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Fan noise on the 8400 – any solutions?

SM6YEC
SM6YEC Member, Unconfirmed ✭✭
in FLEX-8000 Signature Series

Hi! I have an 8400 that I’m very happy with, and it works just as it should. If I’ve understood the manual correctly, the fan runs continuously. Unfortunately, I find the fan noise to be a bit too loud, even when the radio is just idling.

The noise is actually so noticeable that I mostly use the radio with headphones. I would really like to keep it on and listen through the speaker, but when the radio is just sitting there the fan noise becomes intrusive and tiring after a while. For reference, I keep the radio on the floor beneath my desk, so it’s not placed right next to my ears.

Is there anything that can be done to reduce the fan noise?

73 Mattias SM6YEC
www.sm6yec.se

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Comments

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭✭

    See this thread where I fixed it myself:

    https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8031800/fan-noise-8400m

    My 8400M was delivered with 51DBA noise and harsh sounding. Now 37DBA and not unpleasant. It is a bit louder now than my 6400M but that is normal.

    Or arrange with the Flex Service Centre in Germany to have it repaired in warranty:

    Norbert (DC6UW) directly at es.wrede@t-online.de

  • SM6YEC
    SM6YEC Member, Unconfirmed ✭✭

    Hi Eric!

    Thanks, Eric! I read your thread.

    In my case, the fan sounds fine, so there’s nothing wrong with it – it’s just that the volume is too high (in my opinion).

    73 Mattias

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭✭

    Yes sure. The problem is due to vibration in most cases. Maybe not in your case. But curing that not only reduces the volume considerably but also makes for a softer sound.

  • SM6YEC
    SM6YEC Member, Unconfirmed ✭✭

    Thanks, Erik! I’ll think about what I want to do. I don’t want to be without my radio for almost two months.

    73 Mattias

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited September 29

    Yes exactly and when I contacted Norbert, although he had 8000 series in for this problem and had done his best, it appeared that parts and service sheets had not been sent to him by Flex - not at that time anyway.

    It you take off the top cover and press lightly on the right hand side of the fan, you should hear an immediate improvement, thus giving a clue as to what can be easily and cheaply be done to fix the issue.

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

    If you have significant fan noise, please open a support ticket. This can be a warranty issue.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    I have an 8600M had to send it back and it took almost 2 months for them to fix it sounded like a fan hitting the case!! look at the 8600M noise comments

  • Erik Carling EI4KF
    Erik Carling EI4KF Member ✭✭✭✭

    An additional issue is the ribbon cable in front of the fan which is very close. If the fan mounting is not perfectly square, as mine is not, a blade or two can contact with it. But the cable can be moved and fixed easily and kept away from the blades.

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