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8600: Is OFF really OFF?

Jim KJ3P
Jim KJ3P Member ✭✭✭
in FLEX-8000 Signature Series

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.

  • EricZimmerman
    EricZimmerman Member ✭✭
    its like any other time source. use a third party app and point it at the flex, or update windows to use the flex as its time source.

    you can point windows at a flex like this (192.168.1.152 is the flex, adjust it for your own):


    net stop w32time
    w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:"192.168.1.152 0.it.pool.ntp.org 1.it.pool.ntp.org 2.it.pool.ntp.org 3.it.pool.ntp.org "
    net start w32timew32tm /config /update
    w32tm /resync /rediscover



    and update the peerlist to point to the flex
    ideally tho you would be using a public ntp server id say, unless you KNOW The flex is pulling from an official one regularly.
    Personally i use active directory at home and my machines are always correct since the domain controller is the definitive time source

    for the mac, same idea, you just need to point the ntp service at the flex.

    for 99% of people tho, using a third party tool to manage this is probably the right answer
  • EricZimmerman
    EricZimmerman Member ✭✭
    i havent confirmed this, but i would assume that the flex would be getting its accurate time source via GPS as a primary, but hopefully there are backup sources as well with its ntp service
  • Les W6JKA
    Les W6JKA Member ✭✭

    New to the 8600M…..Can radio be put in a Standby Mode locally but still be accessible over WAN?

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Les, to be accessible over the WAN, it needs to be fully on.

    I use the REM ON jack and a cheap WiFi 4 channel switch to allow me to turn it on remotely using my cell phone.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    Another point of view. If the power supply is on, then the Flex radio is “asleep” waiting for something to awaken it, like the remote on or the front panel button.

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