[arm-allstar] Baofeng 888 setup

[John Baxter]

Hello,

I have a feeling that this will fall under the category of RTFM (Read The Fine Manual) but after quite a bit of study on Doug’s excellent site I need some ideas.

Of Irish heritage, I am blessed with the Gift of Gab, and rag-chewing comes naturally.  The only problem is sometimes I realize I am treating AllStar like a local repeater or even simplex, and need a place to QSY to.  So I decided to take down my node in Glenside and re-think things.  My main node radio for a few years has been my trusty Yaesu FT7900 which will now be dedicated to normal amateur use…

I’m configuring a Baofeng 888 that I know is properly modified, because it came from what is now TechNo LLC, and these guys invented AllStar on the Pi.

So the radio is A-OK, the Fob is A-OK and I am running the latest AllStar code on a Pi 3.

Here’s what happens:  I can play around with audio settings (have done this a LOT) and use Test Tones to check out the transmitted audio from the Baofeng  (of COURSE I do this while NOT connected to Doug’s node!!!!!)  I can get it to sound pretty good and the deviation to sound good on my Yaesu FT7900 (which is currently awaiting an antenna connector, and cannot be used as a transmitter).  But it sounds AWFUL and DISTORTED on my Yaesu FT-60 HT.  This HT has worked reliably for years on AllStar, and now works well on local repeaters.  Reception is OK.  Transmitter is OK (tested to the Yaesu FT7900).  I did get a good-quality speaker mike to get better audio.

What I think I need is a systematic, step-by-step procedure to correctly set up the audio levels in AllStar on the Pi 3, and also to determine if there is some weird setting I am overlooking…  One example is “FM” vs “NFM” in the 888 programming in Chirp?  At first I thought the Baofeng was clipping because the deviation was way too wide, but then I read that the FM/NFM setting in Chirp really does not affect the Baofeng at all.

Bottom line?
Audio (also test tones) transmitted from the Baofeng 888 sounds clean and high-fidelity on the Yaesu FT7900 rig
Audio (also test tones) transmitted from the Baofeng 888 sounds downright awful on the Yaesu FT-60 HT (sounds off-frequency or like it is clipping)
Driving me quite nuts, but a great opportunity for some learning.

best 73,
-john N3FPZ  

John William Baxter	jwilliambaxter at me.com <mailto:jwilliambaxter at me.com>
BAXTERTECH creating ways to connect
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N3FPZ				amateur radio / Allstar node: 45506


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