Tid H3 radios will not open repeaters

[WSAX392]

I've had this same problem three out of five H3 would not open repeaters. I think it might be a pl tone problem. The radios should be pulled from selling until this is fixed. Radio transmits but repeaters will not respond 

[Socalgmrs]

While I can’t stand these radios and totally and completely agree with tossing them all in a dumpster fire, are you totally sure the tones and settings are correct?  Antenna tight and secure and not broken? Close enough with good line of sight? All radios on high power?  While I don’t think radios should need firm ware updates are they all using the same firmware?  
 

With all the problems I read on this site about many different radios and makers I can’t believe tid, retivis, radioddity, rugged , midland, Wouxon are still in business. 

[Jaay]

20 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

While I can’t stand these radios and totally and completely agree with tossing them all in a dumpster fire, are you totally sure the tones and settings are correct?  Antenna tight and secure and not broken? Close enough with good line of sight? All radios on high power?  While I don’t think radios should need firm ware updates are they all using the same firmware?  
 

With all the problems I read on this site about many different radios and makers I can’t believe tid, retivis, radioddity, rugged , midland, Wouxon are still in business. 

We can't believe You're still in business, with all your Negativity !

[Jaay]

30 minutes ago, WSAX392 said:

I've had this same problem three out of five H3 would not open repeaters. I think it might be a pl tone problem. The radios should be pulled from selling until this is fixed. Radio transmits but repeaters will not respond 

Are you using the ODMaster app to program your H-3 or a cable ?

[WSEN940]

1 hour ago, WSAX392 said:

I've had this same problem three out of five H3 would not open repeaters. I think it might be a pl tone problem. The radios should be pulled from selling until this is fixed. Radio transmits but repeaters will not respond 

Are you looking for assistance? If so, I’ll ask the obvious questions. 
 

1. Have you cloned a working radios settings into the non functioning one?

2. How far are the repeaters from you? Is it possible that you are actually at the radios range limit.

3. Have you tried the following, as you have multiple radios?

Let’s call one of the non functioning radios R1 

Take a second radio, R2, and program it on a SIMPLEX channel with the input frequency of the repeater(R1 transmit frequency) and with the same tone as the repeaters input. 
 

key up R1 and see if R2 responds. If it does, then you’ve proved the radio works and your just not hitting the repeater. 
 

let us know how it goes. 

 

[TrikeRadio]

1 hour ago, WSAX392 said:

I've had this same problem three out of five H3 would not open repeaters. I think it might be a pl tone problem. The radios should be pulled from selling until this is fixed. Radio transmits but repeaters will not respond 

So... if three out of five do not open the repeater... and you think it might be a PL tone issue... it kinda sounds more like a problem with your setup than the radios themselves. Or maybe you are actually hitting the repeater but just not hearing the squelch back. or you are "testing" by listening to the repeater with one H3 and transmitting to the repeater with the other, but the two radios are too close together so they are de-sensing each other.

too many variables to give you a single answer without more information. But for you to just say it is the radio's problem seems a bit more like your frustration speaking than what the actual issue is.

1. how do you know that they all are "transmitting"? just because the screen shows the bar going across or do you know they are transmitting?
2. do you know if they are all transmitting at the same output power levels?
3. have you cloned the working radios to the "not working" radios (using the wireless cloning feature) to assure they are all setup exactly the same?
4. are you using the same antennas on all of them?
5. are you using stock antennas that came with the radios? (In my experience the stock antennas are ok... but not best... )

 

[WSEN940]

As per my usual approach.

Here is a visual showing how to test your radio is setup for a repeater. Admittedly, this does require a second radio.

The picture shows a use case with a repeater on 467.7/462.7 with an input tone of 131.8

For simplicity, you can omit the tone on radio 2 (test 2) to check that your primary radio is receiving, and then add it in if you have programmed it on Radio one to test that it's actually OK. That's up to you.

All this proves is that your radio 'can possibly' communicate with the repeater. It does not account for the fact that you may 'actually' have the wrong information in the first place. I can't test for that!!! And trust me...i've been there.

Hopefully this is helpful.

[LeoG]

9 hours ago, WSEN940 said:

Are you looking for assistance? If so, I’ll ask the obvious questions. 
 

