1. Technisonic Industries TDFM-136

2. TDFM-136 Transceiver Operation

3. TDFM-136 Transceiver Operation - Overview
Radio Familiarization
Front Panel Layout and Controls
Basic Operation
Channel and Memory Select
Programming the Radio
Command Architecture
Operating Commands
Channel Data Commands
Configuration Commands
PC Software Use (TDP-136)‏
Connections
Operation

4. Radio Familiarization - Front Panel Layout and Controls
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Radio Familiarization - Front Panel Layout and Controls
1. Squelch Indicators (LED) – Lights when signal is received.
2. Channel Display (2Line x 24 character) – Shows channel parameters.
3. MAIN (Rotary+Switch) – Power ON/OFF and Main channel volume control.
4. GUARD (Rotary) – Guard channel volume control.
5. Squelch Defeat (Push button) – Press to open squelch (in analog modes of operation)‏
6. MN/GD (Toggle Switch) – Selects active channel (Main or Guard) for transmit and edit functions.
7. G1/G2 (Toggle Switch) – Selects active Guard memory G1 or G2 for transmit and edit functions.
8. HI/LO (Toggle Switch) – Selects Transmit Power: High (10w) or Low (1w).
9. Keypad (12 Keys) – Control radio functions, 3 command levels.

5. Radio Familiarization – Channel Display
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Radio Familiarization – Channel Display
1. Main channel information is displayed on the top row of the display.
2. Guard channel information is displayed on the bottom row of the display.
3. The Main channel can have up to 230 memory positions (001 to 230), the current active memory
number for the Main channel is shown in the first three characters of the line.
4. The Guard channel can have two memories, GD1 and GD2, the currently active Guard memory
number is shown in the first three lines of the bottom row.
5. Memories for the Main channel can be scanned, when in use scan information is shown at the 4th
character position on the top row.
6. The current command level is indicated on the bottom row at the 4th character position.

6. Radio Familiarization – Channel Display
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Radio Familiarization – Channel Display
The following parameters are common to both the Main and the Guard channels.
7. Up to eight characters are available for a text description of the memory.
8. One character position is used to indicate the operating mode:
Analog modes: wide "w"(25kHz.), narrow "n" (12.5kHz.)‏
Digital mode: project 25 digital "D" (12.5kHz.).
9. Eight characters are used to indicate the frequency in use.
10. One character indicates either Receive or Transmit as: "R" or "T".
11. The final character indicates the current squelch mode:
Analog modes: noise squelch "x", CTCSS tones "t", DCS codes "c"
Digital modes: monitor "m", NAC only "n", and TalkGroup + NAC "g"

7. Radio Familiarization – Basic Operation
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Radio Familiarization – Basic Operation
The basic operation for transmit and receive is as follows:
1. The Squelch LED's are on if a valid signal has been received.
2. Upon keying the radio, the "R" character at the second from right position on the line, will change to
a "T". The character will revert to a "R" upon releasing PTT.
3. The "MAIN" and "GUARD” receive audio volumes are separately controlled.
4. In analog modes the "SQUELCH" pushbutton opens the squelch, in digital it opens upon receiving
any valid digital signal.
5. The transmit power level can be set to 1W (low) or 10W (high).

8. Radio Familiarization – Select Channel and Memory
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Radio Familiarization – Select Channel and Memory
1. The MAIN channel data is shown on the top line of the display, MAIN supports 230 memory positions
(001 to 230). MAIN is selected for edit and transmit by placing the MN/GD switch in the MN position.
2. When the MAIN channel is selected, a specific memory may be selected by pressing the "CHAN" key
and then directly entering the memory number ( ), or by using the forward or backward arrow
keys (6 & 4) to scroll through the programmed memories.
3. The GUARD channel has two memories: GD1 and GD2. When the MN/GD switch is in the GD position
then the GUARD memory used is determined by the position of the G1/G2 switch.

9. Programming the Radio – Command Architecture
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming the Radio – Command Architecture
Command Types
There are two types of commands: inherent and edit.
Inherent commands need no further input from the user (example: display brightness commands)‏
Edit comands need further input from the user and must end as follows:
Accept the changes, save and exit
Abandon the changes and exit
Command Levels
The commands are organized into levels, there are three operator command levels (1-3), a Maintenance
level (4), and a Supervisor level (5). Command levels are indicated at the 4th character on the bottom row.
Command levels are navigated as follows:
go up one level
go down one level
Command levels 2 and 3 are time limited, if a command is not selected within 5 seconds the unit returns
to command level 1 automatically. When a level 2 or level 3 command is completed, the timer is reset
and the radio remains on that command level until a command is selected, ESC is selected or time out.

