Radioddity db20-g

[WRUQ357]

I don't own a laptop or computer, or have access to download the software to one. I have a tablet and can I barely surf and pay my bills online with it. I'm hoping someone can help me figure out how to program repeaters manually? I installed the radio in my jeep today and heard somebody on channel 16 while I was trying to set it up. 

[WRYS709]

22 hours ago, WRUQ357 said:

I know the repeater tone and have permission to use it from the owner. I have it in my MXT275 and GM-30 HT. The DB20 owners manual is a little bigger than 3 years ago. I was playing with it again and had to factory reset it. Now I can't get it to change from vf mode to channel mode. I'm taking a break from it at this point. 

1) Push FUN button

2) Using the V/M button as UP and MAIN button as DOWN, go to Menu Item 29:DSPCHANNEL. Using the UP ARROW KEY (^) as UP and the DOWN ARROW KEY as DOWN, change CH to NAME. 

3) Press the FUN button again to exit Menu Mode

You should now be able to toggle between VFO and Channel Modes. 
 

@OffRoaderX would have told you this tip, but he was too busy being snarky to others whose only “crime” is wanting to help others on this Forum. 

[WRUQ357]

Well I got the repeater set up and made a contact about 60 miles or so in Tucson from the Sierra Vista repeater. I think I have most of it set where I want it. There will definitely still be a learning curve for sure. Thanks for all the help. 

[WRUQ357]

22 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

As there is for almost all radios! 

Congratulations and Enjoy! 

NOTE: I hate this "feature" where posts are default listed by votes and I have to manually change to Sort By Date, so that I do not miss any important posts!

Thanks for your help. Appreciate it!!

[OffRoaderX]

• Find/identify the correct repeater channel (NOT the regular channel).
• Find the transmit (TX) tone required to activate the repeater (MyGMRS is a good source)
• Do not worry about the receive (RX) tone for now as it is optional and will only confuckulate things
• Put your radio on the correct repeater channel mentioned in the first step
• Go into the menu and enter the TX tone mentioned in step 2 (note, you may have to read the manual for this part)
• Save the change you just made.
• Push the talk-trigger and enjoy the repeater

 

[WRUQ357]

30 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

• Find/identify the correct repeater channel (NOT the regular channel).
• Find the transmit (TX) tone required to activate the repeater (MyGMRS is a good source)
• Do not worry about the recipe (RX) tone for now as it is optional and will only confuckulate things
• Put your radio on the correct repeater channel mentioned in the first step
• Go into the menu and enter the TX tone mentioned in step 2 (note, you may have to read the manual for this part)
• Save the change you just made.
• Push the talk-trigger and enjoy the repeater

 

Thanks @OffRoaderX. I watched your review from 3 years ago, not being good with computers sucks sometimes. 

[WRYS709]

Let us know if you need instructions in more detail to manually program your DB20-G, or if the posted instructions work for you. 

Is yours set to GMRS mode or have you “opened” it to get more flexibility when programming manually?

[OffRoaderX]

53 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

Is yours set to GMRS mode or have you “opened” it to get more flexibility when programming manually?

Really?  do you really think that if he can't figure out how to program a repeater that he figured out how to "open" it?  Seriously dude, know your audience....

[amaff]

15 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

• (note, you may have to read the manual for this part)

Not with this radio. It's a "pamphlet" radio and it is NOT clear about how to enter tones in the menu. I have a post in another thread I'll have to go hunt down from when I had to figure out how to do that.

EDIT: the post quoted in this link has MOST of the steps for manually programming the radio, however it's missing a step that was not obvious to me at least, until I asked on a model-specific group on FB.

[WRUQ357]

I know the repeater tone and have permission to use it from the owner. I have it in my MXT275 and GM-30 HT. The DB20 owners manual is a little bigger than 3 years ago. I was playing with it again and had to factory reset it. Now I can't get it to change from vf mode to channel mode. I'm taking a break from it at this point. 

[WRUQ357]

3 hours ago, WRYS709 said:

Let us know if you need instructions in more detail to manually program your DB20-G, or if the posted instructions work for you. 

Is yours set to GMRS mode or have you “opened” it to get more flexibility when programming manually?

I have not opened it, and think I will. I was going to move the MXT275 to my truck to replace the GM-30 that I have set up with a ghost antenna. I thought the DB20 would be easier to scroll up straight to a repeater channel. 

[WRUQ357]

Just now, WRUQ357 said:

I have not opened it, and think I will. I was going to move the MXT275 to my truck to replace the GM-30 that I have set up with a ghost antenna. I thought the DB20 would be easier to scroll up straight to a repeater channel. 

I meant to say I don't think I will open it. 

[WRYS709]

On 9/24/2024 at 10:28 AM, OffRoaderX said:

Really?  do you really think that if he can't figure out how to program a repeater that he figured out how to "open" it?  Seriously dude, know your audience....

Some third party distributors include instructions for how to open it; especially for the Anytone AT-779UV clone. Amazon user comments have the instructions for the DB20-G.

And that’s MR DUDE to you!

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, WRUQ357 said:

There will definitely still be a learning curve for sure. Thanks for all the help. 

As there is for almost all radios! 

