Flex 8600 Broken TX

LewisM0YZV

Hi all

After updating to latest version of SmartSDR my tx capability failed completely, the rig either reboots or people reported broken audio, one describing it as in and out or encrypted!

Audio waterfall whilst in tx appears jerky, not smooth as normal.

Tried a reboot, reset to basics, downgrade to previous version, issue still remains!

Rx is fine and radio will still tune the antenna!

Any ideas before I open a case please?

Cheers

Lewis

Erik Carling EI4KF

Lewis, open a Help Desk ticket anyway. Do it now to save time, maybe get an answer before the weekend and, since you've already done all the correct things, it is highly doubtful any solution will be forthcoming from the Community.

LewisM0YZV

Thanks Erik, I'll do that.

Update: I reset it all again and updated back to the latest version. It worked briefly and now does the same thing again.

BUT it seems to only have this issue on the 40m band. All other bands I've tried seem to TX OK.

Bizarre!

Lewis

Edit: actually I think it’s all the bands as it’s just gone floppy on 20 as well.

g4ivv

Hi Lewis,

Try running at a lower RF power level as a test. It might be RF interference (I realise it started after the upgrade but is it possible any cables may have moved at all?). The symptoms sound like RF in the networking cable, not present during tuning because of the lower tune power. I have ferrites on all cables in and out of the radio.

73,
Jonathan

LewisM0YZV

Ah Jonathan, might be onto something there! At 10% it works ok but flops at 50%. I’m going to try it into a 100w dummy load as it’s too rainy to rig up antennas.

g4ivv

Thats good news Lewis, if problems appear as power increases its either RF getting in or PSU+cabling volts drop. The dummy load should point you in the right direction.

When I first bought my 8600, in my haste to try it out I had something similar happen and just winding my ethernet cable a few times through a 240 sized core solved the problem completely.

Good luck!
Jonathan

LewisM0YZV

Thanks Jonathan, I stuck a longer Ethernet cable into it wrapped round a big **** choke and I think it’s fixed! I will do more testing tomorrow as it’s been quite emotional!

Lewis