Sometimes I get messages over on my Motorola Two-Way Radio History website which might better be answered here. The message below came in this afternoon from a small town eastern police department which is having trouble with an Astro Spectra motorcycle radio, although they don't say what band and I can never read those M99--- numbers which people think are the model number. I presume it's used in a digital system although maybe that's presuming too much. What's amazing is that three different techs can't fix it. So...they just gave up?
I would have suggested that he swap out the helmet mic/earphone assembly but he's probably already done that. The bad caps problem comes to mind, maybe vibration underway triggers it?
Anybody got any ideas for this poor soul? I know, we really need more information, but so far this is all I have:
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We have a 2007 HD Police motorcycle with a M99DX+17 4W_ASTRO 15 watt radio and are having problems transmitting and receiving while the bike is in motion. If it is idling, or off it works perfect, but as soon as the bike moves, the communication quality is almost un-readable. We have had it to three Motorola contractors and they could not figure out why. Do you have any information about this particular radio?
Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
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Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
My first question would be to get a better description as to what the "almost un readable" means. My take
is that they are using a digital system and the vocoder is picking up too much background noise to hear what
the operator of the radio is saying. If this is the case, then a noise canceling mic is the first step.
After that, I would want to check what the mic gain is doing. If the problem is something else, then they
will have to provide an audio recording for us to listen to.
My money is on a digital system and the well documented vocoder noise issue is killing them. Go read all
the fire dept flap about it.
Jim
is that they are using a digital system and the vocoder is picking up too much background noise to hear what
the operator of the radio is saying. If this is the case, then a noise canceling mic is the first step.
After that, I would want to check what the mic gain is doing. If the problem is something else, then they
will have to provide an audio recording for us to listen to.
My money is on a digital system and the well documented vocoder noise issue is killing them. Go read all
the fire dept flap about it.
Jim
WB6NVH wrote:Sometimes I get messages over on my Motorola Two-Way Radio History website which might better be answered here. The message below came in this afternoon from a small town eastern police department which is having trouble with an Astro Spectra motorcycle radio, although they don't say what band and I can never read those M99--- numbers which people think are the model number. I presume it's used in a digital system although maybe that's presuming too much. What's amazing is that three different techs can't fix it. So...they just gave up?
I would have suggested that he swap out the helmet mic/earphone assembly but he's probably already done that. The bad caps problem comes to mind, maybe vibration underway triggers it?
Anybody got any ideas for this poor soul? I know, we really need more information, but so far this is all I have:
-------------------------------------------------------------
We have a 2007 HD Police motorcycle with a M99DX+17 4W_ASTRO 15 watt radio and are having problems transmitting and receiving while the bike is in motion. If it is idling, or off it works perfect, but as soon as the bike moves, the communication quality is almost un-readable. We have had it to three Motorola contractors and they could not figure out why. Do you have any information about this particular radio?
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
Interestingly enough, we recently had a very similar experience, down to the Astro Spectra motorcycle radio on a HD motor (though I can't remember the year). The radio user could hear RX well enough, but his TX audio was total garbage when he was in motion. It ended up being a combination of loose connectors and contacts at the fuse block, and a poor ground.
I'd double check all that (of course), and also see if the problem follows the radio from motor to motor (if they have more than one). They don't mention if they've tried that but my bet would be the problem sticks with the motor in question.
I'm skeptical about digital being the issue, though it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility. You could check that though, by having the bike just sitting there and rev it all the way up - that also has the added benefit of testing whether it's really an issue with noise or with vibration due to motion.
I'd double check all that (of course), and also see if the problem follows the radio from motor to motor (if they have more than one). They don't mention if they've tried that but my bet would be the problem sticks with the motor in question.
I'm skeptical about digital being the issue, though it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility. You could check that though, by having the bike just sitting there and rev it all the way up - that also has the added benefit of testing whether it's really an issue with noise or with vibration due to motion.
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resqguy911
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:35 pm
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
There are plenty of digital radios out there in use on motor units, we have a few hundred in service. I find it hard to believe that this particular agency only has a problem with one vehicle and could blame it on modulation. Also, my experience with the HD motor unit is that they make more irregular noises and vibrate more when idling then when at speed. I'd put money on something flexing under torque.
"TDMA = digital and same great taste, half the bits"
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
I asked for more details and did ask what happened when it's sitting still with the throttle opened up. Haven't heard back yet. I get the impression he's saying it doesn't receive well either, at speed, but I will wait for his reply.
I also get the impression this is the only motor they have. Vocoder was my thought as well but that's not a new radio or a new motorcycle and I was presuming it must have worked well at one time. I'll add a message when and if he gives me more details.
I also get the impression this is the only motor they have. Vocoder was my thought as well but that's not a new radio or a new motorcycle and I was presuming it must have worked well at one time. I'll add a message when and if he gives me more details.
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
I have experienced similar problems with too much water in the water proof hand mic (no Im not kidding sometimes we have to ride in the rain) bad ground, the antenna connector cracking where the cable enters the radio box. Yes I am hard on equipment. I had to work in heavy rain for a couple of days and the radio sounded horrible ("like you are in a cave and underwater") when moving. What made this even more curious is that I was using my helmet kit to transmit and the techs changed my palm mic off the control head and the problem went away. Grounds get exposed to the elements on a motor more than on a car and mine got pretty green and caused some gremlins. I once, or twice, made the mistake of trying to put too much stuff in the radio box and when I finally shoved my leather jacket in my Whelen MBR4 and closed it the antenna mount got stressed, but you could not see it right away. when stationary no problems when moving the antenna and cable and connector started flexing.
Semper Fidelis
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
They have passed the following extra information on to me; the system is just analog:
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We have an analog VHF system with repeaters, 15 watt motorcycle radio and yes, this is our only bike. The radio is hooked to a PVP wireless system which has no effect on radio performance.
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We have an analog VHF system with repeaters, 15 watt motorcycle radio and yes, this is our only bike. The radio is hooked to a PVP wireless system which has no effect on radio performance.
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Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
Dont rule out the helmet kit in your investigation. Helmet kits of both brands have a history of causing strange problems. SETCOM and PVPCOM have supporters and detractors with stories of horrible problems. If you narrow the problem down to the helmet kit, you may want to register over at motorcops.com and check the forums there. Some spirited conversations about helmet kit problems. Has the cop who rides that think tried to talk while in motion using the palm mic?
Semper Fidelis
Re: Astro Spectra Motorcycle Radio Runs Amok
How do they know the helmet kit has no effect on radio performance? Have they disconnected the system while the bike is moving and found that the problem still replicates itself? I note that they are silent on whether the problem exists when the bike is stationary, but with the engine revved to 4 or 6 thousand RPMs does the problem still exist or does it go away.