Flex 6K series and Heil adapters

Simon Lewis

I had a crazy situation today and if I can do this so can someone else!!

I moved one of the Flex 6500's to a my /P location where we are building our new home and I have a containerised shack setup.

After setting up the Flex CW was working great but I spent ages fault finding SSB

I could not get the PTT working, audio sounded terrible .. I had audio showing on the level meter all the time like the mic was continuously live and monitoring the audio was terrible.

I reloaded SSDR, rebooted the Flex, no change

then after a load of head scratching changed headsets, still no difference.

Then I pulled the Heil adapter from the Flex and went to plug a spare in .. THEN I realised I was able to get the Heil adapter in the Flex mic socket upside down!

Don't ask me how ... as they are keyed... maybe the Heil has a smaller spigot on the plug but turning it the right way resolved everything!

Just in case anyone else has strange effects and think of everything but the obvious!

 never thought it was possible but!

73

Simon ZL4PLM

W7NGA

YES!!! I did this too .. and, if you orient the adapter correctly it is possible to tighten the collar but the connection is poor and requires rocking the connector back and forth. I have read of several audio problems here where I surmised that this might have been the issue.

W7NGA  dan
San Juan Island, Wa.

Randy Diddel

I have done this too.  Only 6 days after purchasing my 6300!  Thought it was broken.  Felt pretty foolish after discovering it.

73

K5RHD

Bill Roberts

Thanks for posting. We can learn and benefit from your experience.

DrTeeth

This should not be possible to do. Have you all complained to Heil about this?

Simon Lewis

now I don't feel as **** ... glad I posted now ... others might benefit .. watch your plugs

Simon Lewis

me too ROFL .. I thought that can't be possible surely .. but yes it was!

Simon Lewis

it caused so many issues and effects I really thought the Flex was faulty ... but a simple twist and the problem resolved!

Simon Lewis

Hi Guy

not sure whose issue it is ... the Heil adapter or the Mic socket that Flex chose ... as long as your aware you can watch out for it .. I had no idea it was possible ... Trust me to find it !!!

W7NGA

This issue was mentioned on the forum long ago, which is why it occurred to me to check when I had no audio and PTT failed. Thanks Simon for addressing the issue as it will surely cause others grief at some point in their Flex adventures!

Simon Lewis

I had a quick search too couldn't find any specifics around mic sockets etc ohh well live and learn At least I won't make the same mistake twice! Had a great time after I fixed it working TX3X and T2GC ..

DrTeeth

Many thanks for the OP in making us aware of the issue.

73 de Guy G4DWV/4X1LT

Tim - W4TME

This is an issue we encounter in support where the Heil connector has "play" around the key-slot which allows for incorrect insertion.  I suspect because Heil has to use the same connector on a lot of different radios, they use one that works with all radio types since the connector specs can vary.  Personally I have not had this problem with third-party Foster connectors I have purchased when making my own mic cables.