My 6300 abruptly shuts down and powers off. Only happens in receive - never transmit. It happens with two different computers. One windows 7- the other windows 10. The windows firewall is off on both. I am using Smart SDR 1.9.13 Any ideas?
Posted 3 years ago
Mack McCormick, Elmer
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
In my experience three things cause the radio to shut down.
1. Power interruption
2. Internal software error
3. RF ingress
I've had 3 happen a few times due to common mode currents. Fixed that and didn't have it again. I've had 1 happen as well due to my own operator error (short circuit connecting an attached station accessory).
Those are some things to check.
1. Power interruption
2. Internal software error
3. RF ingress
I've had 3 happen a few times due to common mode currents. Fixed that and didn't have it again. I've had 1 happen as well due to my own operator error (short circuit connecting an attached station accessory).
Those are some things to check.
I have not had any power interruptions. Points 2 and 3 are possibilities. I have reloaded the software several times to try and rule out software. Regarding RF, this always happens when in RX mode. It has never happened when the TX is keyed so I don't think it is RF but I do wonder if that is possible. Thanks for your comments.
Are the fans noisy? Over temp issues?
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
That would generate a issue specific error message.
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
It just goes dark - not preceded by blinking light. I never had the problem with 1.8.4. It first appeared with 1.9.13.
How do feel about regressing to 1.8.4 for about a week? This would help to eliminate a hardware issue.
How often does it happen by the way?
Do you leave your radio on all the time?
How often does it happen by the way?
Do you leave your radio on all the time?
That is probably a good idea. I actually sent the radio back to Flex since they could not resolve the problem by email. They said the radio is fine. After disabling the windows firewall the problem disappeared for about a month and just reappeared 3 days ago. It happened 3 times yesterday morning and then the radio ran for 13 hours with no interruptions. It then happened 3 times this morning. I need to head out for a while now but will leave the radio on. I don't think this is RF related since it never happens when the key is down - only happens in receive. Thanks for your comments. I;ll see if it is still running when I return. I'll let you know. Thanks again.
73's
Roger
73's
Roger
Mack McCormick, Elmer
Roger,
Respectfully, this is almost ALWAYS a power supply problem. Have you tried a different power supply? I suggested this early this morning.
Mack
Respectfully, this is almost ALWAYS a power supply problem. Have you tried a different power supply? I suggested this early this morning.
Mack
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
Also the cables should be secured. I use ring terminals which I crimped and soldered.
Mack,
I tend to agree. But it doesn't hurt to try 1.8.4.
I tend to agree. But it doesn't hurt to try 1.8.4.
You may very well be right. i will need to get another power supply to check that out.
That is my next move. Thanks so much for your help.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
If that does not provide any remedy, I'd recommend opening a HelpDesk ticket. I do not think this is software related based on your problem description.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
If that does not provide any remedy, I'd recommend opening a HelpDesk ticket. I do not think this is software related based on your problem description.
Hi Tim:
Thanks for your interest. I have been struggling with this issue for quite a while. The radio was sent back to Flex on 11/18/16 under RMA15977 after spending a few weeks trying to resolve the problem. It ran in the Flex repair shop for several days. It did not shut down and was returned to me on 12/13/16 after passing all production tests. The shutdowns did not reoccur until 1/15/17 and continued on 1/16 and 1/17. Shutdowns did not occur on 1/18 or 1/19 and the radio was running all day. When the radio goes dead the green power light just disappears, it does not flash several times as it does when I am turning the radio off. The power supply light remains on. I have looked for any questionable connections numerous times and can not find any. When the shutdowns occur an error message appears saying that the connection to the radio has been lost. This always happens in the receive mode - never when transmitting, Therefore, I don't think this can be RF related.
When I am turning the radio off, I always exit the software, turn off the radio and wait for the green power light to go dark before shutting off the power supply. I decided to see what would happen if I turned off the power supply without first exiting the software and turning off the radio. It behaves exactly as it does when abruptly shutting down. The green power light goes off without first flashing several times. This leaves me wondering if the problem could be caused by very brief interruptions in the power supply that do not cause the power supply to actually turn off. The power supply is the 25 AMP Astron that I bought from Flex in September when I bought the radio. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare so I may have to buy one to test this theory. This is very perplexing. Any help you can provide will be most appreciated.
