Posted: 8/18/2010 3:38:24 PM EDT
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Hi all! I purchased a couple of ICOM F3011 radios thinking it would be fairly easy for me to program them...boy was I wrong. I have the programming cable, I've uploaded the driver and installed the software, but I don't know what I'm looking at. My goal is to use two units for MURS and to receive NOAA weather broadcasts and other local emergency traffic. The unit has 16 channels. When I open the software, here is what I'm looking at:  Anybody that can help me will get a nice thank you gift in the mail. Thanks! |
I'm not familiar with the radio or software but I'll take a stab for a free gift. 
Atr/Inh no idea. Next columns are for receive and transmit freqs. If you're putting a NOAA freq in they'd both be the same (or any simplex freq). For the NOAA freqs you'd want to check Tx Inh (transmit inhibit) so you don't try transmitting on the freq. I'm going to assume W/N is wide/narrow. Most of your freqs will probably be narrow. Not sure what possible squelch values you might be able to enter. Maybe a numerical value? CTone is for Rx and Tx CTCSS tones (required for some repeaters). Usually these are the same but not always. TOT will probably enable/disable the timeout timer which cuts you off if you talk too long. RF Power is usually some derivative of H/M/L. Some radios have M1 and M2 if they offer 4 power levels. Not sure what the Pwr Save is but it's probably an on/off switch that puts the radio to sleep. Lockout probably means you can't change the settings for that memory channel (?). Scan should either include it or not when scanning the memory. Not sure about auto reset. Hope this helps. ETA: The manual isn't very helpful. All I could get from it is The transceiver has several inhibit functions which restrict trans- mission under the following conditions: - The channel is in mute condition. - The channel is busy. - Un-matched (or matched) CTCSS is received. - The selected channel is a ‘receive only’ channel. So it doesn't look like Tx Inh is an on/off switch but could possibly be set to one of four values. |
| I use a similar program, looks like an Excell spread sheet. In my programs, FTB2800 (for Yaesu FT-2800M) and FTB1802 (for FT-1802M) from G5FHQ, you can just type in some cells, others have drop down menus you can click and select from. Have you tried looking in the Help menu for a manual or instructions? |
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No instruction manual, unfortunately. I figured out how to enter some frequencies. The first 5 are the MURS freqs that I want to use with my other MURS radios. All of the others are ones that I only want to receive that are my frequently listened to channels from my scanner. I also included a screenshot that has each of the available choices for each column. Any help relative to the ones that I should choose will be much appreciated.   |
I did pretty good! 
Atr PRIORITY CHANNEL KEYS ➥ Push to select the Priority A or Priority B channel. P ➥ Push and hold [Prio A (Rewrite)] to rewrite the Prio A channel. Power Save When the power save function is turned ON, and the operating pe- riods are calculated under the following conditions; TX : RX : standby = 5 : 5 : 90 Auto-Reset (I think this is what applies) • Time-out timer (probably A) After continuous transmission for the pre-programmed time period, the time-out timer activates, and causes the transceiver to stop transmit- ting. • Penalty timer (probably B) Once the time-out timer activates, transmission is further inhibited for a period determined by the penalty timer. No other mention of the penalty timer in the manual. 
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The first three channels on MURS should be checked N on the W/N column. The are narrowband only. The other two are okay as W (wideband). I always set either a PL or DPL tone on the channels I will be using among my group. This is really important on the 154.570 and 154.600 which are used by wally world and a lot of drive through head sets. If you get up on a high ridge, you can hear some distant stations on these radios on the MURS stations.
What did you get with these radios? I noticed that actioncommunications.com has them for$156.00 with lithium battery and rapid charger. RS |
Welcome to LMR radio programming 
MURS is limited to 2 watts, so running full power really isn't legal. As previously mentioned three of the MURS freqs are narrowband only, the other two are narrow or wide. In a couple years all will be limited to narrowband due to the FCC mandate. I would turn on the TOT (time out timer) on all of your transmit channels to stop inadvertent long transmissions (sat on the PTT). Using some kind of squelch code/tone would be very helpful on the MURS channels due to the number of users on those frequencies. All users you want to communicate with would have to have the correct tone in their radios if you do that. |
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Thank you all for your help! JaxShooter, please shoot me your address since you got the ball rolling for me. Just a few more questions:
Here is the sheet so far. Do I need to make any other changes?  To radioshooter, I got these from tacticalcommunications.biz. The owner (Steve) is a great guy and I think he is a member here. |
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Thank you all for your help! JaxShooter, please shoot me your address since you got the ball rolling for me. 
