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Aurora - Anyone else experiencing bugginess?

K4WAX
K4WAX Member ✭
edited March 25 in Aurora
I received my Aurora in January. When it works, it's great. But rarely a day goes by when my radio exploits aren't interrupted by some glitch or bug; some more serious than others. Here is a brief summary of what my experience has been:

1. Frequent “Return loss fault occurred” and “Interlock is preventing transmission” errors. I am running two antennas (EFHW and Vertical), each of which tuned up fine with my Yaesu FT-710, and I have these errors with both of them.

2. My power output meter often stops showing my power output. Keying the mic and starting a QSO shows nothing on the power meter or SWR. Oddly, when I reboot the radio, this functionality comes back.

3. When I start SmartSDR, most -- but not all - of the time the CAT and DAX programs load at the same time. CAT will sometimes load but show no connection and sometimes CAT will not load at all. I have to reboot SmartSDR to get everything to load properly.

I am running on a fully updated version of Windows 11. In short, my radio is buggy. Are others having this sort of experience? I have created a HelpDesk ticket but have not heard anything yet.

Comments

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭

    Yes I have also experienced “Return loss fault occurred” and “Interlock is preventing transmission” errors" as well.

    I reached out to support and they had me send the unit back, which they tested and found it to be performing as designed. They concluded the following, and returned the Aurora back to me.

    Corrective Action Taken or Service(s) Performed:
    The following corrective actions were performed to resolve the issues noted above.
     

    1.  To avoid these issues while using an external tuner, please ensure to follow these steps:
    2. Set the Aurora ATU to Bypass mode at all times while using an external Tuner.
    3. Set the TUNE PWR slider to 3% or less.
    4. Follow the standard tuning procedure for customer's external Tuner.
    5. You may find the formal document at this link:


     
    TGXL Info: Aurora software integrates the TGXL tuner with the radio; however, tuner performance is still a “work in progress”. You may encounter situations where the TGXL fails to find a match or aborts the tune with low power, high power, or radio faults. We are working to correct this situation in a future software release.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    I'm using a 520M don't know if that makes a difference; so far so good and just using the internal tuner; seems to be much quicker than my 6600M or 8600M ; i do use the tgxl with the 8600M but have not tried it with the 520M due to issues i'v been reading about especially setting power out to 3%

  • Tom C
    Tom C Member ✭✭

    No problems at all with my AU520. Best radio I will ever have. I don’t use it with my TGXL because of the issues but I don’t need it right now anyway. Hope they get the compatibility sorted soon.

    Tom

    N9RU

  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    @Arnold Goldman It is the TUNE power you set to 3 or less. RF Power can be run from1 to 100%.

    So, 3% TUNE power is about 15 watts. I've been running the TG XL successfully with the AU510 on B side and 8600 on A side.

    I did find on 10 meters I reduced TUNE power to 2%

    73 Dave wo2x

  • K4WAX
    K4WAX Member ✭
    Thanks for the comments so far. I am not using an external tuner. I have the TUNE power set to 10 which is what I understood was recommended. Not sure if setting it to 3 or less without a tuner will make a difference but I will give it a try. I have been using two antennas and both tuned up fine with my FT-710. Also, it's been a week since I submitted my ticket and I have heard nothing. Any know how long it takes for them to get back?
  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    10 is the default for 6000/8000 series which is 10 watts on those radios.

    10 on Aurora is 50 watts.
    I would try a setting of 5 which is 25 watts.

    If you have access to an antenna analyzer, it would be interesting to know actual native SWR on each band.

    The Aurora tuner goes to about 3:1.

    73

    Dave wo2x

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    tnx for comments re power; will try it in the future with the TGXL so far so good with a windom and a COBRA Lite antenna; tuner in 520M seems a little quicker and no problem going GREEN on all bands; will probably sell my original 6600M just back from service; stay safe everyone

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