Technisonic Industries Limited TFM-30 Manual

99RE263
TFM-30 OPERATOR’S
VHF Low Band Airborne Transceiver GUIDE
__________________________________________________________________
WARRANTY INFORMATION
The Model TFM-30, Transceiver is under warranty for one year from date of purchase. Failed units
caused by defective parts, or workmanship should be returned to:
Technisonic Industries Limited Technisonic Industries Limited
250 Watline Avenue 3840 E. Robinson Road, Suite 214
Mississauga, Amherst,
Ontario L4Z 1P4 New York 14228
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Tel: [phone]
US FCC Type Acceptance Data
FCC Identifier IMATFM-30
Industry Canada Type Approval
Certification No. 120195533A

TFM-30 OPERATOR’S GUIDE
SOFTWARE VERSION: L3
The TFM-30 Transceiver is a frequency agile, fully synthesized airborne transceiver capable of
operating in the 30.000 MHz to 50.000 MHz frequency range in 2.5 kHz increments with either 25
khz, 20 khz or 12.5 kHz channel spacing. The Transceiver can operate without restriction on any
split frequency pair in the band and also incorporates a two channel synthesized guard receiver.
The TFM-30 Transceiver provides 120 operator accessible memory positions, each of which is
capable of storing a transmit frequency, receive frequency, transmit frequency CTCSS tone or DPL
code, receive frequency CTCSS tone or DPL code, an alphanumeric identifier for each channel and
wideband (25 kHz) or narrowband (12.5 kHz) channel spacing assignment. Operating frequency
and other related data are presented on a 48 character, two line LED matrix display. Data entry and
function control are performed via a 12 button keypad. Preset channels may also be scrolled and
scanned through keypad function activation. Data may also be entered via an MS-DOS based
computer with the provided software and optional PC Up/download cable, P/N 943165-2.
MODEL VARIATION
There are four variations of the Model TFM-30 Transceiver. All units offer identical features and
performance except for the following differences:
TFM-30, P/N 961082-1 GREEN display and 28 Volt back lighting.
TFM-30, P/N 961082-1 (5V), GREEN display and 5 Volt back lighting.
TFM-30, P/N 961082-2 RED display and 28 Volt back ligting.
TFM-30, P/N 961082-2 (5V), RED display and 5 Volt back lighting.

TFM-30 OPERATIONAL FEATURES
The equipment has several important operating features which provide maximum flexibility,
performance and versatility. The described features are a function of version L3 software and
include:
1. 120 memory positions which can each be programmed with a transmit and receive
frequency with 25, 20 or 12.5 KHz channel spacing, Tx/Rx CTCSS tones or DPL codes and a
9-character alphanumeric title.
2. 2 guard channels which can each be programmed with a Rx frequency with 25kHz or 12.5
kHz channel spacing, CTCSS Tx tone or DPL code and a 9-character alphanumeric title.
3. Scanning of preprogrammed memories with selective memory scanning, in 5 scan lists.
4. Priority scan of memory channel 1, if desired.
5. Direct frequency entry mode.
6. Receive frequency simplex function.
7. Switchable RF output power between 1 watt and 8-10 watts.
8. Lockout of keyboard to prevent inadvertent entries.
9. Variable frequency mode to manually scan up and down in 2.5 kHz steps.
10. LED display variable dimming mode.
11. Selectable 90 second Tx time out feature.
12. Quick download of any of the 120 memory positions to the guard memories.
13. PC Memory Upload or download capability.
14. Guard jumper (J15) to en/disable Guard programming.
15. PC Memory Upload or Download capability.
16. Configuration Menu - Pressing ENTER, RCL and FUNC together while turning the radio on
will put it into configuration mode. The programming features affected are:
a) the DPL entry step from the programming sequence and does not stop memories that
already have DPL codes from working. This also applies to the rest of the on/off
configuration items.
b) Scan - Can be disabled. Selecting FUNC and SCAN will do nothing if Scan is off. The
scan list indicator (+) will still display if was previously programmed.
c) Rx CTCSS - Can be turned on or off from the programming sequence. This affects only
the CTCSS tones for receive.
d) FUNC 7 - Can be turned on or off. When off, the main memory channel can not be
dumped into one of the guard channels using function 7.
e) LAST MEM - If set to on, the last memory channel on the display will be what comes up
when the radio is turned on. If set to off, the last memory that changes were made
to will be what comes up when the unit is switched on.
Guard Jumper - Programming of the guard channels can be totally disabled by
removing J15. This way, the radio has to be disassembled in order to re-program
either of the guard frequencies. This may be required on US Forest Service
contracts.