1. Have you cloned a working radios settings into the non functioning one?

2. How far are the repeaters from you? Is it possible that you are actually at the radios range limit.

3. Have you tried the following, as you have multiple radios?

Let’s call one of the non functioning radios R1 

Take a second radio, R2, and program it on a SIMPLEX channel with the input frequency of the repeater(R1 transmit frequency) and with the same tone as the repeaters input. 
 

key up R1 and see if R2 responds. If it does, then you’ve proved the radio works and your just not hitting the repeater. 
 

let us know how it goes. 

 

That's not necessarily true.  I had my 1st set of TD-H3s come in with one radio that was transmitting low enough my SW-102 registered zero output yet I could over 1/3 mile with the bad radio but not be able to open up any repeater in my area.

[LeoG]

8 hours ago, TrikeRadio said:

So... if three out of five do not open the repeater... and you think it might be a PL tone issue... it kinda sounds more like a problem with your setup than the radios themselves. Or maybe you are actually hitting the repeater but just not hearing the squelch back. or you are "testing" by listening to the repeater with one H3 and transmitting to the repeater with the other, but the two radios are too close together so they are de-sensing each other.

too many variables to give you a single answer without more information. But for you to just say it is the radio's problem seems a bit more like your frustration speaking than what the actual issue is.

1. how do you know that they all are "transmitting"? just because the screen shows the bar going across or do you know they are transmitting?
2. do you know if they are all transmitting at the same output power levels?
3. have you cloned the working radios to the "not working" radios (using the wireless cloning feature) to assure they are all setup exactly the same?
4. are you using the same antennas on all of them?
5. are you using stock antennas that came with the radios? (In my experience the stock antennas are ok... but not best... )

 

I know for a fact that on the TD-H3 the transmit bar will show output whether or not the radio is actually transmitting.  It's basically a hardwired feature and not an actually power measuring meter.

[Raybestos]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:00 AM, Jaay said:

We can't believe You're still in business, with all your Negativity !

In all fairness, the dude is right.  There is so much buggy crap out there on the market that should not be, especially among those brands he listed.

[Jaay]

58 minutes ago, Raybestos said:

In all fairness, the dude is right.  There is so much buggy crap out there on the market that should not be, especially among those brands he listed.

True to some extent, but the way to combat this is Do Not buy your chinesium from Amazon, Fleabay or shop409, etc.  Stay with reputable retailers here in the states, which offer Warranties, such as buytwowayradios.com 

[LeoG]

Any Tidradio that was defective was replaced within days of me complaining.  They never ask for the old radio either so no hassle with returning it.  Although I think the quality control could be a lot better, the service I get from them is just fine.  And they seem to stand behind their radios.  If you are complaining about a $25-30 radio that comes with antennas, battery, charger, instruction booklet, USB power pack and cord you really need to think about what a great value that is for someone who isn't looking to spend $200+ per radio just for quality.  When you get a good one it stays that way, well... so far.

[TrikeRadio]

2 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Any Tidradio that was defective was replaced within days of me complaining.  They never ask for the old radio either so no hassle with returning it.  Although I think the quality control could be a lot better, the service I get from them is just fine.  And they seem to stand behind their radios.  If you are complaining about a $25-30 radio that comes with antennas, battery, charger, instruction booklet, USB power pack and cord you really need to think about what a great value that is for someone who isn't looking to spend $200+ per radio just for quality.  When you get a good one it stays that way, well... so far.

Agree.. I personally have two TD-H3s (and I bought them off amazon) for over 8 months, never had a problem with them, in fact they have surpassed my expectations for them.

several other friends have bought them... for a total of 8 radios. Of all of those one had a problem and like you said it was quickly replaced no questioned asked.
 

[WRPB665]

I have two TD-H3 radios. One for GMRS and one for ham.  Neither has had any problems opening repeaters.  As TrikeRadio said, I'm very impressed by these radios.

[WSFM959]

As an interested party (I have both the HAM and GMRS versions) I have been having similar issues but only with the HAM version. The GMRS version seems to have no issues connecting to and through repeaters.  When i select the GMRS version of the firmware on the HAM version of the radio, thats when i hit repeater connection issues. Now all of them work in Simplex mode without issues, It's the HAM version in GMRS mode that just will not connect.  Could it be that there is indeed a difference, particularly in repeater mode (Duplex) on the HAM versions?