[ul] |
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MURS is limited to 2 watts, so running full power really isn't legal. As previously mentioned three of the MURS freqs are narrowband only, the other two are narrow or wide. In a couple years all will be limited to narrowband due to the FCC mandate.
With the impending demise of the GMRS band as we know it, a lot of radio people in the know will be shifting non-ham communications to the MURS channels. Unfortunately the FCC appears to be closing the door on personal repeater comms and the use of Part 90 radios on GMRS too. The statement in the NPR about everyone using commercial providers for long distance communications is pretty telling of the intent. Anyway, I interpret the power rule as 2 watts ERP. So 5 watts x a -3.4 db rubber duck antenna = 2 watts ERP. Bingo.
RS |
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[ul] this topic is *not* related to FM radio stations and their respective +/-75KHz deviation and 200KHz channel spacing. this is confusing in general because this mode is often called "wide FM" or "W-FM" in user documentation. however, in the context of VHF/UHF band LMR and amateur radios using FM modulation, "wide" mode means +/- 5KHz deviation and 25KHz channel spacing. ("25K0F3E") "narrow" mode means +/- 2.5KHz deviation and 12.5KHz channel spacing. ("12K5F3E") hence you will note that "narrow" results in more users (=channels) for a given slice of the spectrum. not all LMR and 2m/70cm amateur radios support "narrow" mode; only radios built in the last 10-15 years or so have this modulation option. e.g. http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/ham/yaesu-vx170/VX-170_Manual.pdf Set Mode Item 51 [WID.NAR] Function: Select Wide (±5 kHz) or Narrow (±2.5 kHz) TX Deviation. Available Values: WIDE/NARROW Default: WIDE Note: If “Narrow” is selected, the receiver audio level is increased slightly to compensate for the reduced deviation. The receiver IF filter bandwidth is not changed via this setting. but as you can see below, even the same manufacturer has different terminology! http://losdos.dyndns.org/public/ham/yaesu-vx6r/VX-6R_UserManual.pdf In many areas of the world, channel congestion has required that operating channels be closely spaced. In such operating environments, it often is required that operators use reduced deviation levels, so as to reduce the potential for interference to users on adjacent channels. The VX-6R includes a simple method of accomplishing this: 1. Press the [F/W] key, then press the [0(SET)] key to enter the Set mode. 2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 27: HLF.DEV. 3. Press the [0(SET)] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Set Mode Item. 4. Rotate the DIAL knob to set this Set Mode Item to “ON.” In this configuration (HALF DEVIATION active), the transmitter’s deviation will be approximately ±2.5 kHz, and the received audio output level will be increased, for easier listening on the narrow signal. 5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT switch to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. The “normal” setting for the deviation (when this Set Mode Item is set to “OFF”) is ±5 kHz. on an administrative note, the FCC has mandated that commercial/industrial/public safety users below 512MHz move to narrow mode operation by (edit) the end of 2012. brucers99: to specifically address your questions... 1. VHF marine radios and NOAA WX broadcasts use "16K0G3E" (functionally equivalent to "16K0F3E") emission, which is +/- 5KHz deviation with 16KHz bandwidth. use "wide" mode on your amateur or LMR radio for best receive performance with this emission type. 2. your local emergency frequencies *may* have already converted to 12.5KHz "narrow" mode, or they still may be on 25KHz "wide" mode for the near future. so-called "hybrid" (= analog FM + P25 digital {link}) public safety radios typically all use "narrow" mode modulation –– which is in fact a requirement of the P25 digital standard. ps: see http://life.itu.ch/radioclub/rr/ap01.htm for info on modulation emission designators. ar-jedi |
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this topic is *not* related to FM radio stations and their respective +/-75KHz deviation and 200KHz channel spacing. this is confusing in general because this mode is often called "wide FM" or "W-FM" in user documentation. Wasn't trying to insinuate that it was. |
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on an administrative note, the FCC has mandated that commercial/industrial/public safety users below 512MHz move to narrow mode operation by 2012. ar-jedi just a little correction, its Jan 1, 2013. come midnight Dec 31, 2012 your shit had better be right. LOL. we are in the process of doing this now. its a PITA. 3/4's of the vol's radios are not compliant so they are pitching a bitch. they knew in 97 this was coming. gonna suck to be them when they have to replace all there radios. my dept's radios are GTG as is my personal radio. |
