Astro Spectra Issues

[KI4RGV]

Hi there,

I need some input on an issue a friend of mine is having. My buddy who is a police officer, bought a 800MHz Astro Spectra. The radio is rebanded and updated with the latest firmware. He brought it to the county radio shop and they programed it for him and issued him a valid radio ID. The radio is installed in his dept issued SUV. The problem we are having is with transmit. Sometimes the radio works fine, without issues, but at other times we get the "Boink" noise. We can not figure out for the life of us what is wrong. We tested numerous antennas, cables, transmit locations. It seems to always be hit or miss. The public safety agency told us that from where his very small district is, the a site is about a mile away give or take. Now to add to this, his handheld works just fine in the same areas the mobile wont. If it helps, the radio is needed to work on a 800MHz analog rebanded trunking system.

Any ideas? Tips? Tricks?

Mother M wants a flat rate of $393.00 to look at it. A little too much for a radio he bought for $200. I told him to drive his truck to the local service shop and have them bench it and see if it was worth fixing.

I'm just curious if anyone has any ideas in the meantime that we can check.

Radio info is as followed:

Model: D04UJH9PW7AN
Flash: 500008-000400-7

I do not have the actual firmware version handy.

Thank you,

Peter, W4PRP.
Fort Lauderdale, FL

[MOT1]

Some things you might want to check (if possible):

-Frequency Error
-FWD and Reflected power
-correct control channels?

[kd5ual]

take a serious look at the antenna connection on the radio
years of a loose antenna shaking around in that mini uhf connector will
damage the 4 fingers that contact the center pin of the antenna coax


73 kd5ual

[Will]

take a serious look at the antenna connection on the radio
years of a loose antenna shaking around in that mini uhf connector will
damage the 4 fingers that contact the center pin of the antenna coax


73 kd5ual

The chassis mounted female Mini UHF connector has two 'fingers', and they do get loose.
We have test tool to check the connector's center 'fingers'.

Another thing that causes failure of the radio connector is incorrect installation of the male connector on the coax cable.
The center pin is oversize due to soldering or crimping.

[KI4RGV]

I will check all these things tonight and update everyone with the outcome. Thank you all for your suggestions.

Peter.