I don't get it... It is really pissing me off..
Why is it that EVERY Astro Radio I have doesn't function properly on 160.8000Mhz ?
As stated in previous posts, my XTS3K (on 800Mhz) when receiving, emits a signal on that freqeuncy, thus causing interference with other nearby radios that are on 160.8000Mhz.
My Astro Spectra VHF- self quiets on 160.8000Mhz.... it's one of the frequencies programmed in it, too... the audio circuits in it also emits a signal on the frequency.
Finally, my new Astro Saber (2002 build)- on VHF... is the oddest of the bunch. It is fine and works good on receive (stock antenna) when it's within 5' of where it's been the whole time I've been messing with it here in my room at home before I got the battery. If I go out the door, anywhere around the house, outside, in the car, 10 miles away, near the river, in the basement, wherever... there's interference on again............... 160.8000Mhz. What's worse is that if I turn the volume up t amplify the "dead key" air, I get an audio feedback loop!!!!!!!! Removal of the antenna solves the problem, but what am I gonna receive with no antenna?
This whole ordeal is pure BS... WTF was (M) doing when they made this line of radios, and what's worse.... making railroad Astro Spectras now and expect them to operate on AAR frequencies when they self quiet on one, which in these parts---- and pretty much everywhere in the Northeast United States, and intermittantly elsewhere throughout the country- possibly the entire continent.
If nobody can gather an explanation, can someone else program it into their astro gear (as an analog mode) and verify for me that it's not just all of my equipment, or my geographical region (these units haven't travelled with me outside of SE Michigan).
-Josh
Damn Astros.................................
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Josh
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: APX4K, XTL5K, NX5200, NX700HK
Well apparently nobody cares.
I looked into it more... I don't care that the XTS3k interferes... it's 800Mhz, and doesn't matter.
I don't care that the Astro Spectra makes interference for itself, with an antenna at least 15 feet away from the radio, the signal made in the radio doesn't make it out to the tower to get sent back down the feedline.
BUT, the only VHF Astro portabel, the Astro Saber has some other unique conditions which lead to proper operation.
First, I've done a number of things to alleviate the problem, including shifting the freqeucy up or down a bit such as 160.8025 etc. I've made the channel narrow-band, or set up the LO-Side injection or whatever it was "for frequencies spaced closer than 900Khz"... either way no-dice... I even toyed around a bit with the VCO Crossover frequency on RX- though I'm unsure what that does.. nothing cuts it.
But this did... recall that when the noise is being received, if I crank up the volume, the microphone somehow receives it and it makes a feedback look. Furthermore I can take off the antenna and the noise goes away.
Well, I went out to my car and hooked it up to the antenna there (quarter wave) and low and behold no interference. I thought that maybe it was because, like the Astro Spectra, antenna spacing made the difference.
Ok, so I wired the radio up directly to a mag-mount antenna and then tried moving the radio and antenna further apart until I go to where it didn't receieve itself... it didn't take, so- I mag-mounted this mobile antenna to a shelf because my arms couldn't spead any further... the noise went away. I even moved the radio back closer to the antenna again and it didn't make any interference.
I seemed to recall that the radio doesn't have issues when hooked up to a battery eliminator either.
Whatever the case may be, it seems that the radio wants a true ground in order to receive on the said frequency. Now, it's been stated to me "why not just not monitor that frequency, well, simply said... it's too important. It's my primary monitoring frequency, so that's a no-go.... but as long as there is a problem with the radio not working right due to some sort of stupid grounding issue that the astro-gurus on this board can shed absolutely no light on, the radio shall be limited to mobile use (with car-antenna) and... I guess ham, murs, beater- or something.
-Josh
I looked into it more... I don't care that the XTS3k interferes... it's 800Mhz, and doesn't matter.
I don't care that the Astro Spectra makes interference for itself, with an antenna at least 15 feet away from the radio, the signal made in the radio doesn't make it out to the tower to get sent back down the feedline.
BUT, the only VHF Astro portabel, the Astro Saber has some other unique conditions which lead to proper operation.
First, I've done a number of things to alleviate the problem, including shifting the freqeucy up or down a bit such as 160.8025 etc. I've made the channel narrow-band, or set up the LO-Side injection or whatever it was "for frequencies spaced closer than 900Khz"... either way no-dice... I even toyed around a bit with the VCO Crossover frequency on RX- though I'm unsure what that does.. nothing cuts it.
But this did... recall that when the noise is being received, if I crank up the volume, the microphone somehow receives it and it makes a feedback look. Furthermore I can take off the antenna and the noise goes away.
Well, I went out to my car and hooked it up to the antenna there (quarter wave) and low and behold no interference. I thought that maybe it was because, like the Astro Spectra, antenna spacing made the difference.
Ok, so I wired the radio up directly to a mag-mount antenna and then tried moving the radio and antenna further apart until I go to where it didn't receieve itself... it didn't take, so- I mag-mounted this mobile antenna to a shelf because my arms couldn't spead any further... the noise went away. I even moved the radio back closer to the antenna again and it didn't make any interference.
I seemed to recall that the radio doesn't have issues when hooked up to a battery eliminator either.
Whatever the case may be, it seems that the radio wants a true ground in order to receive on the said frequency. Now, it's been stated to me "why not just not monitor that frequency, well, simply said... it's too important. It's my primary monitoring frequency, so that's a no-go.... but as long as there is a problem with the radio not working right due to some sort of stupid grounding issue that the astro-gurus on this board can shed absolutely no light on, the radio shall be limited to mobile use (with car-antenna) and... I guess ham, murs, beater- or something.