10. Programming the Radio – Command Architecture
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming the Radio – Command Architecture
Command Scope
The commands can be characterized as belonging in one of three categories:
Operating commands are those which perform a direct function related to the use of the radio.
Edit comands allow the user to Edit the RF channel parameters (frequency, mode etc).
Configuration comands affect how the radio operates, including how other commands work.
Command Nomenclature
The commands and command levels are abbreviated as follows:
Command Levels are abbreviated as Ln, where 'n' is the level number from 1 to 5.
example: L2 = command level 2
Command Numbers are abbreviated as -n, where 'n' is the command number from 0 to 9.
example: L2-1 = command level 2, command 1 (Edit all/new channel)‏
Command Description
The commands are described in detail in both the Technisonic documents:
TDFM-136 Operators Manual, (TiL document #99RE266) and the
TDFM-136 Installation and Operating Instructions, (TiL document #99RE255)‏
These documents are available on-line at

11. Programming the Radio – Operating Commands
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming the Radio – Operating Commands
Operating Command List
The Operating Commands are distributed across Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 as follows:
Level 1
L1-1 jump to selected channel
L1-2 and L1-8 change display brightness
L1-4 and L1-6 scroll through programmed memories on MAIN channel
L1-5 start/stop scan
Level 2
L2-2 copy current GUARD channel data to current MAIN channel.
L2-3 lock keypad
L2-8 copy current MAIN channel data to current GUARD channel.
Level 3
L2-9 display current Squelch Parameters.

12. Programming the Radio – Edit Commands
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming the Radio – Edit Commands
Edit Commands - Cursor and Prompts
When any Edit begins, a cursor is placed in the appropriate data field on the display, and the non-active
channel becomes a prompt line.
Example: for 'Edit Frequency' on the MAIN Channel, a cursor is placed at the second character in the
Frequency field (1), and the Guard display row becomes a prompt line (2).
When editing the Guard frequency, the situation is reversed, the cursor is placed on the GUARD row (1), and the MAIN row becomes the prompt line.

13. Programming Channel Data – Edit Commands
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming Channel Data – Edit Commands
Edit Command List
The Edit Commands are distributed across Level 1 and Level 2 as follows:
Level 1
L1-3 Edit current Operating Mode (analog wide, analog narrow, P25 digital).
L1-7 Edit current Frequency ( to MHz.)‏
L1-9 Edit current Squelcy mode (analog or digital depending on current Operating Mode)‏
Level 2
L2-1 Edit all current channel or Create New Memory (MAIN only).
L2-5 Edit Scan list (MAIN only).
L2-6 Edit current Text Description.
L2-7 Create Shadow Channel (MAIN only).
L2-8 Edit Unit ID.

14. Programming Channel Data – Configuration Commands
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming Channel Data – Configuration Commands
Configuration Command List
The Configuration Commands are Level 3 and Level 4 as follows:
Level 3
L3-1 Set Boot Memory for MAIN (Last Selected, Last Programmed).
L3-3 Set HEX / Decimal Edit for TalkGroup & NAC.
L3-4 Show current firmware version.
L3-5 Set Scan Parameters (revert mode, reply timer, monitor timer, delay timer).
L3-6 Set PTT Max Timer (30, 60, 90 seconds).
L3-7 Set Sidetone Audio
L3-8 Communicate with PC (for PC programming).

15. Programming Channel Data – Configuration Commands
TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
Programming Channel Data – Configuration Commands
Configuration Command List – continued
Level 4 (Maintenance Level – protected access)‏
L4-1 Set channel defaults for Edit all.
L4-2 Memory test.
L4-3 Restrict Operator Level Commands.
L4-4 Channel Scroll test (MAIN only).
L4-7 Re-build RF Database (tries to rebuild corrupted database in RF modules).
L4-8 Erase All Memories and Re-boot (Set to as shipped from factory).
L4-9 Restrict Squelch Options.

16. PC Software TDP-136 Setup Operation TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
PC Software TDP-136
Setup
1. PC with serial port, or USB-Serial converter
Operation
Note that the TDP-136 manual is available on-line at
1. Follow Manual Instructions, available on-line.
Note: the TDFM-136 does NOT work with MultiTDP, you must use TDP-136.

17. TDFM-136
Transceiver Operation
?? Questions ??

18. TDFM-136 Operator’s Guide
See

19. TDFM-136 PC Cable

20. NIICD TDFM-136 Cheat Sheet
See

21. NIICD TDFM-136 Configuration Settings
See for Avionics contact information