Cable for programming GP340

[rope access]

Hello lads

Sorry if that question was answered before, I couldnt find it.

Our company use GP340 radios. They all on one channel. Only channel 1.
As I understand company has licence only for one channel.

 For a moment all radios could talk with each other, and everyone can hear it.

Question is: Can I reprogram radio 1 and 2 so they can turn knob to position 2 and have own/private conversation and others can't heard it? I wanna make it for not disturbing others by long technical discussions Is it possible with current licence?

And another question, what type of cable should I buy? On eBay it is USB cables and Com cables. Software it is for sale there aswell.  Do I need something else or software and USB or COM lead should be enough for my idea?

Thank you in advance.

Mario

[emsgeorge]

Hi Mario,

There are several different licenses available in the uk - some allow the use of a number of freq's (the 'uk general' licence), whereas some allow only one freq.

Take a look at your licence - what does it say. If you cant decipher it, post your licence number, and I can look it up - dont worry, licence info is in the public domain anyway, so you arent giving anything away.

What band are you on - uhf or vhf.

[rope access]

Hello Emsgeorge.

Thank you for your answer.
I'm from republic of Ireland, as far as I know our company has general licence for Ireland.

I dont know where is the licence is, somewhere in the office I believe, I hope secretary will find it for me within this or next week.

Our band is UHF

When I spoke with lad who program some of our radios, hi told me its not a frequency, but our radio has some kind of filter so others can't hear our conversations.
It is possible to read info from one of our radio and find out what kind of filter is it???

How does it sounds? Sorry but for a moment I not a proffesional in this stuff.

And still old question about software and cable USB or COM?

Thank you!

Mario

[bw18]

Hi Mario,

The 'filter' you are referring to is the PL/DPL setting. This is a sub frequency (which we, humans, cannot hear). From memory PL ranges from 64ish MHz upto 250ish MHz. These are also broken into individual codes. DPL is the same principal, but in a slightly different format.

The principal of PL/DPL is exactly that of a filter. It filters out all of the transmissions (on the same frequency) until a radio transmits with the same PL/DPL set. When the code is received the radio un-mutes it's squelch and allows you to hear the transmission.

This is what I believe you are referring to as a 'filter' anyway!

As well as a programming cable you will also need the CPS (customer programming software). This is the software that reads, programs and writes to the radio. You will need to purchase a legitimate copy of the software (speak to Dave from this site, he is an authorised Motorola distributor). Dave would also be able to sort you out with the necessary cable that you will require.

Before you programme anything you need to ascertain whether you indeed have another frequency allocated to your business!

It might be easier to get a 'professional' to look and programme your radio for you once you have sorted your license out. There are lots of people on this forum who I am sure would take a look for you. As I've said before getting around the CPS is a bit of a minefield, however, if your just adding a channel that is very simple with a little bit of guidance- once you have the CPS and cable.

Food for thought anyway.

BW.

ADDED: just an after thought... The only other filter to physically stop others hearing your conversations would be an encryption board fitted to the radio. This basically encrypts the transmission so if anyone was to scan the frequency it would be garbled and totally would make no sense. I would however be VERY surprised if your radios had this fitted (unless you deal with close protection, security etc).

[Rob]

Yes we can supply the official software, and the cable. You asked about USB or comm.  The genuine Motorola cable only comes in comm (RS232 form) - this (part number RKN4075) is the best cable to buy no doubt, but is a bit expensive at around £120.00  If you want to do any firmware upgrades then this will do the job together with a flash adapter (we do our own MRSG9742 at £30).

Non-genuine cables come in USB and comm connections. Most laptops these days only have USB - and this will drive you down the USB route.  Obviously you have a bit of setting up to do with the USB drivers (we supply these for our USB cables).

If it were me I would get the genuine cable if funds allowed - if I couldn't afford a genuine cable and I had a comm port on my PC then I would go for a comm connection - they seem less problematic. If I only have a USB connection then I would have to buy a USB cable.

Some people who have a comm port buy a USB cable and use a USB/RS232 adapter - but that provides another link in the chain and more expense


Rob
Admin
ps Dave is behind the scenes these days - he provides the forum hosting

[emsgeorge]

I dont know about Ireland licensing at all, so I cant help there I'm afraid - your radio will have both a frequency, and a sub tone (which as others have said above, is, in effect, a 'filter', so a few users can be put on the same freq without hearing each other).

The issue is that even with a different sub tone ('filter'), both of you cannot use the radios at the same time, as, even though you cant hear each other, the radios are trying to transmit on the same physical frequency, which will result in interference on both radios.

So yes, you could have a differnet sub tone programmed in (and we can walk you through it on here), but if you want to be able to leave the original channel still ok to be used, whilst having a private convo, then you will ideally need a different frequency as well as a different tone.

you can set the radios to 'lock out' channel 1 to users whilst you are using channel 2 lets say, so theres nobody 'cutting across' each other, but it depends on what sort of thing you are using the other channel for - If say you are at a theatre, and you are yacking away on channel 2, then cues cant be given on channel 1, and people wont like you for long !.

If Ireland has something like the UK general licence here in the uk, then its simple and easy - some licences give you a frew freq's you can use, for no extra money. 

[emsgeorge]

Just had a google around Ireland:

Your 'reguator' is Comreg, who issue licenses.

I cant find any specific bits allowing any sort of 'uk gen' type licence, it seems every allocation is individual.

they charge 22 euro fee for processing, and 22 euros for each hand held or base station on the freq !!!!!!!!!!!!

Unlike the UK system where you pay one licence fee for however many you want !!!

[rope access]

Thank you boys for all your answers.

It is very helpfull.
Yes, you right. In Ireland licence cost 22euro per each unit per year.

For a moment I understand everything, just have to wait until office find licence itself.

I suppose after that more questions will appear 

Cheers!

Mario