Congratulations and Enjoy! 

NOTE: I hate this "feature" where posts are default listed by votes and I have to manually change to Sort By Date, so that I do not miss any important posts!

[WRUQ357]

I've watched a lot of notarubicon's videos, @OffRoaderX, I'm just not able to retain what I learn like I used to. All of the searching that I did the last couple of days brought back some oh yeahs. All I need is a simple radio that just works out of the box. I think I've got my DB20 right for me finally. Thanks everyone. 

[WSFQ946]

On 9/24/2024 at 11:33 AM, WRYS709 said:

Let us know if you need instructions in more detail to manually program your DB20-G, or if the posted instructions work for you. 

Is yours set to GMRS mode or have you “opened” it to get more flexibility when programming manually?

Hey found this thread while trying to get my radio set up. have you ever had issues receiving with the Db20-g? mines unlocked and i can't get gmrs repeaters or simplex to play the transmission. it keys up, then when i release the HAndheld unit im testing with it has a static tone. just not my voice through channel. all tones are correct and transmits fine.

[WRUU653]

1 minute ago, WSFQ946 said:

Hey found this thread while trying to get my radio set up. have you ever had issues receiving with the Db20-g? mines unlocked and i can't get gmrs repeaters or simplex to play the transmission. it keys up, then when i release the HAndheld unit im testing with it has a static tone. just not my voice through channel. all tones are correct and transmits fine.

How close is your HT? If to close they can desence each other. Try putting some distance between the two radios, 50’ or so. 

[WSFQ946]

6 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

How close is your HT? If to close they can desence each other. Try putting some distance between the two radios, 50’ or so. 

Just tried this and it still is responding the same. New antennas on both HT and the db20 but was not having trouble HT to HT the other day. and seems odd that the 20 can transmit fine but not receive. i'm very new to this, but i'm 100% confident in my tones, and antenna compatibility with both units. attached is video where you can hear what it's doing, clearly hear it key up and then the heavier tone when i release the Ht, i was at 60'yards on this test with clear LOS.

[WRUU653]

What channel are you using in your test? Can you receive in simplex with no tones?

[SteveShannon]

I have two db20g radios. To answer your question, no I have not heard of problems receiving like you described. 
Desense is a real possibility, but I would not expect it if you are 60 yards away from the db20g while transmitting. 

I understand you’re 100% sure of your tones, but it would be an easy thing to test. Turn off the receive tone on the db20g and see if that helps. 
I have seen radios that transmit everything except the voice sounds. That can happen when the microphone hole is plugged or when the microphone signal wire is separated somehow. 

[WSFQ946]

Just now, WRUU653 said:

What channel are you using in you test? Can you receive in simplex with no tones?

No joy on any channel, simplex without tones, with tones, repeaters, saved channels, manual keying in Vfo mode. was fine without antenna at desk yesterday, add antenna today and nothing. 

[WSFQ946]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

I have two db20g radios. To answer your question, no I have not heard of problems receiving like you described. 
Desense is a real possibility, but I would not expect it if you are 60 yards away from the db20g while transmitting. 

I understand you’re 100% sure of your tones, but it would be an easy thing to test. Turn off the receive tone on the db20g and see if that helps. 

Thanks! Tried that sadly. done both programmed and manual entry with and without tones. Only variable changed is antennas, but bought them at reccomendation of someone else with a db20 and many other ham and gmrs units so i know they are compatible. getting worried its an issue with antenna tuning.

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WSFQ946 said:

Thanks! Tried that sadly. done both programmed and manual entry with and without tones. Only variable changed is antennas, but bought them at reccomendation of someone else with a db20 and many other ham and gmrs units so i know they are compatible. getting worried its an issue with antenna tuning.

Go back to the original antenna. 

[WRUU653]

2 minutes ago, WSFQ946 said:

Thanks! Tried that sadly. done both programmed and manual entry with and without tones. Only variable changed is antennas, but bought them at reccomendation of someone else with a db20 and many other ham and gmrs units so i know they are compatible. getting worried its an issue with antenna tuning.

Process of elimination, are you able to test just the HT with another to verify at least it’s working properly? You said programmed and manual… Can you show us a screen shot of what’s programmed? What antenna are you using?

[WSFQ946]

Just now, WRUU653 said:

Process of elimination, are you able to test just the HT with another to verify at least it’s working properly? You said programmed and manual… Can you show us a screen shot of what’s programmed? What antenna are you using?

I can do that again tonight only have on HT with me.  Antenna is a "ZBM2 industries Tough whip base Loaded antenna on the DB20. and a mag mount from amazon that again was recommended from friend who has used them. I have Programmed the Tones at 88.5 for tx and Rx on 462.550. and tested 462.575 with no tones on VFO mode.  sorry no screen shot, at work without that chirp computer. As always, could be user error, but with trying simplex no tones it makes me more worried. 

[WSFQ946]

14 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Go back to the original antenna. 

no orignal antenna. Bought used from friend who had no issues on his set up, Only difference for me is I unlocked it to use HAM bands as well. know that could be an issue, but was able to RX before antenna came in on simplex at up to 20 yards on simplex while checking channels as I saved them to make sure they worked.