X9000 Problem

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BigJim
Posts: 146
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2002 8:48 am

X9000 Problem

Post by BigJim »

I'm periodically having a problem with control of an X9000 T73..

It will not go in to scan mode programming and will not allow volumn change. The buttons are active though. (turns scan on and off and shows current volumn level) Only once in a while does it do this. Most of the time works normal.

Anyone run into this before?? Just looking for a starting point as these problems usually don't get better on their own..

Thank you, BJ
Mike B
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Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Mike B »

Check your control head cable to make sure it is seated correctly and not loose (this is by far the most common cause of problems).

If the problem persists then you might want to clean the radio cable contacts at both ends (with a real contact cleaner like DeoxIT 5 (http://www.caig.com/) or any other quality brand electronics contact cleaner. Do not use cleaners like denatured alcohol because it has water in it. My next guess would be noise from the power supply (if its mobile try seeing if it only happens when the vehicle is running and not when the engine is off). If its installed in a vehicle your main battery cable crimps may be corroding and not supplying enough voltage under load. If you installed it to Motorola specifications you would be most interested in the wire on the vehicle battery – terminal and your radio power wire on the + terminal. Do not forget to check the radio cable black wire where it grounds to the chassis (you would be looking for corrosion on the vehicle sheet metal or cable lug).

If your X9K radio forgets the scan list and volume control setting when you start the vehicle, then it is most likely your vehicle battery is dying and/or your battery cable crimps are corroding. BTW, bad crimps will pass full voltage when the load is really small (like just a voltmeter). You have to draw enough current through a bad crimp for a voltmeter to detect any downstream voltage loss.

If you take care of all the above things and it is still giving you the same trouble then try flexing the radio cable just a bit too see if you can make the problem happen. Some of the earlier Syntor X 9000 cables did not have the radio drawer power pins from the red and black wires epoxied in place. Sometimes they can unsolder themselves and cause problems. However, the problems are usually things like fail 01/90. If you can reproduce the problem by flexing the red and black leads at the connector then it would be worth taking the connector shell apart and inspecting them.

If you still get random odd behavior like this then come back to the Batboard and ask for more help.
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kb0nly
AKA: The Computer Doctor
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Post by kb0nly »

Some of the earlier Syntor X 9000 cables did not have the radio drawer power pins from the red and black wires epoxied in place
Really? Do you have a picture of one like that, i have half a dozen cables here and none of them are epoxied or anything like that. Just soldered to the crimps then a foam rubber piece stuck on over the wire ends where they are soldered to the crimps.

As a matter of fact, of the two dozen or so X9K's i have messed with i have yet to see that.
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Will
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Post by Will »

Jim,

Is this your Spectra 9000? or a Syntor X9000?
Mike B
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Post by Mike B »

kb0nly wrote:Really? Do you have a picture of one like that
Yes really. I probably have at least one cable like this buried somewhere in one of my storage bins somewhere. Sorry, there is not much chance of digging them out unless I really really need some other Syntor X 9000 parts. There is even less chance I'll go through a perfectly good gasket to open the connector shell unless I also find my spare gaskets. It is not on all the cables because it was added at some time during the radio's production life. It is a blob of epoxy that mostly covers the large red/black connector pins and wires, but it also covers some of the smaller pins and wires near the larger connector pins.

Will,
Good call. I was only thinking Syntor X 9000 when I read the post.
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kb0nly
AKA: The Computer Doctor
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Post by kb0nly »

Ok, no problem, just thought i would ask on the odd chance that you documented that difference.

I haven't seen one like that yet, but i probably will eventually.
Duct tape is like the force, it has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together.

"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
BigJim
Posts: 146
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2002 8:48 am

Post by BigJim »

Hi Will,

It's one of my Syntor X9000s..
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