XTS5000 Audio Choppy

mjb86 · Post by **mjb86** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:01 pm

I have an XTS5000 that when I am listening to my local Ham repeater the audio sometimes chops part of the coversation or just acts like it is not receiving signal. I also see the problem when I'm listening to my public safety repeater and it identifies itself via morse code, it chops part of the morse code when receiving. Can anybody help me?

Post by Pj » Fri May 19, 2006 2:38 pm

Is this while the radio is in scan? If the radio is on scan and priority scan is enabled, the audio holes are normal. If its not, then check to see if Hearclear is enabled. If it is, this may be the problem. It was enabled by accident on a few of my channels and it did this. It was especially horrible while in scan.

Other than that, it could be a radio problem or it needs to be benched checked/aligned.

mjb86 · Post by **mjb86** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:52 pm

No it's not when it is in scan, I noticed that if I had the monitor held in when it does it, that it is not the audio that is dropping but the signal that is dropping out. The reason I think that is because, when I hold the monitor and it drops out it just goes to static and then the signal comes right back again. Also I'm not familiar with this radio at all, I just got it two days ago, so maybe you could tell me what the hearclear is or where it is.

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:39 pm

did you find the problem with this radio? I too am havin the same thing happen to mine. Hear clear is not checked and the radio is not in scan.

mjb86 · Post by **mjb86** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:07 am

No I still have not fihured out the problem and it kind of makes me mad especially because of the money I spent and I have went to radio dealers around hear and they thought it was hearclaer too bout it is also turned off on mine, however we did discover that it only does it on overmodulated signals, and in my case those overmodulated signals are usually the ham band, so I just stay in the public safety band. I guess I have just learned to live with it, but it still makes me mad, because I bought it to use in the amateur radio band, but you live and you learn I guess. If you ever find a solution to yours please let me know.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:53 am

Keep in mind that XTS5000s do a lot of stuff in software... thus, they can be far tighter-toleranced than their predecessors. I've had 5Ks drop audio when the PL wasn't extremely tight tolerance (old TS32 board). Also, deviating outside the passband is a larger issue.

Tell the hammy with the 7.5KHz deviation repeater output to FIX IT. It's most likely his repeater... and there's no excuse for that crap.

N4DES · Post by **N4DES** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:26 am

There was a FSB put out for PL decode problems in the XTS/MT series radios if you have Host R08.01.03 Firmware. Before you go pulling your hair out you should check to see which version you have.

Oh and the FSB# is 10044B

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:52 am

I understand that they can be tight about the RX PL but mine is doing this on CSQ, so it should be letting everything through. but still seems to drop it. I can have my 3k on the same channel and it is receiving everything fine as where my 5k will not.

mjb86 · Post by **mjb86** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:38 am

Yep, that is exactly the same problem I am having, when I was testing mine I had my HT1550 on the same frequency and you could hear the XTS5000 drop out and the HT1550 would still be receiving fine. My radio has this problem on CSQ, PL, and with no tone at all. When we were testing it at the radio shop, we sent a constant audible signal and adjusted the modulation and when it got to a certain point the radio would stop transmitting the audible tone however it would still be receiving a full signal. That's when we thought it may be the Hearclear turned on, but it wasn't, so I still don't have an answer to why it's doing that, but maybe this information will help you.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:45 am

KS4VT wrote:There was a FSB put out for PL decode problems in the XTS/MT series radios if you have Host R08.01.03 Firmware. Before you go pulling your hair out you should check to see which version you have.

Oh and the FSB# is 10044B

Wasn't it R08.03.03, not 01.03? I forget, I've slept since then.

Fire_master... the point is, the 5K is way pickier than your average radio on deviation too. It's tolerances are extremely tight, all the way around... it does NOT like overdeviated signals. You need to get your hands on some test equipment (service monitor, spec-an with demod, etc.) and look at the deviation of the repeater. $10 says it's typical hammy shite, and the dev is too wide - thus the 5K drops it.

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:10 am

tvsjr wrote: $10 says it's typical hammy shite, and the dev is too wide - thus the 5K drops it.

your probably right on this. I guess striving for excellence is not a determining factor on these systems, as much as it is cost.

the problem seems to happen if somebody such as a dispatcher is using a headset, I don't seem to notice the problem when a field unit is talking.

