Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
Need the latest SmartSDR, Power Genius, Tuner Genius and Antenna Genius Software?
SmartSDR v3.7.4 and the SmartSDR v3.7.4 Release Notes | SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes
Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.8 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.8
Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
SmartSDR v3.7.4 and the SmartSDR v3.7.4 Release Notes | SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes
Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.8 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.8
Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
If you are having a problem, please refer to the product documentation or check the Help Center for known solutions.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
Help: Keeping my Flex5000a alive
cfclaver
Member ✭✭
Hi Flexers!
I desperately need help in recovering my Flex5000a. At the moment it is indicating he following on TX:
1) "High SWR" - band independent
2) No power out - I believe the radio is shutting down
3) Anomalous high input voltage - indicates 24V, at idle voltage indicates 13.7V
4) Radio fails bias level calibration - shows high current, >2A, with drive bias - think this is a bogus reading - drive transistors are new.
How did I get here?
The radio suddenly showed poor output on 6m - only 50%. I could smell something hot coming from the radio. I opened the radio and could see the bridging capacitors, C121 and C122, on the input the final matching transformer were burnt. These were replaced and carbonized material cleaned out, but still only 50% output on 6m.
I have replaced the final and river transistors with new parts. Radio had produced full 100W+ output on all bands except 6m.
While probing with my oscilloscope I accidentally grounded VDD on the matching transformer coming out of the driver stage. Thereafter the radio exhibited the failure mode(s) described above.
My current guess is that the shorting fried the AD converter chip on the PA board that provide the digitization of the voltage and FWD/REV power levels. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.
Alternatively, is there anyone still servicing the Flex5000a? Anyone have a 5000a available for parts?
This is a fantastic radio and I would hate to loose it.
Thanks!
Chuck
de NJ6D / N7KU
I desperately need help in recovering my Flex5000a. At the moment it is indicating he following on TX:
1) "High SWR" - band independent
2) No power out - I believe the radio is shutting down
3) Anomalous high input voltage - indicates 24V, at idle voltage indicates 13.7V
4) Radio fails bias level calibration - shows high current, >2A, with drive bias - think this is a bogus reading - drive transistors are new.
How did I get here?
The radio suddenly showed poor output on 6m - only 50%. I could smell something hot coming from the radio. I opened the radio and could see the bridging capacitors, C121 and C122, on the input the final matching transformer were burnt. These were replaced and carbonized material cleaned out, but still only 50% output on 6m.
I have replaced the final and river transistors with new parts. Radio had produced full 100W+ output on all bands except 6m.
While probing with my oscilloscope I accidentally grounded VDD on the matching transformer coming out of the driver stage. Thereafter the radio exhibited the failure mode(s) described above.
My current guess is that the shorting fried the AD converter chip on the PA board that provide the digitization of the voltage and FWD/REV power levels. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.
Alternatively, is there anyone still servicing the Flex5000a? Anyone have a 5000a available for parts?
This is a fantastic radio and I would hate to loose it.
Thanks!
Chuck
de NJ6D / N7KU
0
Comments
-
Troy Radio services legacy Flex radios.
1 -
My Flex 5000a is now in the hands of Toby at Troy Radio services. I will report back when he finishes his diagnostics.
1
Leave a Comment
Categories
- All Categories
- 280 Community Topics
- 2.1K New Ideas
- 521 The Flea Market
- 7.5K Software
- 6K SmartSDR for Windows
- 143 SmartSDR for Maestro and M models
- 349 SmartSDR for Mac
- 247 SmartSDR for iOS
- 228 SmartSDR CAT
- 168 DAX
- 350 SmartSDR API
- 8.7K Radios and Accessories
- 7K FLEX-6000 Signature Series
- 835 Maestro
- 43 FlexControl
- 842 FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios
- 786 Genius Products
- 413 Power Genius XL Amplifier
- 274 Tuner Genius XL
- 99 Antenna Genius
- 237 Shack Infrastructure
- 161 Networking
- 397 Remote Operation (SmartLink)
- 124 Contesting
- 617 Peripherals & Station Integration
- 122 Amateur Radio Interests
- 855 Third-Party Software