W-3 HHCH Going Dark in the heat

This forum is dedicated to discussions pertaining specifically to the Motorola ASTRO line of radios (those that use VSELP/IMBE/AMBE), including using digital modulation, digital programming, FlashPort upgrades, etc. If you have general questions please use the General or Programming forums.

Moderator: Queue Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
4n6inv
Posts: 410
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:39 pm

W-3 HHCH Going Dark in the heat

Post by 4n6inv »

Has anyone had any problems with the W-3 HHCH going dark in the heat? I live in West Texas, and during the day, when the outside temps are 100+ degrees, the display on my W-3 darkens up to where you can't read it. It's like you have the contrast turned way too far up. What a pain. I have several more, and also some of the replacement displays that I could swap. Is this a known problem?

Has anyone ever fit a W-7 type display (with remote adapter) into a DIN slot in their dash where the radio would normally go? I have a two slot DIN and a crappy factory radio that I could put a W-7 under in the dash, if this will work.

Jim
User avatar
Pj
Moderator
Posts: 5147
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: X9000 thru APX

Re: W-3 HHCH Going Dark in the heat

Post by Pj »

Just the nature of the LCD beast...

In cold weather they will "ghost"

Keep it under the seat (not that it will help too much) or give it a cooler of its own during the day :)

I think it was here that someone posted a nice install of a Wx in a din mount, or close to it. IIRC, it was in an expensive car with just a little bit of modding done to get it to fit, but it looked factory. Might want to browse thru the install section.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Image
AEC
No Longer Registered
Posts: 1889
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:56 pm

Re: W-3 HHCH Going Dark in the heat

Post by AEC »

The darkening of any LCD is due to the solar radiation the display gets, and not a matter of heat only.

Place a calculator on the dash, and it will do the same thing.

I've had displays from a wide range of comm. products 'go dark' from 'accidentally' being left in direct sunlight.

Once time passes, the displays usually return to normal.

Unless physical damage also occurred, which may have cracked the display in the process, there should really be no long term problems.
User avatar
4n6inv
Posts: 410
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: W-3 HHCH Going Dark in the heat

Post by 4n6inv »

AEC: Excellent reply. Thanks. My W-3 is essentially mounted vertically on the face of my dash, next to the car radio. Not exactly directly in the sun; but my hunch is, as the sun peaks over the sky where my vehicle is parked, there would be some times where there was direct sunlight on the display. I haven't had many more problems with it since that time. When I park on the street directly in front of my office; the interior is exposed to more direct sunlight, as opposed to te side of the building where it is shaded part of the day.
Post Reply

Return to “Legacy Batboard Motorola ASTRO (VSELP/IMBE/AMBE) Equipment Forum”