FIGURE 1 Operator's Switches and Controls
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS (See Figure 1)
1. Switch power on by turning the main volume clockwise. Depending how the radio
is configured, either the last programmed or last displayed frequency will appear
on the screen. The transceiver is now in normal operating mode.
2. Adjust the audio level by adjusting the main and guard volume knobs.
3. Pressing the squelch defeat button will open both receivers to confirm they work.
4. Read the display. The top line will show which memory is selected followed by a
"+" if the memory position is included in a scan list, an alphanumeric message, and
the frequency of the main receiver. A small "n" before the frequency indicates 12.5
Khz narrowband channel spacing is in effect on this memory position. In the
receive mode, the frequency is followed by an "RT" if a RX CTCSS tone or RX DPL
code is programmed, or an "RX" if no Receive tone/code is programmed. Similarly,
in the transmit mode either a "TT" or "TX" is shown after the frequency. The bottom
line indicates similar information about the guard receiver.
5. Only TX CTCSS tones or TX DPL codes may be programmed for the guard receiver.
At the beginning of each line, an LED indicates open squelch.
6. Set the MN/GD switch to main or guard transmit frequency.
7. Set the G1/G2 switch to the desired guard channel.
8. Set the HI/LO switch to the desired RF output power.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS - continued
9. Select the desired memory by using the M.UP and M.DN buttons, or the RCL button
and a three digit number followed by ENTER.
10. To transmit DTMF tones, use the keyboard keys while holding the PTT button on
the microphone. The keyboard returns to its normal function when the PTT is
released.
The display shows the status of both receivers and the transmitter. The light at the left of
the top and bottom line indicates which receiver is receiving. The display also indicates the
memory channel in use and the guard channel in use. A "TX" (no TX tone/codes
programmed) or "TT"(either TX tone or code programmed) on the right side of the display
indicates whether the guard or main channel is active when transmitting. The transmit
frequency is also shown. In the receive mode the display shows “RX” beside the receive
frequency if no RX tone or DPL code is programmed and “RT” if a CTCSS tone or DPL code
is programmed.
When the transceiver is in either of the operating frequency or CTCSS tone/DPL code
programming modes and you must respond to a call, click the microphone PTT once (the
radio will not transmit during this click). This will cause the transceiver to revert back to the
normal operating mode and communications with the caller can proceed in the usual
fashion.
The TFM-30 was designed for compatibility with an industry standard Antenna Tuner Unit
through the 9 pin connector on the rear panel of the radio. The ATU is enabled during Tx.
PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS
To program one of the 120 memory channels in the TFM-30:
1. Press the FUNC key. The display will show the function prompt.
2. Press the PROG key. The display will show the current receive frequency with a
flashing cursor on the first digit (The first digit is always a <3>,<4> or <5>).
3. Type in the desired receive frequency. If you type a frequency which is not a 2.5 kHz
step,
the nearest valid frequency will be automatically selected.
4. The cursor will return to the second digit. You can now retype the frequency if you
made an error or press ENTER to continue.
5. The transmit frequency will be displayed with the cursor on the second
digit. Follow the same method as in step 3 and 4.
6. The channel spacing increment of either 25, 20 or 12.5 KHz is now displayed. Use
M.UP and M.DN keys to select the desired channel spacing for the memory
position, then press ENTER.
7. The alpha-numeric title is now displayed. Use the M.UP and M.DN keys to scroll

through the alphabet, numbers and symbols. When the desired character is
displayed,
press ENTER to advance to the next character. Press “1" to backspace.
8. Keep repeating step six until the last space is set. The display will show SCAN or
LOCKOUT to enable this memory position as part of a scan list or lock it out of the
scan list.
Use the 1,2,3,4,5 and M.DN keys to toggle between these functions (for details see
paragraph 2.5). Once the desired condition has been selected, press ENTER. The
TFM-30’s display will show a "+" beside the memory channel number if scan is
enabled.
9. The display will now show the current memory number. Type in the 3-digit number
of the memory you want to save to (if different from displayed one) and press
ENTER.
10. You now have the option to program the guard frequencies by pressing FUNC or
press ENTER to return to normal operating mode.
11. If you pressed FUNC to program the guards, guard"1" transmit frequency will be
displayed with the flashing cursor on the second digit. Enter the frequencies for
guard"1" receive/transmit and guard"2" receive/transmit as in step 3 and 4.
12. The alphanumeric labels for guard"1" and guard"2" are entered the same as in step
7and 8. When the last character is entered, the radio returns to normal operating
mode. If the guard is be be programmed for 12.5 KHz narrowband operation, use
the QUICK GUARD PROGRAMMING FEATURE described in this document. A
memory position must be programmed to the 12.5 KHz mode then the contents can
be quickly downloaded to GD1 or GD2 memory positions.
Programming of memory is disabled when the internal entry disable jumper is set.
Alternatively any transceiver can be programmed by an IBM PC or compatible computer.
PRIORITY SCANNING, SELECTIVE MEMORY CHANNEL SCANNING AND SCAN LISTS
Instead of breaking up the 120 channels into blocks for scanning, the TFM-30 software has
5 scan lists. Any of the 120 channels can be assigned to any one of more of these 5 scan
lists. This means the channels do not have to be repeated for them to be in more than one
block and that you are not limited to the number of channels that you can scan at once,
since all 120 channels can be put into any scan list.
The priority memory channel is always memory position number 1. The priority memory
channel is scanned every other step (ie. 121314151...) to ensure that no incoming messages
are missed. The priority channel can be locked out, which will result in the normal
scanning of the other memory positions.
Selective memory scanning allows the user to select which of the 120 memory channels
are to be scanned or locked out when the scan function is invoked. To use this feature,
follow PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS found in paragraph 2.3. Once the screen displays
SCAN or LOCKOUT, use the 1,2,3,4,5 or M.DN keys to toggle to the desired condition and
press ENTER. Entering the any or all of the numbers 1,2,3,4 or 5 will include that memory
channel in any of the five scan lists. In normal operating mode the display will later show a
"+" beside the memory channel number if it has been included in any of the 5 scan lists.