73s
Roger Malek KC9WZ
Thanks for your interest. I have been struggling with this issue for quite a while. The radio was sent back to Flex on 11/18/16 under RMA15977 after spending a few weeks trying to resolve the problem. It ran in the Flex repair shop for several days. It did not shut down and was returned to me on 12/13/16 after passing all production tests. The shutdowns did not reoccur until 1/15/17 and continued on 1/16 and 1/17. Shutdowns did not occur on 1/18 or 1/19 and the radio was running all day. When the radio goes dead the green power light just disappears, it does not flash several times as it does when I am turning the radio off. The power supply light remains on. I have looked for any questionable connections numerous times and can not find any. When the shutdowns occur an error message appears saying that the connection to the radio has been lost. This always happens in the receive mode - never when transmitting, Therefore, I don't think this can be RF related.
When I am turning the radio off, I always exit the software, turn off the radio and wait for the green power light to go dark before shutting off the power supply. I decided to see what would happen if I turned off the power supply without first exiting the software and turning off the radio. It behaves exactly as it does when abruptly shutting down. The green power light goes off without first flashing several times. This leaves me wondering if the problem could be caused by very brief interruptions in the power supply that do not cause the power supply to actually turn off. The power supply is the 25 AMP Astron that I bought from Flex in September when I bought the radio. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare so I may have to buy one to test this theory. This is very perplexing. Any help you can provide will be most appreciated.
73s
Roger Malek KC9WZ
Mack McCormick, Elmer
If you don't have another 12V power supply then do you have a 12v battery you can place in parallel with the power leads. That would also eliminate a power supply issue.
Mack
Mack
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Good idea.
something you may want to try, take a screw drive and gentle hit the power supply and or the radio with the handle end. If you have a intermittent connection, it might show up. Old TV repairman trick.
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I have noticed that when using several devices on a power supply common to the Flex that even the slightest short will shut down the radio. It can be so quick as to not even trip the power supply however the radio will shut down.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
And that is a good thing. The radio is protecting itself from what would end up being a non-warranty repair.
Not sure how such a momentary duration short external to the radio so quick as to not trip the power supply would damage it...however I'm not complaining just observed it.
The only other device connected to the power supply is a small 12 volt relay that keys the amplifier. I don't think that is the problem as the radio has never shut down when being keyed. Only shut down in the receive mode. Thanks very much for your inputs.
Tim:
I do have a small 12 volt relay that triggers the amplifier powered by the same power supply as the radio - nothing else. I doubt that is the problem as the radio never shuts down when the transmitter is keyed - only shuts down in receive mode. The radio does not go through a wireless router. It is connected directly to the computer by the ethernet cable. However, a wireless router does come into play if I use the computer to open QRZ.com or check email while operating. I am wondering if that could have something to do with this problem. I am going to disconnect the computer from the wireless router as a test. Since shutdowns are now infrequent it may take quite a while to test this theory. I am still confused on how a loss in connectivity between the radio and the computer can cause the radio to power off. Thanks for your inputs. I'll let you know if I figure anything out. I suspect others must also run into this problem.
73s
Roger Malek
I do have a small 12 volt relay that triggers the amplifier powered by the same power supply as the radio - nothing else. I doubt that is the problem as the radio never shuts down when the transmitter is keyed - only shuts down in receive mode. The radio does not go through a wireless router. It is connected directly to the computer by the ethernet cable. However, a wireless router does come into play if I use the computer to open QRZ.com or check email while operating. I am wondering if that could have something to do with this problem. I am going to disconnect the computer from the wireless router as a test. Since shutdowns are now infrequent it may take quite a while to test this theory. I am still confused on how a loss in connectivity between the radio and the computer can cause the radio to power off. Thanks for your inputs. I'll let you know if I figure anything out. I suspect others must also run into this problem.
73s
Roger Malek
Can you scope the power supply output to see if there are any glitches? Perhaps strapping big electrolytics across the output to see if that solves the problem?
Roger,
You mentioned a relay connected to your primary 13.8 Vdc supply and this got my attention...
Do you have a flyback (snubber) diode across the relay coil? If not, I suspect this may be your cause for radio shutdown. I have seen delayed issues where equipment running processors have been glitched an ultimately crash at a later point in time.
Should you not be familiar with this type of protection and the serious damage that could result, please review the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I7Ycbv8B8
73 de PeterV
WB3FSR Jersey Shore
You mentioned a relay connected to your primary 13.8 Vdc supply and this got my attention...
Do you have a flyback (snubber) diode across the relay coil? If not, I suspect this may be your cause for radio shutdown. I have seen delayed issues where equipment running processors have been glitched an ultimately crash at a later point in time.
Should you not be familiar with this type of protection and the serious damage that could result, please review the following video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I7Ycbv8B8
73 de PeterV
WB3FSR Jersey Shore
ROGER