bracket I made that attaches to the light bracket.  

I have been thinking about getting a different antenna.  I like the looks of the antenna and its performance is reasonable.  I think (and know) it could be better if it was taller which in my mind would help overall in regards to the vehicle blocking radio signals in general.  I would really like to mount the antenna on the roof of my truck in the center; however, with the antenna there it could (and probably would) be in the way when I use my roof top tent or carry kayaks. 

[WRUU653]

48 minutes ago, ladysmithgwl said:

Thanks for the input.  I will try going higher.  Good to know the squelch doesn't do a whole bunch on these radios.  I was concerned about reception range.  Also, it isn't too difficult at all to change/adjust it.

I am running a Browning BR2445 antenna.  It is the "ghost", no ground plane antenna.  I have a-pillar/ditch lights on my truck and I have the antenna mounted to a bracket I made that attaches to the light bracket.  

I have been thinking about getting a different antenna.  I like the looks of the antenna and its performance is reasonable.  I think (and know) it could be better if it was taller which in my mind would help overall in regards to the vehicle blocking radio signals in general.  I would really like to mount the antenna on the roof of my truck in the center; however, with the antenna there it could (and probably would) be in the way when I use my roof top tent or carry kayaks. 

I would agree with getting another antenna. If you want to stick with something short like you have Browning makes an antenna that goes up into the 470 range. Of course as they say height is might. I have had good luck with the Midland MXTA26. 

[ladysmithgwl]

46 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

I would agree with getting another antenna. If you want to stick with something short like you have Browning makes an antenna that goes up into the 470 range. Of course as they say height is might. I have had good luck with the Midland MXTA26. 

The MXTA26 is on my radar screen.  I have heard many say good things about that antenna.  If I wasn't concerned about it getting in the way, I would have mounted my antenna in the center of the roof of my truck.

[WRWE456]

You can have it both ways. If you use an NMO modular mount either through the roof (drilled hole) or magnet mount you can use a tall antenna and just unscrew it and swap it for the short one when you carry something on the roof rack.

[LeoG]

I have the Wouxun KG20+ and the squelch on the radio works pretty decent.  Because of a lot of DMR interference in my area I am forced to run PL RX codes to keep things quiet.  On top of that since I use repeaters which are pretty strong because of a good line of sight antenna I keep my squelch on 7-9.  I try to keep it on 7 but on occasion the DMR interference can get through.  I don't hear it, but it shows on the meter. Sometimes after someone releases the PTT I can hear the interference for about 1/2 second and then it resquelches.

I also run my own small repeater and because of trees and hills the signal is weak.  So on that channel I run a squelch of 2.  Otherwise when it's at it's weakest it'll be blocked.

[jmaiher]

On 8/21/2024 at 9:24 AM, ladysmithgwl said:

when I receive some transmissions the squelch will remain open…I can "clear" the open squelch with a key of the mike.

Curious how this has been working for you? I have 2 DB20-G radios and experience the same behavior with several repeaters. Hitting Mon to open the squelch sometimes breaks it, and, sometimes, just hitting Mon (not after receiving a transmission) will cause it to remain open too. The repeaters are a mix - some use tones and some do not. Signal level is at 0 lights, yet squelch remains open for varying amounts of time - a couple seconds to infinitely. I often have to change channels to get it to reset. Both radios do the same thing. I suspect it’s a bug. None of my other radios do this - just the DB20-G’s.

I've reached out to their support but aren’t holding my breath based on their first list of suggestions (several which where to change things like TOT which is a transmission not receive setting).

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, jmaiher said:

Curious how this has been working for you? I have 2 DB20-G radios and experience the same behavior with several repeaters. Hitting Mon to open the squelch sometimes breaks it, and, sometimes, just hitting Mon (not after receiving a transmission) will cause it to remain open too. The repeaters are a mix - some use tones and some do not. Signal level is at 0 lights, yet squelch remains open for varying amounts of time - a couple seconds to infinitely. I often have to change channels to get it to reset. Both radios do the same thing. I suspect it’s a bug. None of my other radios do this - just the DB20-G’s.

I've reached out to their support but aren’t holding my breath based on their first list of suggestions (several which where to change things like TOT which is a transmission not receive setting).

I have two db20g radios and neither one exhibits that behavior, but they are both nearly two years old.  A friend bought one recently and his hangs open like you described.  I’ll let him know that he’s not alone.

[amaff]

I also experienced this. It only seems to happen on certain repeaters.
For me, the only time I've had it was when we were in Yellowstone and I had the Park Ranger repeaters programmed in so we can listen to traffic and animal reports around the park.

But sometimes it would just hang open until I cycled the MON button. Very odd.
It doesn't do it with any of the GMRS, 70cm or 2m repeaters around Norther Utah where I live. Very odd.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, amaff said:

I also experienced this. It only seems to happen on certain repeaters.
For me, the only time I've had it was when we were in Yellowstone and I had the Park Ranger repeaters programmed in so we can listen to traffic and animal reports around the park.

But sometimes it would just hang open until I cycled the MON button. Very odd.
It doesn't do it with any of the GMRS, 70cm or 2m repeaters around Norther Utah where I live. Very odd.

It happens to my friend when I transmit on 2 meters from my FT5D handheld.