SCANNING FUNCTION (5 second talkback delay)
Select the band you wish to scan with the band switch. (you can not scan the guard)
To start scanning of the memory channels, press FUNC then SCAN and then the number
(1,2,3,4,5) of the desired scan list.
The radio will scan through all the preset memory positions in the selected scan list (see
above paragraph for priority and selective scan features) and will lock on to the first active
channel in the scan sequence. It will remain on the channel until it becomes inactive.
Scanning will resume again after five seconds of inactivity. To exit the scan mode, press
the SCAN key. This will cause the radio to revert back to the normal operating mode.
If while scanning, you hear a call for you:
1. Respond to the call within 5 seconds. When scanning is interrupted by an
incoming signal, the channel will remain open for five seconds before resuming
scanning.
2. During communications the five second timer is reset from the last Rx or Tx
signal encountered.
The radio resumes scanning once the Rx or Tx activity has ceased for more than five
seconds. The SCAN key must be pressed to exit the scan mode.
DIRECT FREQUENCY ENTRY MODE
This mode is designed to facilitate quick frequency selection during emergency and other
operational conditions requiring direct operating frequency selection. This operating mode
is disabled along with the programming mode when the internal disable jumper is set.
1. When the transceiver is in the normal operating mode, press FUNC and the desired
operating frequency ie/ 39.275.
Please note in the above operation, after FUNC and the first digit are entered, the LED
display shows memory channel "000" and then the remaining digits in the desired
frequency are shown as they are entered. No alphanumeric message can be entered in
this mode. Operation on the new frequency occurs in both transmit and receive (simplex
only) modes. If RX or TX CTCSS/DPL tones are required they must be programmed in.
RECEIVE FREQUENCY SIMPLEX FUNCTION
The receive frequency simplex function allows you to quickly change the transmit
frequency, when operating on a split pair (repeater/semi-duplex mode), to the receive
frequency to allow direct communications. ie/ If you are transmitting on 42.000 MHz and
receiving 42.555 MHz, press FUNC then UP to transmit on 42.555 MHz. To return to the split
pair condition, you must recall the memory channel again. This is quickly done by pressing
M.UP for one step up, then back down one step with the M.DN key.
KEYBOARD LOCKOUT FUNCTION
The keyboard can be locked out so that accidental pressing of keys does not change
frequency, etc., unknowingly to the operator. To lock the keyboard, press FUNC then LOCK.
This will disable all keyboard functions (except keyboard unlock) in the receive mode. The
DTMF function during transmit will not be affected. To unlock the keyboard, press and hold
the LOCK key for two seconds until the display indicates "UNLOCK".
VARIABLE FREQUENCY MODE FUNCTION
To enter variable frequency mode, press RCL, 0,0,0, then ENTER or enter a frequency in the
direct entry mode described above. The memory channel that you were just in will still be
valid but now you can manually adjust the frequency with the M.UP, M.DN, UP and DN
keys. The UP and DN keys will make the frequency count up or down in steps of 2.5 kHz.
The M.UP and M.DN keys will make the frequency count up or down in steps of 1 MHz. You

