What happens to my Spectra?

VR2WTF · Post by **VR2WTF** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:24 am

Sorry I got a problem.
I got a VHF Spectra and suddenly it power off after a while of standby.
I connect the powet cable to my another Spectra whit same model but it works!
What's wrong?
Thank you very much!
73 de
William

mr.syntrx · Post by **mr.syntrx** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:13 am

Do you have the ignition sense line connected to power?

Larry Page · Post by **Larry Page** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:59 am

Hi! Are you using other radios nearby? Or is the antenna coax from this radio routed near coax from other transmitters? Several years ago, I had a similar problem and found that RF from another of my transmitters was getting into the Spectra and causing it to do some strange things. I installed antennas on both radios with slightly lower gain (from 5 dB to 3 dB, as I recall) and it made enough difference that the problem went away.

I really wasn't sure whether the problem was really the gain or just something quirky going on witih the antennas. The originals were either Comet or Diamonds with all the little coils and fiddly-bits (and fjords, for those who read Douglas Adams), and the replacements were more straightforward designs. RF performance was not noticeably any different, but the bad radio behavior went away.

Regards,

VR2WTF · Post by **VR2WTF** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:29 pm

mr.syntrx wrote:Do you have the ignition sense line connected to power?

I use the same power connection (ignition and main DC) with my another Spectra, it works.
I only power on one radio at that time, when I returned then I saw it in off state from stand-by and I cannot power on again!

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:48 pm

Somebody has to say it, might as well be me... could be bad capacitors.
Do a forum search for something like "spectra capacitors", you should find lots of discussions about the problem. The ones in the control head are right near the on/off circuit, so it's a possibility that leakage could cause the radio to shut off.

VR2WTF · Post by **VR2WTF** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:28 pm

jackhackett wrote:Somebody has to say it, might as well be me... could be bad capacitors.
Do a forum search for something like "spectra capacitors", you should find lots of discussions about the problem. The ones in the control head are right near the on/off circuit, so it's a possibility that leakage could cause the radio to shut off.

Oh thanks all!
I will try to see the problem.
How to overcome theproblem of "Fail 001" after hacking the RSS? Only modify the VCO?
Thanks again!
73 de
William