Spectra Squelch problem

[AC2CS]

Ok,
I have a spectra that I've got programmed up for my ham frequencies, works great, awesome audio reports, and everything works perfect, just that the squelch constantly opens and closes, so the radio sits and chatters all the time, seems to get worse the longer the radio is on. I turned the setting up to a 15 which is the highest it will allow, any lower and the squelch is always open, now, it is the 146-174 split and I'm programming it at 146, could it be a VCO thing, i need to lower it a bit? or it there a POT on the board I'm not seeing? I'm guessing VCO, I will have a service monitor hopefully tomorrow, Cushman CE3, so that'll help a bit, but before i just dive in i like to do a bit of research.. sometimes.. lol thanks for any help ahead of time..
Chris

[Bill_G]

No, there is no physical pot to adjust on a Spectra. It only has the eepot set in the alignment screen. You can program a button on the front panel for MON (if I recall correctly) that then lets you use the mode switch to adjust squelch. But, even at tight squelch, most Spectras I've seen don't get tighter than .3uv which isn't helpful if you are trying to cut out far away co-channel users, or strong adjacent channel users. When you get access to the service monitor, you should do an effective sensitivity test of your station to find out if you are getting clobbered by something you weren't aware of. Spitting receivers is usually the first indication you have a raised noise floor from an unknown source. In VHF, it could be ethernet cables, computers, lcd monitors, printers, cable TV and converters, and a number of other modern conveniences. Or even another radio throwing a birdie.

[Will]

Squelch at full 15 setting, and receiver still un squelching, indicates one of two things. One Bill G discusses.

The other is a problem in the IF stages and could be related to leaking capacitors.

[AC2CS]

well.. I've replaced all the caps in the unit, none of them had severe damage, no broken traces i could see... I'm hoping that it is something local that i can eliminate.. thanks guys..

[chrismoll12]

The other is a problem in the IF stages and could be related to leaking capacitors.

I saw Spectra in the title and thats the first thought I had

[wx4cbh]

I had a Spectra T83 that had that squelch characteristic at the low end of the split, but was relatively OK at 150 MHz or so on up. Even then the squelch had to be between 3 to 6 to be acceptable, depending on how far up the split you took it. I was sure it was the caps and that it could probably use a thorough check out, too, so I sent it off to Will. When Will sent it back after capacitor replacement surgery coupled with a complete check out and realignment, it is now perfecto mundo. It receives 145 thru 172 MHZ like it's signal sniffing, and the squelch adjustment is 0 = open, 1 = threshold closed with the adjustment being consistent across the 145 to 172 spread I have in it.

My recommendation? If you have the gear and the knowledge to do a full ticket realignment, go for it, or send it to Will or one of the Spectra gurus here. Spectras in good electronic shape are still incredible radios and make great ham units, though some would complain about the lack of a VFO function. I'm not one of them complainer dudes or dudettes.

[RADIOMAN2002]

Did you check the squelch setting in the tuning portion of the software. I see to recall there might be a setting, too many radios to work on. LOL I don't have the software here at work will check at home if I get a chance.

[AC2CS]

well. i seem to have narrowed it down to a local problem, i moved some things around and fixed some grounds, seems to have fixed it a bit.. doesnt bounce as before as bad, my service monitor ended up not working, so i'm gonna have a hp one soon.. hopefully next week, the sofware just has a standard setting, when you turn the radio on, default if you will, at least thats all i found... im still sitting at about 14 i think... thanks for your help guys and gals..