Post by Pj » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:13 pm

Have you taken it to a MSS for a full alignment? Most shops will do this for a fair price. Some upstanding members here also may be able to do it for you.

Also post the model/host/dsp/flash as well.

mjb86 · Post by **mjb86** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:13 pm

You know, I need to correct my last statement, I am getting my radio terms mixed up which is not that unusual, what I meant was when the radio overdeviated it cut out the audio even though it was still receiving a full signal.

N4DES · Post by **N4DES** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:14 pm

tvsjr wrote:
KS4VT wrote:There was a FSB put out for PL decode problems in the XTS/MT series radios if you have Host R08.01.03 Firmware. Before you go pulling your hair out you should check to see which version you have.

Oh and the FSB# is 10044B
Wasn't it R08.03.03, not 01.03? I forget, I've slept since then.

Fire_master... the point is, the 5K is way pickier than your average radio on deviation too. It's tolerances are extremely tight, all the way around... it does NOT like overdeviated signals. You need to get your hands on some test equipment (service monitor, spec-an with demod, etc.) and look at the deviation of the repeater. $10 says it's typical hammy shite, and the dev is too wide - thus the 5K drops it.

I typed while looking at the FSB and rechecked it. It is R08.01.03 according to MOL.

Kind of a moot point being he is receiving in CSQ.

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:23 pm

Pj, I haven't had it aligned yet but I will in the near future. I have a couple that I need to have lifted up to the latest and greatest firmware. I have 2 model III's that have R05 host and DSP. Problem is I don't have a MSS close to take them too, and I don't want to send these to mexico after all the problems others have had.

Post by Pj » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:22 pm

Find out who services the larger police and/or fire departments who have the white and blue service vans. Its usually that guy.

Worse case, call Motorola and they will give you the numbers/locations nearest you.

Just make sure its a high tier dealer, and not a "radius" dealer who doesn't deal in the low tier stuff.

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:27 pm

I will give them a call and ask. I have never seen a motorola service van anywhere near where I live.

ard099 · Post by **ard099** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:55 pm

You might also want to check to make sure that the channel bandwidth is programmed correctly on that channel. If its programmed 12.5khz on an actual 25khz channel then that will happen.

fire_master_21 · Post by **fire_master_21** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:29 pm

that was one of the first things checked on this, but thanks

DigiSol · Post by **DigiSol** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:33 pm

I found this , so if it doesn't apply to you sorry . I just wanted to help.
SRN - 1437
APC - 205, 320, 721
April 2004
Dist: MOL: Service/Bulletins: Two-Way Portable
Expiration: March 31, 2005
From: XTS 5000 Subscriber Group
Subject: XTS 2500/5000 Potential Experience of “Extremely Garbled Audio” with Automatic Gain Control Enabled
Symptoms/Potential Radios
A limited number of XTS 2500/5000 portables shipped prior to January 2004 may transmit extremely garbled audio
when AGC is enabled and when the radio is operating with an audio accessory. This issue will not occur when using the
radio’s internal microphone, and is most likely to be experienced in ASTRO mode.
Cause:
Motorola has determined that some of the digital potentiometers (5185353D35_U509) on the VOCON board manufactured
prior to January 2004 may improperly amplify the transmit audio when AGC is enabled.
Verification /Corrective Action:
To verify the symptom you can transmit using the radio in the suspected configuration and listen to the audio from the
communications analyzer.
Sound sample of a BAD part Acrobat Reader6.0required to listen
Click Here
If you experience this extremely garbled audio, the unit should be sent to a Motorola Depot for repair.
Note: This audio characteristic description should not be confused with any type of “secure audio”.
Probability: Very Low
Only a limited number of units with the configuration and operating mode described above will ever experience this problem
and require corrective action.
Depot Repair Only. Level 1 - $35 dollars authorized. No other charges allowed.

Einstein · Post by **Einstein** » Sun May 06, 2007 2:59 pm

I am also having the same problem. It seems that in my situation it is happening when the radio is listening to a talkgroup, on one channel, then the other units move to another channel, there seems to be a delay in this radio getting assigned to the new frequency fast enough to catch the other traffic units.

Any further probable soluitions to this incident. It does not happen with the XTS 3000 model only the 5000.