VX-160 question from a new guy
VX-160 question from a new guy
I'm new to the Radio world. I programmed the radios so they are able to hit each other, the trouble is, if I get more than a block away, not even honestly more like 100 yards, they're completely useless. Surely these have a further range than this? And it's not even a high traffic zone. Anytime I get around 150 yards away, I can neither transmit nor receive communication. Is this normal for this radio?
Re: VX-160 question from a new guy
Double check your codeplug. You must have something askew. My kid's FRS radios work better than that.
You should make sure you have the same frequency and PL tone on both the transmit and receive side of things then load the same plug into both radios.
You should make sure you have the same frequency and PL tone on both the transmit and receive side of things then load the same plug into both radios.
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Radioman_1953
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:31 pm
Re: VX-160 question from a new guy
You might check your power setting, low power is only 1 watt.JHaezter wrote:I'm new to the Radio world. I programmed the radios so they are able to hit each other, the trouble is, if I get more than a block away, not even honestly more like 100 yards, they're completely useless. Surely these have a further range than this? And it's not even a high traffic zone. Anytime I get around 150 yards away, I can neither transmit nor receive communication. Is this normal for this radio?
Jim
Re: VX-160 question from a new guy
If one of your two radios transmits further than the other, it's obviously some kind of problem specific to that radio. Even a radio with blown finals should receive normally, so if neither of the radios transmits further than the other, could that be an antenna problem?
What is the condition of the "rubber duck" antennas (any cracks or dry rot) and their connectors (any looseness, rattly feeling)? I had a VHF Relm portable that kept getting bad signal reports any distance over a couple hundred feet away. Once I got the right kind of adapter to hook up the wattmeter, I realized it was only putting out a few milliwatts. I took it apart and a screw fell out
It secured the antenna connector and had worked loose. I also tightened the connector to the metal chassis. Problem solved...
Good luck!
What is the condition of the "rubber duck" antennas (any cracks or dry rot) and their connectors (any looseness, rattly feeling)? I had a VHF Relm portable that kept getting bad signal reports any distance over a couple hundred feet away. Once I got the right kind of adapter to hook up the wattmeter, I realized it was only putting out a few milliwatts. I took it apart and a screw fell out
It secured the antenna connector and had worked loose. I also tightened the connector to the metal chassis. Problem solved...Good luck!
Re: VX-160 question from a new guy
BE SURE THEY ARE BOTH ON SIMPLEX[XMT~RCV SAME FREQ]LOT OF TRTOUBLE WITH RUBBER DUCK ANT..BE SURE CENTER PIN IS INTACT
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Elfnetdesigns
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:05 pm
- Location: Las Vegas, Nv.
Re: VX-160 question from a new guy
The 160 and 180 are not really worth dumping money into to repair but you may want to have them put on a service monitor and checked out. You could have anything from a bad antenna to a failed pin diode or PA in which case your better off buying a new radio.
Some things you can check fairly easy are:
Are both radios on the same channel and the frequencies and PL/DPL codes in that channel identical in each radio?
Is the antenna in working condition and does it seat into the socket properly? You coule have a missing center pin or the pin (or contact clip) may have broken off its solder pad inside the radio.
Some things you can check fairly easy are:
Are both radios on the same channel and the frequencies and PL/DPL codes in that channel identical in each radio?
Is the antenna in working condition and does it seat into the socket properly? You coule have a missing center pin or the pin (or contact clip) may have broken off its solder pad inside the radio.