There was once a well-regarded discipline called technical writer. These fine human beings took the time to write instructions that mortals could follow.

In the basic instructions on my new amateur radio, someone forgot to say something very important. [bold]Here's my feeble attempt[/bold]. I include it only to share the nature of the missing info, not to convey anything truly of value.

Choose the method of accessing the repeater by pushing function, tone, and with repeated tone key depressions, find the icon corresponding to the repeater squelch tone. Then, push func set and the up or down arrows to that squelch method, and rotate the volume knob to the proper frequency. Then, mash the set button. Then, push func mem and the up and down arrows to the memory channel desired. Then, push func mem again, this time holding it down until you hear three quick tones. Release the button immediately.

You'd think someone would explain all this in a manual. It is not even in the advanced manual.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4MUL8R,

RT Systems is your friend.
John
N5WMT

Awaiting the arrival of the RT Systems usb cable. $50 well spent. I was hoping not to need to spend it on this basic radio, but use it on the Yaesu FT3DR.

Sounds like they're explaining how to set the CTCSS tone to access a repeater.

I learned writing procedures from following procedures. There's a balance between too much writing and not enough writing, between covering essential steps and assuming basic knowledge. A lot of it also has to do with the writer or somebody else testing the procedure if it works.

About 12 years ago, I learned the state of the art in procedure writing went to combining pictures and simple words.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Sounds like they're explaining how to set the CTCSS tone to access a repeater.

Actually "they" did not even attempt to explain this procedure. I had to figure out the various steps on my own, and the procedure I wrote above is not at all certain. That's why I bit another bullet and bought the easy-to-use RT Systems software.