Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
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.

8600: Is OFF really OFF?

For my former 6600 with GPS option, it was recommended to keep 12v power applied when the unit was "off" to reduce the "warm-up time" until the GPS satellites were synced. The power button showed amber to indicate this "standby" mode.


With the new 8600 and its GNSS feature is this still best practice? If not, is there any reason whatsoever to keep power applied when the 8600 has been turned off (power button dark)?

Best Answer

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    Answer ✓

    Yes,

    When it is off, it draws about the same amount of current as your TV or computer monitor does when it is 'off'.

    The vendor tells us the GNSS should acquire satellites in about 60 seconds or less. Keep in mind, while it is off, you can't use it as an NTP time standard.

Answers

  • Jim  KJ3P
    Jim KJ3P Member ✭✭✭

    OK, thanks! Here are the timings for my 8600:

    —push ON button (flashing green)

    —after 40 seconds, solid green

    —by the 90 second mark, the GNSS has acquired 12 satellites (23 visible)

    —at 160 seconds, "LOCKED" mode is achieved

    So, my 8600 takes about 2.6 minutes from turn-on to show GNSS "locked."

    Good point re: the 8600's NTP server. How about a step-by-step procedure to lock the local PC to it? It would be especially fine for FT8-type apps using the PC clock.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Jim, did you get these numbers from leaving your power supply on, or from turning on the supply immediately before pressing the ON button?

  • Jim  KJ3P
    Jim KJ3P Member ✭✭✭

    Supply and radio cold from being off overnight. Supply on 5 seconds before pressing ON button.

    Don'cha just love these deep scientific experiments?

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Ah, ok. Give it a try where the power supply has been left on. I think you will see that after solid green, it will be locked much faster.

  • Neil D Friedman N3DF
    Neil D Friedman N3DF Member ✭✭✭✭

    I agree with Jim. I would like to know how to use an 8000 series radio as an NTP time standard when using FT8 with SSDR for Mac.

Leave a Comment

Rich Text Editor. To edit a paragraph's style, hit tab to get to the paragraph menu. From there you will be able to pick one style. Nothing defaults to paragraph. An inline formatting menu will show up when you select text. Hit tab to get into that menu. Some elements, such as rich link embeds, images, loading indicators, and error messages may get inserted into the editor. You may navigate to these using the arrow keys inside of the editor and delete them with the delete or backspace key.