Marine radio transmit

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by junojoe

I have checked with many threads. but do not see my unique (probably) issue. The Ray Marine will transmit and receive weather, but no other radio traffic. From distances, others can hear me, but I cannot hear their call back. Any help is appreciated.

It transmits weather? I doubt it.

If others hear you, your radio is transmitting. Maybe your squelch setting is too high to receive the return calls.

Maybe you can get a more experienced boater at your marina to check your radio and if it's operator error, explain to you how it works.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by junojoe

................. I went out an bought a new connection to splice into the wire, but it appears it needs to be melted into the connection. Not sure how to do that, so I did not try. Certainly do not want to blow the boat up.

OK, you can buy a new radio and antenna and hire an electronics person to install it or you can hire an electronics person to check your radio and antenna and tell you if you need to replace one or both.

It's pretty clear to me that you don't have the knowledge to do it yourself.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Maybe you can get a more experienced boater at your marina to check your radio and if it's operator error, explain to you how it works.

That is inline with what I'm getting at. I would see if a neighbor could assist. Line of sight or by cellphone. Verify whether it is transmitting at all, or just not very far.

I would borrow someone's radio, if possible and plug it in. Same problem....maybe the antennae or cable. If it resolves it, then it's the radio itself.

It would seem to me that part of the problem with troubleshooting is not identifying and isolating the variables clearly.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by junojoe

Gentlemen

I am in the Chesapeake Bay. Its An older Ray Marine. I just replaced the chord to the microphone. The distance that others can hear me is far. But I cannot hear anything other than weather. Which is really clear. Does this help

Still sounds like Squelch. If you can RECEIVE weather then your radio is receiving, if others can hear you, you are TRANSMITTING. turn to channel 16 (or some other channel that typically has traffic. then turn your squelch dial all the way to the left until you hear static, then slowly work to the right until there is no static but you can hear the traffic

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by Shrew

That is inline with what I'm getting at. I would see if a neighbor could assist. Line of sight or by cellphone. Verify whether it is transmitting at all, or just not very far.

I would borrow someone's radio, if possible and plug it in. Same problem....maybe the antennae or cable. If it resolves it, then it's the radio itself.

It would seem to me that part of the problem with troubleshooting is not identifying and isolating the variables clearly.

For heavens sake, forget these Mickey Mouse approaches. Get (buy, borrow, or steal) a power/swr meter, stick it in line at the output of your transceiver, and measure, determine exactly what the problem is.

The meter will tell you:

1. if the antenna system is working or compromised, either by bad connectors, deteriorated coax, water intrusion, or other physical damage;

2. if your transmitter is putting out rated power.

No guessing. No beating your head on the bulkhead. Use the right tool and determine exactly where the problem lies, then take whatever steps are needed to correct things.

Anyone familiar with radio procedures could determine this in under 5 minutes.

Bill
WA6CCA

[rwidman]

In many parts of the country, Sea Tow has set up a service on channel 26 or 27 where you can make a test transmission and then hear your own transmission played back to you. This may or may not help the OP. I really think he needs to get some help.


Let me ask one more question that hasn't been asked: Did the radio once work normally and suddenly stopped or has it been like this since you got it? Did you install it yourself or did it come on a boat you just bought? OK, that's two questions.

[btrayfors]

junojoe,

Just noticed you're in the Chesapeake area. Where, exactly?

My shop is located in Arlington VA about a mile from the Pentagon; if you could pull the radio, I'd be happy to check it out for you.

If not, I'm often working in the northern Chesapeake area, and could stop by the boat to determine what's going on if you like.

Bill
WA6CCA
YachtSense

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

For heavens sake, forget these Mickey Mouse approaches. Get (buy, borrow, or steal) a power/swr meter, stick it in line at the output of your transceiver, and measure, determine exactly what the problem is.

The meter will tell you:

1. if the antenna system is working or compromised, either by bad connectors, deteriorated coax, water intrusion, or other physical damage;

2. if your transmitter is putting out rated power.

No guessing. No beating your head on the bulkhead. Use the right tool and determine exactly where the problem lies, then take whatever steps are needed to correct things.

WA6CCA

What the meter won't tell you if the signal contains audio information. Remember, he already replaced the microphone cable. Presumably, he had a reason for doing this.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by rwidman

What the meter won't tell you if the signal contains audio information. Remember, he already replaced the microphone cable. Presumably, he had a reason for doing this.

