Interlock Message with PGXL

Mike VE3CKO

This morning when trying to transmit I got the following message which would not allow transmission, "interlock is preventing transmission AMP:PG-XL".

Did not matter what band, restarted SmartSDR, same thing. Did not matter if PGXL was in standby or not. Did not reboot 6700 for fear of the current issue regarding slices may come up, though a fix is eminent.

I shutdown FRstack, same thing. I turned off the TGXL, same thing, shutdown the PGXL utility, same thing, then turned off the PGXL and the message stopped. Powered TGXL back up and all flags were OK on PGXL but the message came back. Even after repeated attempts the message would appear with the PGXL on and go away when it was off, so started scratching my head.

Before I started panicking about a possible PGXL problem I thought I would check out the device settings in the utility and for the heck of it I would try to let the firmware rediscover the 6700. So under the FlexRadio tab I disabled both Port A and B configurations, saved and restarted the utility. Then went back to the FlexRadio tab and enabled both Port A and B configurations, saved and restarted the utility. BINGO, the interlock message stopped and the radio could transmit again with PGXL in either standby or operate.

Has anyone experienced this? Is this something known or something new? After operation phone, FT8 and a little AM test yesterday had no issues but did have a few FT8 transmissions on 60m so had to play with output bandwidth to stay within allotted frequency, (awaiting new Canadian TURF file). The only thing I can think of what might have caused or contributed to this is when going on FT8 on 60m, the PGXL was in operate mode before I quickly shutdown and put PGXL in standby. After that I went on operating on other bands with no issues. Then when going QRT I shut down SmartSDR leaving the radio on as normal and put PGXL in standby before shutting it off. Perhaps the persistence got messed up?

Before I hit the button to post this, I searched the community again and did find this response from Dave w2ox:

3.3.29 6400/PGXL now interlocked!

where Dave says "So if you run into interlocking try going into the amp utility and then click save to reboot the amp."

Guess next time I'll do more research but I hope this helps anyone who comes across a similar interlock issue or maybe help developers as to the cause of the interlock flag red herring in the first place.

excalibrate

Thanks. fixed it for me
73
KG4FBY

K5PO

Just ran into this as well. Maestro C & Flex 6400 both on 3.8.21. PGXL (3.8.9) & TGXL (1.2.11).

Clicking to disable the Flex in the PGXL settings > saving > clicking to reenable in PGXL settings >saving > worked. Thank you

David Decoons, wo2x

next time try going into PG XL settings and just click save. This will reboot the amp.

WX7Y

Hi Dave, Is there by chance a command that can reboot the AMP over the network like can be done with the AntGenius that could be used in Node-Red??

Thanks Dave and 73

Bret / WX7Y

k7rfh.rich

This is an old thread but I just learned something that surprised me about the interlock error.
I am a MARS operator and am sharing this for other MARS members.

When using frequencies between 2.2 and 2.5 MHz, the Maestro displays Interlock preventing transmission AMP.PG-XL.
So I opened a helpdesk ticket and was told that the PGXL does not allow TX in that range. So I asked if it could be adjusted for MARS operators.
Thought this was a good question since when I purchased both the radio and PGXL I specified it was for MARS operation.

The helpdesk said -
"The Power Genius is designed for high performance on HAM radio bands. Spurious emissions are much better than needed by standard FCC 97.307. Thanks to diplexer filters in output circuit Power Genius can operate in a much wider frequency range without any modifications. Except one very narrow frequency **** from 2,2 to 2,5 MHz, where spurious are > 35dB , Power Genius can operate broadband without any modifications.
Due to the higher spurious emissions, the PG XL does not operate between 2.2 and 2.5 MHz.

I suggest you contact support@4O3A .com to see if there are any modifications available for operation in that specific range."

So I wrote to 403A and they replied -
"PGXL can operate on many MARS frequencies, technically speaking. Those you asked for are some of the few it can not handle.

Problem with MARS and us as producers is in regulations and software. This is something you have to ask Flex Radio. We simply can't open all frequencies on the US market, if it is not allowed. Flex radio is handling this legal side of our business in the US"

For me this was new information and may have influenced my purchasing decisions. Thought I would share this here for others to have the info as well.