high-temp fan noise

Martin AA6E

After a longish digital session, the high-temperature fans came on on my 6500 and really startled me.  I am aware that this is how they're supposed to work - https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/how_do_the_fans_operate_in_the_flex_6000.  My complaint is that the fast fans are really loud in my quiet shack.

I would like a warning, please. A PA temperature read-out and/or a warning that the fans are about to go into high gear would be appreciated.  Even better would be a tapered increase in fan speed, proportional to temperature.  That would be more civilized than "slow" vs "emergency high" that we have now.  Thanks for a great radio despite this minor issue!

Further thought -  It would be a smart use of the 6500/6700 panel display to show environmental data, including supply voltage, PA temperature, etc.  I get tired of watching my call sign all day.

Jay Nation

My display says ...

Enjoy

Sometimes, I need a reminder.

73, Jay - NO5J

WX7Y

DDUTIL has a Temp and voltmeter built in on it's main screen.

WX7Y

Chris DL5NAM

.... Flex 6xxx send the temp and voltage value to DDutil? I dont believe :-)
And what happend if i dont use ddutil? I have never used.

Chris DL5NAM

Flex 6xxx fan's are whistle buoy

WX7Y

Then you simply don't see what the Temperature and Voltage is at the Radio, Sorry your missing out on ALL the GREAT features that DDUTIL offers and bringing these things out for the user to see at a glance, I've used it since 2008 on my Flex 5000 and now on the 6700.

73's
Bret
WX7Y

Chris DL5NAM

OK, i have to give a try. 73 Chris

k3Tim

mine says redrum

W3DCB

Startled?  This is a joke, right?  It couldn't be a complaint...de W3DCB

Walt - KZ1F

ANC headphones, get a set, be happy.

km9r.mike

I like my loud fan. Reminds me that I need to reduce TX power or keydown length or both.

DH2ID

Just to add some serious ideas: I have always wondered that PowerSDR and SmartSDR don't show temperature and voltage on their main screen, although both are measured and can be read by external programs (SmartSDR) or opened in an additional window (PowerSDR). Showing temperature and voltage should be made optional.

Bill -VA3WTB

I would think before the SSDR is finished it will be added.

Corey/ KC0YNS

I'm using a Laptop cooler that my Flex 6300 sit's on, It's the perfect size has three fans running 24/7 and you cant hear them, Very quite...Keeps things very cool,

Rick Hadley - W0FG

I've noticed that the fans come on more quickly in the latest release than they did before.  My resting ambient temp according to DDUTIL is 31.8C.  The fans now come on at 40C.  I'd never noticed them kicking in except after a much longer digital transmission before.  Now, even an extended CW calling series will activate them.  I even opened the case to make sure there wasn't a dust buildup, but everything was clean inside.  Tim...was the activation parameter changed in this release?

Martin AA6E

Software is never finished; they just stop updating it.  The trick is to get your desired enhancement moved up to higher priority. (before the developers move on to the next great thing.)  Is there a public list somewhere of possible improvements, where people can indicate their preferences?

Jay Nation

You just posted to it.

73, Jay - NO5J

Bill -VA3WTB

Martin, I did not mean to say finished as in stopping. You did not understand me. The software updates with all the basic features planed will be done by V2.0 After that features will be purchased if they interest you.
Because of the way some have acted in regards to the road map they had, Flex is not so fast on saying much any more about up coming plans. People racked them for being late on two releases. One was one week late and the other was a couple months. So now, we just wait and see, when they release they release.

Flex reads all the post here and they know what people want, but they are on a plan and sticking to it as it seems, I never have been much of a believer of getting them to move things up the order to please some, they have a plan.

Cal N3CAL

I haven't noticed any change in when the fan kicks into high speed since loading SSDR 1.4.16.  I like to work JT-65 and JT-9 using WSJT-X.  I've had many occasions where I've worked stations one after another without a break for over an hour at a time.  That's a full hour of 1 min. TX, then 1 minute RX and the high speed fan does not come on at all.   I'm also using DDutil to monitor my 6300 temp.   My radio sits around 27.6C (81.6 F) ambient and will rise to around 135-140 F during long digital sessions like I mentioned above but I'm using an external fan to **** air across the outside of the rig.  It's made a huge difference.  The external fan is also very quiet compared to the internal one.   During a recent excursion with the XYL I ran across this fan for only $10 at Bed Bath and Beyond.   Prior to adding this external fan I could only go about 15-20 minutes before the internal temp was high enough to kick in the noisy internal fan. 



Cal / N3CAL

Bill -VA3WTB

What are we saying then, are we adding extra cooling to our rigs because the cooling inside is not doing the job? or are we doing it even though everything is working as designed? And the temp is within specs.

Cal N3CAL

Bill I think the internal cooling is working fine and is adequate.  I just feel I'm pushing the limits when I see the temp rise on DDUTIL during my long digital sessions and adding some external cooling may prolong my rigs PA's.  I'm protecting my investment.   I've owned a few other modern rigs and they too have fans that come on during these same type sessions.  

Cal / N3CAL

Bill -VA3WTB

I like Corey's idea of using a laptop cooler under it.

Martin AA6E

Is there any reason to think that the internal fans aren't able to adequately cool the radio? AFAIK they can do the job. My suggestion is just that Flex could use a proportional controller (like many CPU coolers). The max / idle "**** ****" fan control is annoying when high speed is triggered.

Corey/ KC0YNS

Bill, My reason of adding the 20.00 Laptop cooler wasn't because my 6300 was over heating. It was done as a precaution, Same as being used under my Laptop's in the Shack.  

Bill Roberts

I wonder what the Flex folks think about using a laptop cooler? Will it make a difference? Thanks.

Tim - W4TME

It certainly can't hurt.  The chassis is part of the total thermal mass of the radio and if more air is moving around it, that should aid in the thermal dissipation. If the cooler is USB powered, I would be hesitant on plugging it into the radio's USB port since you do not know how well the power input line is filtered. 

Tim - W4TME

"Tim...was the activation parameter changed in this release?"

There are no changes listed in our development logs to indicate any modifications  to the fan operation logic.

Chris DL5NAM

...for me: since the hardware mod at FR (for me) the fan noise is much louder; maybe the lowest (minimum) speed is the problem or(!) before mod the fan was power on at different temp point. Fact is: fan it's to noisy for a modern high end device.

Bill -VA3WTB

And that is a FACT? Is this in your opinion or is there a noise level acceptance guide somewhere for modern high end devices?

Chris DL5NAM

Yes, a fact! What else?