However, he reports a reception problem, not a transmission problem (if I understand his posts correctly, and they are vague enough that I have doubts).

Jim

[junojoe]

Thanks everyone for the help. I had the unit in either Canada or international mode and to make matters worse, it had some kind of sensitive mode engaged to only pick up local traffic. I did a factory reset and it's new again. New to these forums. Just joined last week. I am gratefu. Big savings. I would have bought a new one, installed it, then it would have worked and I would have thrown out a working unit. I shouldn't be Juno Joe, I should be Juno Idiot

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by junojoe

Thanks everyone for the help. I had the unit in either Canada or international mode and to make matters worse, it had some kind of sensitive mode engaged to only pick up local traffic. I did a factory reset and it's new again. New to these forums. Just joined last week. I am gratefu. Big savings. I would have bought a new one, installed it, then it would have worked and I would have thrown out a working unit. I shouldn't be Juno Joe, I should be Juno Idiot

Glad it worked out for you

While "finger trouble" can be embarrassing, it is usually a cheap fix and you get to learn more about the radio at the same time!

[ka4wja]

Joe,
I'm glad it worked out for ya!!
Congrats!!

But, FYI...
Marine VHF Channel 16 is the same in US, Canadian, or International mode/channel....
But, of course the "local" / "distance(dx)" switch is a real waste for most modern radios....but, at least you got it all working!


BTW, you shouldn't think of yourself as idiot, just new!!
So, learn from this and next time you'll add as much info as you can, right up front....and sooner rather than later, you'll be solving your own problems!


Fair winds..

John

[Wotname]

Joe, no disrespect to you and thank you for asking and starting the thread - unknown others will also learn from your experience. As an aside, I learn much about say engines or whatever from other who post their questions.

This thread reminds me of the benefits of having a formal radio operators licence structure in place - like in Australia etc. Here one has to have a licence to use a marine VHF. It's not difficult and many clubs and other marine organisations run the course and do the testing. While some see it as government intrusion into "our freedoms" or revenue raising (which it isn't as the ticket is perpetual), the benefits of having a basic understanding of using the radio and being able to identify (and remedy) simple faults far outweigh the once off process of getting the licence. And all other users benefit by not having to be disadvantaged by the incorrect use of the VHF network.

OK rant over

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Joe, no disrespect to you and thank you for asking and starting the thread - unknown others will also learn from your experience. As an aside, I learn much about say engines or whatever from other who post their questions.

This thread reminds me of the benefits of having a formal radio operators licence structure in place - like in Australia etc. Here one has to have a licence to use a marine VHF. It's not difficult and many clubs and other marine organisations run the course and do the testing. While some see it as government intrusion into "our freedoms" or revenue raising (which it isn't as the ticket is perpetual), the benefits of having a basic understanding of using the radio and being able to identify (and remedy) simple faults far outweigh the once off process of getting the licence. And all other users benefit by not having to be disadvantaged by the incorrect use of the VHF network.

OK rant over

Wottie, I note that despite the license requirements here in Oz, the level of knowledge isn't all t hat impressive! Nearly every weekend I hear yotties calling other boats on 16 and then (oh so well trained) demanding that their contact reply on 78. 78 is the working channel for Tas Maritime radio, and is a duplex channel. It will not work for boat to boat (as any trained operator should know), but many of these folks,even when advised of their error, continue to bugger about with repeated attempts to switch to that channel. Grrr.

And on the other side of the coin, those who insist on repeating the name of each vessel three times on every exchange...

So, my "rant in return" is that despite the license requirement, lack of knowledge and good radio practice is alive and well in Oz.

But I still like it here!!

Jim

[Wotname]

^^ Yep Jim, ya right - it could be a lot better; maybe I recalling the good ol' days when the riff raff had their 27 Mhz to cause havoc amongst their own and left the "expensive/licensed" VHF to "us".

But hey, at least they know enough to use the calling channel and then want to switch...

Now don't get me started on "professional pilots". Had one the other day who reported "radio transmits but doesn't receive; the squelch works so please replace the antenna". Of course my unsaid immediate response was "I don't tell you how to fly, you don't tell how to fix the radio" but being somewhat restrained I held back; went and fixed the radio. The unit was faulty; the only things that worked was the display, the receiver audio stage and the transmit annunciation. All RF stages (Tx & Rx) were shot and it had the "nice burnt smoke" scent.

OK back to regular programming...