Frozen Brand New Radio

Mick

OMG!
I don't know if I want to go ahead with this purchase, first the AF knob had a dead spot in it (which Flex is taking care of with a different radio) but now the Select A Version screen is completely locked up, I cannot get into the radio or enter my name in the log in fields.
This is a lot of money for something I spent $3300 on a week ago.
Is it always going to be this way with  Flex??

KL4QG

Did your Read the instructions ???

Mick

Yes I read it even a week before I received the radio, I've had it since Friday and it ran perfectly except for the knob issue and I came back from work today, turned it in and now this happens.
I'm not very happy as you can probably see.
They were very kind and are sending me a new rig, but I'm kinda nervous about any future issues like this.

KL4QG

I brought Pre Loved 6400M so person before me worked out all bugs I had few problems but it was on my end and was fixed by asking questions here All be ok Joe

Mick

Thanks Joe, I really want this to work. I love everything it can do.

K0FLY

Mick:

Have you performed a full factory reset of the radio, the procedure is in the manual, That operation should get the radio going again, 

I have a 6500 and a 6600, a factory reset was required once in three years of flex ownership, the 6500 locked up when I down graded SSDR from version 2 to version 1.

Hope this helps.

Gayle K0FLY

Mick

Once in three years is understandable, I've only had this unit for 5 days. lol
Now the screen is completely black.
I will try the reset.

Mick

I followed the instructions.
"With the radio powered off, press and hold down the Power button until the Power LED blinks white, then release the Power button. Allow the radio to continue booting normally."
It came up and froze again.

KL4QG

Check your voltage from power supply

Mick

13.5 volts

Pat N6PAT

Do you have a different power supply you can try it with?

Mick

No, but there is nothing wrong with this power supply. It's a 35 amp SEC-1235M Samlex.
The voltage is pretty steady, its fairly new and have never had a problem with it on another radio.
I'm a developer and I'm 
%150 sure this is purely a software issue.
I just did another reset and so far it's running normally.

KL4QG

Same power supply I’m using nice one -

KL4QG

Great news it’s running

Mick

Have you ever had an issue like this?

KL4QG

No issues most been my fault
I do like RadioSport Headset and Ten Tec Titan 425 amp
Like bread and butter added to my Flex 6400B
Titan best deal In a used amp 1000 watts and it’s purring 1500 if needed

KL4QG

K0FLY

Great, I'm glad the second reset got it back on it's feet.  Hopefully you can enjoy the radio for many years.  It would be nice to know why the first reset didn't work.

Gayle K0FLY

K0FLY

Great, I'm glad the second reset got it back on it's feet.  Hopefully you can enjoy the radio for many years.  It would be nice to know why the first reset didn't work.

Gayle K0FLY

KL4QG

I live in Eskimo village in Alaska I need a dependable radio I just turn on so far ok- I am concerned about fan problems need find how Maintain the fan keep it running

KL4QG

What are u using for mic and do you operate on SSB mostly/ What your Antenna

Mick

Unfortunately, the problems are back.  
Here is my setup: https://www.qrz.com/db/W7MCK

I'm also wondering if RF is getting into the radio.
When I was tuning the amp, the radio went black and only the buttons were on.

KL4QG

That sounds like good start on RF Don’t use amp for few days see how flex runs Guys any help for Mick ???

KL4QG

Nice Equipment

KL4QG

Turn on Amp first I just sold 80B wired 220 volts how’s your wired 110 or 220 Dam sounds like a voltage drop in house When I first turn on Titan amp a line goes across 6400M scope split Sec So I turn my Amp on first now

Mick

I’ll do that it’s at 110. You know what else? it’s having a hard time getting to the internet now, I’m gonna throw a ferrite on the Ethernet cable going to the radio.

KL4QG

Amp Hooked to same breaker as power supply ??
Just trying help ,,
Flex I believe shutting down it’s protecting itself from harm but what harm????
I cannot believe a few old time flex users are not
Helping you here ... My radio not hooked up computer or internet my wife scared of computers ..

Doug

The more I read here IMO sounds like you might have R.F. getting back into your radio. I say that because of the lockup and now problems connecting to the internet. Just make sure you have a good ground running to the radio and other gear in the R.F. chain. I find Flex is actually better than most radio's being affected with R.F. but your problems are pointing to that. I am not sure if you are using an amp but it also needs to be very well grounded.

Hang in there you have a great radio and a wonderful company you are dealing with and take it from me help at both the factory level and here on the forum. I had some issues with a Windows 10 update (Not a Flex problem) yet Tim from Flex came to my rescue within 2 hours after I made a help ticket and did a Team Viewer remote to my computer and all was fixed in 15mins. Try that with a **** radio company it's not going to happen.  The learning curve might be a bit more but it's worth it Mick

Robert Lonn

It can be frustrating on any new radio, TV set, Car, Home AVR, appliance etc. etc. If you read the reviews on any consumer item, their is always someone who is not happy with the item... My Flex over a year old has been fine and occasionally something does not go right and I need to reset the radio, like I do with my TV set, Cable Box, and even with my Acura MDX,,, need to remove power by disconnecting the battery and hooking it back up... Only done that once is 4 years but does happen.. Had to Unplug my LG refrigerator to get the WiFi to start back up...

Oh the age of Computers built into everything...I am one who has a single power supply that feeds several radios,, so when I am done for the day the power supply is shut down! When I power it back on everything hooked to it works perfect, but the Flex will occasionally not boot up correctly so I need to shut it down and back on, everything is fine... So,,, I installed a 12 volt DC power supply to Float the Flex Radio! Now the radio boots up PERFECT every time and when I turn off my power supply I do not get the Red Power button Flash...

Flex is a class operation and their radios are great but as I stated every consumer product has some sort of issue you need to deal with.. When you enter the world of SDR, you can go with a simple solution like Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, small changes for bug fixes but no real Feature enhancements, or you can go with FLEX that continues to add features and flexibility with Software Upgrades like 2. xxxx to 3. xxxx...

I enjoy the complexity of Flex and its advance features and the ability to GROW the radio over time to where it was to where it is going in the future!!  And yes, I have my old TUBE Collins Radio just in case someone decides to set off an EMP burst! :-( 

Robert

Steve K9ZW

@Mick -  Sounds like your shack's RFI has been toasting the network side of things.

With a M-model there is a network of sorts between the radio-server and the radio-faceplate (the M-part) which enough RF can upset.  Someday when I am bored I take a physical look on how the single cable port is set up with the two components of the radio.

Sounds like you have the treatment side figured, RF proofing things.  You can also help by avoiding bundling the cables, which is another way RF sometimes is induced in the internet cable.

It would be well work figuring out where your station is loosing so much RF in your shack and address that problem?

You may find that not running your amp gets you by, but that isn't solving where the RF is coming from, just that at reduced power the gear gets by.  

Glad you found the hard reset procedure.  My guess is you had to repeat it as the M-frontpanel wasn't successful in rebooting the first time.  Perhaps it was hung at a point where the small internal battery in the touchscreen module kept things locked up rather than allowing the reboot.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Blog:  http://k9zw.wordpress.com 

Mick

Thank you, Steve! All you guys have been a lot of help here. I will apply your knowledge and update you guys.