Maratrac Scan Problem, 99 Channel Head

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Tron
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Post by Tron »

Have a problem with the scan on this unit. Pushing the "Scan" button on the head only gives a low "boop" and the scan lite will not come on (and does not scan). The radio is programmed for operator select channel list and priority. There are channels programmed in the scan list. Doesn't make any difference if the mic is hung up. Unit is set for scan with mic off of hook. Unit works OK otherwise. Any thoughts on this problem?

Tron
Jay G.
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Post by Jay G. »

The Mic Clip MUST be grounded in order for the radio to scan. I have 10 such setups under my command, and all are set up like that.
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vcaruso
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Post by vcaruso »

either the mic hang-up (grounded) or a jumper between pins 35 & 36 on the VIP connector should do the trick
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Tron
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Post by Tron »

I'll check the jumper. Seems to me that the only jumper in the VIP plug is for PTT.

Tron

BTW, the mic clip is grounded.
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jcobb
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Post by jcobb »

Tron,

Check the "scan" lead in your cable; I have two Maratracs (hi and lo band). Both are set up to scan with the mic off-hook, and both work fine with NO ground to the mic hang-up clip. I can't find my manual right around the desk to check the lead, but if I find it I will let you know.

I do know that the Maratrac will scan without the mic clip grounded - both of mine do. And I only have the one jumper on the VIP connector for PTT.

Jack
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jcobb
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Post by jcobb »

Tron,

Couldn't find the manual at hand, so checked how I was programmed:

RADIO WIDE SCAN OPTIONS

NON PRIORITY MODES......Op Select
PRIORITY MODE...........Op Select
PRIORITY SAMPLE RATE....High
PRIORITY ALERT TONE.....Disabled
CARRIER SQUELCH SCAN....Enabled
HANG UP BOX OPERATION...CSQ Scan
MINIMUM HOLE SIZE.......Enabled

RX HANGTIME (seconds)...4.00
TX HANGTIME (seconds)...1.00


Also, you have to have each channel (mode) OP SELECT......Enabled. I have each channel CXR squelch as well. Note that the RX HANGTIME doesn't seem to work without the grounded mic clip.

So if you can live with all channels CXR squelch and no hangtime it should work.

Jack
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Tron
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Post by Tron »

OK, I'll check your settings against what I have. Seems to me that you can only enable 16 modes max on this unit. I have at least 10 of them enabled via the control head scan setup proceedure. Most of the channels are PL/DPL. I have the unit for scan w/mic off hook. I'll putz some more and see what happens. Also have the TxRx hang times as zero.

Tron

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tron on 2001-11-04 22:34 ]</font>
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jcobb
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Post by jcobb »

Tron,

I'm not real salty on the Maratrac programming - I have set up what works for me and haven't played around too much. But it seems like you can't have "Mode-slaved" scan lists and have Op select scan at the same time. Maybe you can, but I haven't played with it to see what it does. Maybe if you killed the mode slaved lists, and went with just the op select to see what that does? Then you could "back into" the other modes to see the results.

Just a thought.

Jack
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jcobb
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Post by jcobb »

Tron,

Another brain cramp - maybe the mode you are on, if Op Select ...enabled is not on, you can't select scan. Maybe that's the problem.

I think maybe that each channel/mode has to have the Op Select....enable to let you do Op Select scan on that mode, or to enable you to select that mode in Op Select scan.

You are right - the number of channels you can scan is only 16 even with all the channels set to Op Select ....enable. But if you are on a mode that has no scan enabled at all, it might give you the failure you have.

Jack
bls106
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Post by bls106 »

Double check your ground. Sometimes even when the mic clip is grounded... the radio's not happy with it. May need to run a specific ground.

Also, If you have acces to it, I've had better luck using the "M400" software to program the Maratracs.
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