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on an administrative note, the FCC has mandated that commercial/industrial/public safety users below 512MHz move to narrow mode operation by 2012. just a little correction, its Jan 1, 2013. come midnight Dec 31, 2012 your shit had better be right. LOL. we are in the process of doing this now. its a PITA. 3/4's of the vol's radios are not compliant so they are pitching a bitch. they knew in 97 this was coming. gonna suck to be them when they have to replace all there radios. my dept's radios are GTG as is my personal radio. yes, thanks –– you are indeed correct –– compliance is required by EOY 2012. ar-jedi |
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Here's another tidbit to be aware of in the onrushing narrowbanding fiasco:
After 2010 manufacturers will no longer be allowed to make or import radios that are even capable of non-narrowband operation. So if you want an LMR radio that can interoperate on amateur and marine, receive weather radio, etc.... better get them now. |
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Here's another tidbit to be aware of in the onrushing narrowbanding fiasco: After 2010 manufacturers will no longer be allowed to make or import radios that are even capable of non-narrowband operation. So if you want an LMR radio that can interoperate on amateur and marine, receive weather radio, etc.... better get them now. there are plenty of PS radios that will be flooding the market here soon enough. i plan of picking up a couple of HT1000's pretty cheap. since the wife is a supervisor at the local EOC and they own a SHIT TON of them. LOL. |
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Here's another tidbit to be aware of in the onrushing narrowbanding fiasco: After 2010 manufacturers will no longer be allowed to make or import radios that are even capable of non-narrowband operation. So if you want an LMR radio that can interoperate on amateur and marine, receive weather radio, etc.... better get them now. there are plenty of PS radios that will be flooding the market here soon enough. i plan of picking up a couple of HT1000's pretty cheap. since the wife is a supervisor at the local EOC and they own a SHIT TON of them. LOL. Those will be non-narrowband only radios for the most part, many of which are older designs that don't necessarily cover the amateur band so will be of very limited usefulness. The point of my comment is that if you need a radio that can do both, you have a limited time to purchase a "preban" radio or else be limited to whatever is on the used market. One question I haven't seen reference to... I can't find any reference to marine frequencies, are they exempt from narrowbanding? I would think that they would be but nothing would surprise me when it comes to the ridiculousness of the federal government. |
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Here's another tidbit to be aware of in the onrushing narrowbanding fiasco: After 2010 manufacturers will no longer be allowed to make or import radios that are even capable of non-narrowband operation. So if you want an LMR radio that can interoperate on amateur and marine, receive weather radio, etc.... better get them now. there are plenty of PS radios that will be flooding the market here soon enough. i plan of picking up a couple of HT1000's pretty cheap. since the wife is a supervisor at the local EOC and they own a SHIT TON of them. LOL. Those will be non-narrowband only radios for the most part, many of which are older designs that don't necessarily cover the amateur band so will be of very limited usefulness. The point of my comment is that if you need a radio that can do both, you have a limited time to purchase a "preban" radio or else be limited to whatever is on the used market. One question I haven't seen reference to... I can't find any reference to marine frequencies, are they exempt from narrowbanding? I would think that they would be but nothing would surprise me when it comes to the ridiculousness of the federal government. you have to remember this has been coming a LOOOONG time so there will be plenty of equipment out there that will do W/N and amateur bands. i believe every radio made since 2005(or even earlier cant remember the exact year) had to be both W and N compliant. thats a lot of radios over that time frame. as for me personally, i dont need another radio that will do both. the HT1000's would be for amateur band only. |
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I was reading the proposed NPRM on Part 95 which is GMRS, MURS, and CB. The main problem on GMRS is the requirement for 2 watts and for the antennas to be fixed on the radios. Also, the GMRS will be required to be all narrowband by some date to be determined. The MURS regs are proposing to only certify radios with the five MURS freqs in them. It would appear that surplus wide band public safety radios will only have a home on 2 meters and 440.
I guess survivalist radio gear will become a top secret on a need to know basis and not discussed other than amatuer stuff. RS |