can not change the label. The frequency in this mode can not be stored in memory. To exit
this mode, recall one of the 120 memory channels (ie. RCL, 0,0,1). Variable frequency mode
is disabled when the internal entry disable jumper is set.
LED DISPLAY VARIABLE DIMMING MODE
1. With the transceiver in normal operating mode press the UP or DN keys to increase
or decrease the intensity of the LED display.
2. Once maximum intensity of the display is acheived, the UP key no longer functions.
Conversely once minimum intensity is reached, the DN key ceases to function.
90 SECOND TRANSMITTER TIME OUT FEATURE
A selectable 90 second transmitter time out feature is provided to prevent accidental
continuous transmission in the event of a faulty PTT switch. With this feature enabled the
transceiver will stop transmitting after the PTT is engaged continuously for 90 seconds.
The timer is reset by releasing then re-engaging the PTT switch. Press the FUNC then the
M.UP key. Use the M.UP and M.DN keys to select 90 SEC, which enables the feature, or
NONE which disables it.
QUICK GUARD PROGRAMMING FEATURE
A quick download of any of the 120 memory positions to either of the guard memory
positions can be accomplished. Select the memory position whose contents you desire to
download a guard memory. Select either GD1 or GD2 memory channel as desired. Press
FUNCthen 7. The guard memory channel will now contain all the same information as the
selected memory position. This feature is disabled when guard jumper (J15, pins 1&2) on
the MCU board is removed.
PROGRAMMING CTCSS TONES/DPL CODES
CTCSS tones (PL tones) or Digital DPL codes can be assigned to each memory channel.
The guard receiver squelch will operate on noise squelch only, but guard 1 and 2 transmit
tones or codes can be programmed. To program a tone/code to a memory channel:
1. Select the desired band on the band select switch.
2. Use the M.UP and M.DN keys to select the memory channel that you want to assign
a CTCSS tone or DPL code.
3. Press the FUNC key then the TONE key. The display will show "RX TONE:" and the
current tone number, as well as the tone frequency in Hz.
4. Use the M.UP and M.DN keys to select the tone number you require. The following
is a list of the available CTCSS tones:

PROGRAMMING CTCSS TONES/DPL CODES - continued
Number Tone Number Tone Number Tone
01 67.0 26 162.2 51 177.3*
02 71.9 27 167.9 52 183.5*
03 74.4 28 173.8 53 189.9*
04 77.0 29 179.9 54 196.6*
05 79.7 30 186.2 55 199.5*
06 82.5 31 192.8 56 206.5*
07 85.4 32 203.5 57 210.7*
08 88.5 33 33.0* 58 218.1*
09 91.5 34 35.4* 59 225.7*
10 94.8 35 36.6* 60 229.1*
11 97.4 36 37.9* 61 233.6*
12 100.0 37 39.6* 62 241.8*
13 103.5 38 44.4* 63 250.3*
14 107.2 39 47.5* 64 No Tone
15 110.9 40 49.2* (carrier squelch only)
16 114.8 41 51.2* (The tones marked with * are
17 118.8 42 53.0* nonstandard tones).
18 123.0 43 54.9*
19 127.3 44 56.8*
20 131.8 45 58.8*
PROGRAMMING CTCSS TONES/DPL CODES - continued
Number Tone Number Tone
21 136.5 46 63.0*
22 141.3 47 69.4*
23 146.2 48 159.8*
24 151.4 49 165.5*
25 156.7 50 171.3*
4. Press ENTER. "TX TONE" appears on the display. Repeat step 3.
5. Press ENTER. "G1 TONE" appears on the display. Repeat step 3.
6. Press ENTER. "G2 TONE" appears on the display. Repeat step 3 and press ENTER.
7. The display will now show "RX DPL:" and the current 3-digit DPL code. If no DPL
code is required "000" should be entered. Please note that if a DPL code is to be
programmed a CTCSS tone should not be enabled.
8. Use the keypad to enter the required octal 3-digit DPL (Digital Coded Squelch or
DCS) code. A list of all usable and unique octal 3-digit DPL/DCS codes follows:

PROGRAMMING CTCSS TONES/DPL CODES - continued
017* 051 116 156 243 266* 346 431 466 612 721
023 053* 122* 162 244 271 351 432 503 624 731
025 054 125 165 245 274* 356* 445 506 627 732
026 065 131 172 246* 306 364 446* 516 631 734
031 071 132 174 251 311 365 452* 523* 632 743
032 072 134 205 252* 315 371 454* 526* 654 754
036* 073 143 212* 255* 325* 411 455* 532 662
043 074 145* 223 261 331 412 462* 546 664
047 114 152 225* 263 332* 413 464 565 703
050* 115 155 226 265 343 423 465 606 712
* indicates GE Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) Code
9. Press ENTER. "TX DPL" appears on the display. Repeat step 8.
10. Press ENTER. "G1 DPL" appears on the display. Repeat step 8.
11. Press ENTER. "G2 DPL" appears on the display. Repeat step 8 and press ENTER.

Technisonic Industries Limited
250 Watline Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1P4 Tel:[phone] Fax:[phone]
3840 East Robinson Road, Suite 214, Amherst, New York 14228 Tel:[phone]
TiL Document No. 99RE263, see first page for software version.