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[WB1ANA]

Hello fellow hams,

After a long hiatus from amateur radio, I'm back on the air with a new Yaesu FTdx10.  I'd like to get back on 2 meters as well, but my ancient TR-7730 (still works fine) lacks a tone encoder.  Does anyone here have one to sell or can recommend one that isn't just a dip switch board?  I don't need to hit a lot of repeaters, so this little mod would get me by for a while.

Thanks!

[AF5CC]

Communications Specialists made the TE-64 encoder which has a switch on the front selecting the different tones.  Hopefully you can find a used one somewhere.  Here is a link to information about many of their products, including the TE-64:

https://www.repeater-builder.com/com-spec/com-spec-index.html

73 John AF5CC

[K7MEM]

Sounds like your looking for the Communication Specialists TE-32 or TE-64. I have a TE-32 for my Icom IC-255A. I picked up my TE-32 at a ham fest. The TE-32 is just small plastic box that contains the SS-32 tone encoder, with a small dip-rotary switch installed. I don't think the SS-32 is available any more.

I also have a SS-64 with the dip switch. The dip switch is not that bad. There is very little difference in tones required from repeater to repeater. Where I live there are 5 useful repeaters within 10 miles of my house. 4 of them use the same tone frequency.

If you only need a few different tones, you can use a SS-64 with your own rotary switch and a couple of diodes. You don't even have to remove the dip-switch. Just leave all the switches open and use the diodes to select your tones. It just depends on your bench skills.

[W4TU]

I've had good results with the Piexx tone boards.  The LCD encoder might be just the ticket for your radio.  https://www.piexx.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6&sort=20a

[WB1ANA]

Thanks for all the inputs.  I hate to scrap the radio if I can make it usable here in my shack.  If there are enough encoder positions to cover the local repeaters, I'd be happy.  The radio works fine after all these years.

The sales receipt was still inside the owner's manual - I bought it from HRO in NH back on 3/22/82 for $272.50!

[K5DH]

The sad truth here is that most CTCSS encoders these days cost nearly as much as those old radios are worth, and you can buy newer radio with much more capability for only a little more than the cost of the tone encoder.  I hate that this has become the case, but it has.  If a person really wants to keep that old radio on the air for nostalgia reasons, so be it.  But if the idea is communicating the best way possible for the money, then going with a newer radio makes better sense. 

[WB8VLC]

https://www.on7gf.com/projects/arduinoctcss

I built  one of these encoders for my old Kenwood TS690S for 6 and 10 FM use.

I found a 7 dollar Arduino clone and for my use I hook the Arduinos USB connection to a PC which is running the Arduino GUI which is also putting out tone info to the Arduino Serial Monitor and then I am able to change the PL in the TS690S base radio.

On the CTCSS tone output I did add a simple R/C filter cutting off at ~370 Hz using 45 cents of parts which were 3 shunt caps and 2 series resistors.

With the Arduino it wouldn't be hard to add more code to put an LCD display in and have a visual display of the CTCSS freq without the need to use the Arduino GUI's serial monitor.

[VE3TMT]

I used a software program called "Tone Encoder" free for download. Pick the tone, pipe it to the feed point in the radio where the tone board output would go and your all set. I bought a 7730 cheap and it worked just fine. To hit different repeaters, just change the tone setting.

https://comtekk.com/tone-generator.html

[K5LXP]

I have a Kenwood 7400 I bought for nostalgia and the way I worked around the PL issue was to install the PL deck out of a 1990's motorola HT.  It only generates a single tone but it's enough to work a few local repeaters, and that's "good enough" for this rig.  Fun to have it light up and working after all these years.  Cost- $0.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[K1KIM]

I have 2 Kenwood TR-7400's. They are indestructible. One had a tone board and the other did not. As mentioned the TE-32 is no longer available.

I bought a board on either eBay or Amazon from a fellow in Greece for $38 I believe. It came in within 2 weeks.

I actually remember Glenn and I discussing the wiring as I was a bit confused where the tone "wire' went.

Here you are.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/400863313915?hash=item5d5550bffb:g:RfwAAOSworxesFmE

[WB1ANA]

The great news is that a member here, Dave, AC8YH contacted me and offered to build a prototype tone encoder for my radio.  He sent it with detailed installation and setup instructions, and even provided a very nice 3D-printed enclosure.  Due to the tight board space, it took a little time to solder in the connections, but after all was said and done, it works great!  He programmed it to default to the tone needed for my local repeater, and a simple twist of the knob allows selection of tones for the other repeaters.

A great big thank you to Dave for a great job on this - it has brought my 2m transceiver into the modern ages.