It would be interesting to find out how many of the radios were bought as the GMRS or HAM variants, I mean... why would they sell two variants if they were both the same?

Also, were the models that failed using DCS or CTCSS tones?

 

[SteveShannon]

58 minutes ago, WSFM959 said:

It would be interesting to find out how many of the radios were bought as the GMRS or HAM variants, I mean... why would they sell two variants if they were both the same?

Because the regulations prohibit certifying a GMRS radio that can easily transmit on ham frequencies. 

[TrikeRadio]

3 hours ago, WSFM959 said:

As an interested party (I have both the HAM and GMRS versions) I have been having similar issues but only with the HAM version. The GMRS version seems to have no issues connecting to and through repeaters.  When i select the GMRS version of the firmware on the HAM version of the radio, thats when i hit repeater connection issues. Now all of them work in Simplex mode without issues, It's the HAM version in GMRS mode that just will not connect.  Could it be that there is indeed a difference, particularly in repeater mode (Duplex) on the HAM versions?

It would be interesting to find out how many of the radios were bought as the GMRS or HAM variants, I mean... why would they sell two variants if they were both the same?

Also, were the models that failed using DCS or CTCSS tones?

 

The "ham version" and the "GMRS version" are EXACTLY the same radio. They only sell them as ham or gmrs so as to include appropriately tuned antennas with them (which you can replace with anything anyway). either "ham" or "gmrs" radios can be switched into either HAM or GMRS or "Normal" (unlocked) modes and then will obey rules for Ham or GMRS as far as transmit power levels and allowed frequencies for tranimitting. GMRS will also adhere to the +5 offset for repeaters that are setup properly (at least under channel 55 it seems)

You may not have the offset + - or whatever set right for the HAM repeaters? a guess.

[WSFM959]

Everythings set the same on both radio's, and set correctly, I have tried programming manually and through the software, same result. the GMRS version works fine and opens the repeater which i can then use. The HAM version is programmed the same, but it wont open the same repeater when in GMRS mode. and yes its a positive 5 Mhz, so 462 recieve 467 transmit... but i get no squelch tail kick back and cannot be heard on the HAM version set up for GMRS. its almost like its a tone issue

 

[TrikeRadio]

2 hours ago, WSFM959 said:

Everythings set the same on both radio's, and set correctly, I have tried programming manually and through the software, same result. the GMRS version works fine and opens the repeater which i can then use. The HAM version is programmed the same, but it wont open the same repeater when in GMRS mode. and yes its a positive 5 Mhz, so 462 recieve 467 transmit... but i get no squelch tail kick back and cannot be heard on the HAM version set up for GMRS. its almost like its a tone issue

One bit of weirdness that I have noticed about the TD-H3 is that if you enter a CTCSS or DCS for the RX it automatically puts that same value in the corresponding TX too. and if you clear the RX tone/code it will clear out the TX tone/code.

Does the repeater you are trying to use have a different RX vs TX tone or code, or does it use a CTCSS tone for one and DCS for the other?
 

[LeoG]

6 hours ago, TrikeRadio said:

One bit of weirdness that I have noticed about the TD-H3 is that if you enter a CTCSS or DCS for the RX it automatically puts that same value in the corresponding TX too. and if you clear the RX tone/code it will clear out the TX tone/code.

Does the repeater you are trying to use have a different RX vs TX tone or code, or does it use a CTCSS tone for one and DCS for the other?
 

Ya, that can be annoying and nice at the same time.  But you have to do it in the right order.  If you put the tone in the RX it'll automatically put it in the TX, but you still need to go there and press the blue button to enter it.  At that point if you have a split tone you can enter it, but you must put the RX tone in 1st.  It you put the TX tone in 1st and then the RX it'll change the TX tone.  That was just part of the learning curve on the radio.

[TrikeRadio]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

Ya, that can be annoying and nice at the same time.  But you have to do it in the right order.  If you put the tone in the RX it'll automatically put it in the TX, but you still need to go there and press the blue button to enter it.  At that point if you have a split tone you can enter it, but you must put the RX tone in 1st.  It you put the TX tone in 1st and then the RX it'll change the TX tone.  That was just part of the learning curve on the radio.

Yep. Took me doing it in reverse order and getting it wrong a few times before I figured that out. But it can be useful like you said, when you know how it works.