Distorted Transmit Audio / RF Issues & Random Weirdness

GM7VSB

KD0RC

GM7VSB

Len,
Yeah, tried that, even at 1w it persists regardless of being grounded or not.

RoyS

DL4RCE

Do you use a 10MHz external reference? Volker, DL4RCR

GM7VSB

HCampbell WB4IVF

DL4RCE

Ok, had some problems with distorted audio with that. Good luck in finding the root cause.

Volker

DL4RCE

Bob Needleman

Jason - remove everything that you have connected downstream from the 6600. Just connect your PS to the Flex (with as short a DC cord as possible) and a short piece of coax to a dummy load. Listen on your 2nd receiver and see how that sounds. If you're still getting distored audio (and CW?), then there's a problem in the rig. One other suggestion which I didn't see you mention, was installing a common mode choke in the coax line, at the point where  it comes in the shack (eg. right after an external ATU if you use that, or amp). That might help clean things up for you if you're getting RF in from outside (a common problem with multiband ants, like OCF dipoles, etc). 
Bob K3AC

HCampbell WB4IVF

Agree.  Voltage drop checks at the radio under load  may reveal a problem that resistance measurements miss. 

Howard

GM7VSB

Hi Roy,
Fully understand this, but with nothing but the DC Lead, Ethernet and short jumper to the dummy load I'm not sure I could make a spaghetti starter never mind a full bowl :-)

GM7VSB

Thanks Howard,
Yep, 2 flashes repeating a few times and then it restarts on its own. You've kind a got to be quick to catch this.
Tried a few resets, admittedly without removing DC. That's on my trials list for this evening.

GM7VSB

HCampbell WB4IVF

on5po

Hello everyone,

I finally solved my problem of distortion of my audio on my flex 6700,

I bought a Yaesu M1 microphone, which did not solve the problem, but which allowed me to use the XLR and the ptt separately

73 ON5PO, Janny

The second phase is to connect the M1, in "XLR", on my 6700 there, its been fabulous, the difference,

it is regrettable that only the 6500 and 6700 has the "XLR"

73, from on5po, Janny

GM7VSB

Doing a full factory reset (with power removed) and not reloading profiles helped with the random shutdowns.

I'm still not convinced I've cured the audio issues, but my findings suggest that adding EQ on the high end of the audio spectrum was causing distortion which sounded like RF. The high end power in the audio was reducing the average talk power.

I've now adjusted the EQ to add no more than +2 on the high end of the scale, reducing everything else to compensate and find that the audio is much improved.

Roger Hartel

Doing the full factory reset, if you removed power by disconnecting the power pole may have helped the issue for an unexpected reason. If the power poles developed internal resistance due to Fretting Corrosion, removing and reinstalling the connector may have helped temporarily. The power poles use tin plated connectors and thus are vulnurable to this type of corrosion. Google the name to find more.

The corrosion causes layers of tin oxide to form at the interface causing contact resistance to increase over time. Tin oxide is the material used in metal film resistors.

Voltage drop across the connector would increase on modulation peaks.

When you disassemble a connector with the issue you see black marks at the contact points, that is tin oxide.

500,000 color tv sets with plug in circuit boards, and 500 pairs of mated tin connectors per receiver was part of my learning experience.

John KB4DU

You mentioned high end boost in the transmit eq. Normal voice intelligibility is concentrated in 300 to 3000 ha. If the highs are boosted it is easy to gently voice peaks beyond the transmit bandwidth. General rule is to cut before boost. I use a transmit bandwidth of 300 to 2900rather than the Flex default of 100 ha.

John KB4DU

Dang auto corrupt. Should be “generate” voice peaks.