2
) Reflection
: The signal cannot go through metal or very large structures such as a hill or mountain,
but it can bounce off (like a mirror), go around and reflect in other directions as well. This happens at
the speed of light.
3)Line-of-sight
: Line-of-sight is when there are no obstructions in the path between the
communicating parties. The higher up you go the further you can see, so the larger the line-of-sight
distances will be. Generally you can talk to wherever you can see, which is why the coverage in a
valley is much less than the coverage from on top of a hill.
Ensure that there is nothing blocking the antenna. The less metal in close proximity (0-2m) the better
the range. There may be external interference from electrical equipment (power lines or factories) or
natural causes (moisture in the air or storms) that may vary depending on the location and the
weather.
PROGRAMMING (OPTIONAL)
A programming cable is needed to program different channels or functions on the TX-8. The
programming cable links the radio to USB port on a PC or laptop.
USB installation
:
USB cable driver software for your computer operating system is available for free downloading from
www.zartek.co.za
or from the cable manufacturer website Prolific (driver for PL2303 USB-Serial
cable). Install the correct software and plug-in the cable to the PC. The computer should locate the
cable and configure it automatically. You can check that the cable is working by locating it in DEVICE
MANGER > PORTS > PROLIFIC USB
– SERIAL COMM PORT
Software installation:
Programming software for the TX-8 is available for free download from
www.zartek.co.za
. Install the
software on to a PC by following the installation steps. Once installation is finished, an icon called
“TX-8 User PC Software” will appear on the screen.
Connect the USB cable to the PC and plug-in the twin connector into the speaker/microphone jack
on the side of the radio. Ensure that there is a charged battery connected to the radio and switch the
radio on. Start the program and a window will appear. The software automatically finds the correct
port of the programming cable. Check the Settings > Communication Port to select the correct COM
port.
Reading data:
Click on the “READ” left icon and press “OK” to begin reading the data from the radio. Once loaded,
the data can be edited to the appropriate channels and settings and then saved or printed for future
reference. See below for instructions on each function.
Writing data:
After channel and optional feature data
is entered, click the “WRITE” right icon to program the radio.
Press “OK” to begin writing the data to the radio. Once finished, switch the radio off and unplug the
cable from the radio. Additional radios can be programmed by plugging in the cable to the radio,
switching it on and
following the “WRITE” procedure.
To change settings select Edit > Channel Info or > Optional Features