Probelm with upgrade to v 3.1.12

Jim WA9ABB

After upgrading my Flex 6700 to SSDR v 3.1.12 this morning (and it seemed to go well), now there is no signal reception on all bands, except for very weak signals on am broadcast band.  Immediately before the upgrade, it was working fine, and I was monitoring FT8 signals normally on 20 meters.  I reinstalled v 3.1.11 and it did not fix the problem.  I did factory reset on radio and reinstalled v 3.1.12 and still no change in reception.  I also tried different antenna and feedline with same results.  The internal antenna tuner no longer gives a good match(>3:1) to the antenna and was having no problem before the upgrade. I do get a good match (1.4:1) to my dummy load with the antenna tuner bypassed.  The tuner does lower the swr a little more (1.2:1)when used with the dummy load  At this point  I am not sure if it is a hardware failure or something that occurred during the upgrade.  But  it seems strange that everything was working fine before the upgrade. I did not get any error messages or notices during the upgrade.

Bill -VA3WTB

Does this happen on both antenna ports on you radio? Ant1 Ant2?

Bill W2PKY

Jim- The ATU has issues on all releases after 2.4.9. So if the ATU is necessary for successful operation at your station then go back to 2.4.9. There are many threads on this subject.
My 6700  ran fine on 3.1.11 and 3.1.12 so check to see you  are on the right "ANT" connector.
If this continues to be a problem please post pictures of your SSDR screen.
Hope this helps.

Bill -VA3WTB

Jim, it is strongly recommended not to revert back to 2.4.9 till the maintenance update is released for 2.4.9 witch should be out really soon.

Jim WA9ABB

Yes

Jim WA9ABB

Yes. but it would usually find a match after several attempts. My imain concern is that the only signal I can receive on the radio now is a local am radio station which is very weak now, but usually very strong,

Bill -VA3WTB

Ok it seems clear it has nothing to do with the upgrade, because it did not change after you reverted back to the last version. and It seems clear that there is not a hardware problem, at least not the protection diode. If it were than at least one antenna port would work. Both of them would have to be blown. Work backwards, check your antenna connections and antenna. Set the atu ON BYPASS. and check SWR. Things to start with.

Jim WA9ABB

Well the 3.1.11 versions was working fine for me before the upgrade. I deleted v 3.1.12 and reinstalled v 3.1.11 and it did not fix the problem with reception. I deleted 
3.1.11 again  and reinstalled 3.1.12 again with no luck. It acts like no antenna attached to radio now no matter which antenna jack I use.

Bill -VA3WTB

Then you have a good SWR without the tuner?

EA4GLI

Maybe loop A or loop B is enabled?

Jim WA9ABB

it was working fine with 3.1.11  till I installed 3.1.12.  Went back to 3.1.11, but still had same problem. So Reinstalled 3.1.12 after factory reset, but that did not correct the problem.  It acts like there is no antenna attached no matter which antenna jack is used. I am betting it is going to need a trip back to its maker.

Jim WA9ABB

SSDR v 3.1.12 opens normally and appears to function except for no received signals.

Geoff AB6BT

What about Salvador's question?

Jim WA9ABB

The swr is >3:1 with or without the tuner with antenna connected to radio.  No signals received with or without antenna tuner.  With dummy load swr 1.4:1 without tuner and 1.2:1 with tuner.  It is raining now. Will check antenna connection at outside antenna end and replace coax tomorrow if weather is dry.  But I was having no trouble with the antenna just minutes before the upgrade to 3.1.11.

Jim WA9ABB

No Loop A and B are not enabled.

Jim WA9ABB

Thanks

Jim WA9ABB

The antenna is a 31 foot LGD vertical with 66 ground radials. It pretty much has a high SWR on most bands except 40 meters. Now it is >3:1 on all bands with or without the antenna turner. I will check antenna connections and coax tomorrow if the rain lets up. But antenna and antenna tuner were working normally today till I did the upgrade.  SWR is  fine with dummy load with or without tuner.

Jim WA9ABB

I will give update after I can get outside to check antenna connections and coax.

Many thanks to all for the advice and help.

Jim

Jim WA9ABB

No the A and B Loops are not enabled.

WX7Y

and your sure you did a HARD Reset and not just a Power off reset (holding the OK Button in and power on the radio and watching it count down?) This will erase all your profiles and restore the radio to factory defaults. 

Jim WA9ABB

Yes it was a hard reset. I had to re-enter frequency, mode, and other parameters, etc. from scratch after reset.

Bill -VA3WTB

Jim, if your antenna checks out, I would start a help ticket. It does seem that something happened to the protection diodes for the ADC's. Just my guess. I really can't see how an upgrade could cause this, I think the problem is just the timing involved. But to do damage to those diodes there needed to be a strong static charge or something.

KD0RC

Hi Jim. Just to be sure... The AGC-T slider is not set too low is it? 73, Len, KD0RC

WX7Y

Connect your Antenna to RXA or RXB jack and select the RXA or RXB antenna respectively in the receive antenna choices and see if it receives any better, If it does then the micro TX/RX relays may have taken a static hit. 

Jim WA9ABB

Thanks for suggestion, but AGC-T is OK.

EA4GLI

No problem. I was just suggesting "hoping" it was a user mistake and it doesn't need a trip to the shop... I know for a fact how frustrating that can be.... good luck.

Jim WA9ABB

Thanks to all who responded with suggestions for my problem.

I am back on the air. The upgrade went fine and was not at fault.  

I have numerous tree rats (squirrels) in my back yard.  Apparently they have developed a taste for coax.  Maybe it tastes good or is like chewing gum for them.  They had almost completely gnawed thru the coax right at the antenna fitting. 

I have lived here for thirty years and have never had this happen before.  I replaced the coax and all is well.  I was actually monitoring FT8 on 20 meters just a few minutes before the software upgrade. It was just a coincidence that the coax failed at that time. It would have happened even without the upgrade. Actually I am glad it was something silly and simple and did not have to send the radio back to Flex for repair.

I usually replace the coax almost every year when I accidently damage it mowing the grass. But that is not subtle when it happens.


Anyway keep FLEXING, have fun (what it is really about), and thanks again.


Jim  WA9ABB

Jim WA9ABB

PS. Anybody know of any good squirrel repellents ?

Sergey KN7K

works for me
https://smile.amazon.com/Havahart-One-Door-Chipmunk-Squirrel-X-Small/dp/B000BPAVCG/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=squarell+trap&qid=1589656265&sr=8-6

after i found my coax cable damaged
Sergey, KN7K

Jim WA9ABB

Sergey,

Thanks for the info.

There are so many squirrels in my neighborhood, I would have to spend all my time catching them. I was hoping for some repellent that I could put on or around the coax to discourage them. Thanks for the info, the catch and release trap would work if there were only a few, but way to many to catch them all. 

KY6LA_Howard

@Jim

Get yourself a hunter killer dog like a beagle.  I have had 3 over the last 30 years.

Within a week of being adopted my beagles killed every rat, squirrel, rabbit and cat in the neighborhood.  No more rat/squirrel/rabbit issues albeit a few unhappy cat owners.  But we blame the missing cats on coyotes..Hi hi..

Every time a beagle passed away, we were immediately innundated with coax eating rats and squirrels .. so as soon as we got a new one the rat/squirrel issue disappears/

Great dogs with kids and grandkids...and totally protective of the house.