-Josh
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spectragod
- Posts: 2029
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: FPP 6 meter XTL 5K's
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Josh
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: APX4K, XTL5K, NX5200, NX700HK
no the radio works like crap everywhere outside my room while on battery.. if the unit is on car-power, or on external antenna (ie sometihing grounded to something other than the - batt. terminal on the radio) it works fine. I didn't have the problem before I got my 'r' battery because power had always been supplied by a 12v converter I made up so I could test it out, flash, etc. I don't know why it works interference free, within 5 ft of this laptop computer. All other programmed frequencies, on the other hand, are all just fine.
-Josh
-Josh
Couldn't tell ya...
I have 160.8 as a priorty channel in two of my zones due to the ex-CR line in my backyard.... On two Astro Spectra's (one in the truck, one in my office), had it in an Astro Saber and in my current XTS5k. Zippo problems.
Maybe it just doesn't like you...?
I have 160.8 as a priorty channel in two of my zones due to the ex-CR line in my backyard.... On two Astro Spectra's (one in the truck, one in my office), had it in an Astro Saber and in my current XTS5k. Zippo problems.
Maybe it just doesn't like you...?
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
..
silly question, but thrill me
factory battery?
or chinese copy?
(be advised that most of the "motorola" batteries being sold on ebay are counterfeit - i'm not talking ken-doo-doo batts - i'm talking about the ones with motorola labels)
doug
factory battery?
or chinese copy?
(be advised that most of the "motorola" batteries being sold on ebay are counterfeit - i'm not talking ken-doo-doo batts - i'm talking about the ones with motorola labels)
doug
BRAVO MIKE JULIET ALPHA
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
"You can do whatever you want, there are just consequences..."
IF SOMEONE PM'S YOU - HAVE THE COURTESY TO REPLY.
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Josh
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: APX4K, XTL5K, NX5200, NX700HK
wow... it's the battery. I'll be damned.
I guess it's time to expedite getting that Model II housing and a regular battery then.
This is the rugged, intrinsically safe battery that I'm using. I think I know why it doesn't work.... it says "assembled in USA".
Seriously I don't know why, it's an old-stock battery 1997, but it is new, never used. I bought it from that guy in Singapore selling his batts on eBay, he's got a good record there, and as far as counterfeit batteries go, I read an article about spotting the differences between legit and counterfeit, but in regard to computer parts, in a computer mag a few months back.. too bad 'M' didn't use a holographic sticker or anything to mark their products, but the battery is heavy-duty, not junky and poorly-fitting like something counterfeit would be found to be.
Finally, thanks for doing the frequency tests, guys. As far as my Astro Spectra goes, I realize that it needs a full-alignment, I've been using it as a receiver though, the front-end filter is a mess, yet it works great anyhow. But that wouldnt' explain why the audio circutry in it causes interference to other nearby radios. that are properly tuned and aligned. Now mind you, in order for the audio processor interference to occur, the antenna of any receiving radio has to be close to the Spectra itself. Right now, I don't have any outdoor antennas, so an HT near the radio gets messed with, the radio interferes with itself since the antenna is up above the window, not even the separation of the radio being in the car with a mobile ant. on the roof is enoug separation.
-Josh
-Josh
I guess it's time to expedite getting that Model II housing and a regular battery then.
This is the rugged, intrinsically safe battery that I'm using. I think I know why it doesn't work.... it says "assembled in USA".
Seriously I don't know why, it's an old-stock battery 1997, but it is new, never used. I bought it from that guy in Singapore selling his batts on eBay, he's got a good record there, and as far as counterfeit batteries go, I read an article about spotting the differences between legit and counterfeit, but in regard to computer parts, in a computer mag a few months back.. too bad 'M' didn't use a holographic sticker or anything to mark their products, but the battery is heavy-duty, not junky and poorly-fitting like something counterfeit would be found to be.
Finally, thanks for doing the frequency tests, guys. As far as my Astro Spectra goes, I realize that it needs a full-alignment, I've been using it as a receiver though, the front-end filter is a mess, yet it works great anyhow. But that wouldnt' explain why the audio circutry in it causes interference to other nearby radios. that are properly tuned and aligned. Now mind you, in order for the audio processor interference to occur, the antenna of any receiving radio has to be close to the Spectra itself. Right now, I don't have any outdoor antennas, so an HT near the radio gets messed with, the radio interferes with itself since the antenna is up above the window, not even the separation of the radio being in the car with a mobile ant. on the roof is enoug separation.
-Josh
-Josh
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Josh
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: APX4K, XTL5K, NX5200, NX700HK
Revisiting this thread.....
I've gone ahead and swapped housings for with a non-r radio... and as such am using non-R batteries, also non-intrinsically safe ones at that.
The radio is not giving me any troubles on 160.8.... I don't know how or why, but something in the rugged or perhaps intrinsically safe battery line causes the problem, needless to say it's resolved.
-Josh
I've gone ahead and swapped housings for with a non-r radio... and as such am using non-R batteries, also non-intrinsically safe ones at that.
The radio is not giving me any troubles on 160.8.... I don't know how or why, but something in the rugged or perhaps intrinsically safe battery line causes the problem, needless to say it's resolved.
-Josh