Error code? "F001" on MTX 838 (top display). Whats this all

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 6:49 am

Hi all, lets see if anyone can figure this one out. On my Mtx 838 top display HT "F001" has been poping up on the LCD along with a continious beep. It stops when i hit the PTT, or change channel and then i can change back and its gone. This doesn't happen often, but often enough for me to start asking questions. Its only happed so far in my car (1997 Holden Vectra, electronic interference??) and only ever on VHF marine ch 16 (not that its been on anything else lately)
Thanks for any help anyone can offer
Nick

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 7:25 am

That is a codeplug error, rewrite the radio with a copy of the fresh codeplug.

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 7:29 am

Hey chris,
i dont have the original code plug. I dont program radios. Why is it doing this exactly and why is it not happening to oftern? And if i cant get a good code plug put into the radio, how can it be fixed?
Thanks for the reply
Nick

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 7:49 am

Nick,

Pardon me, you are experiencing Fail 001. This is a VCO out of lock error meaning that the synthesizer of the radio is unable to lock on the frequency programmed. If this is a new problem then the RF board may be going bad (assuming you did not recently reprogram the radio outside of its factory bandsplit). Otherwise, Fail 001 is a problem some us get when we try to get a radio to transmit or receive outside its limits. My first message relates to Fail 002 (which is a codeplug error).

If you did not recently reprogram this radio, or have someone do it for you, then you need to have a tech take a look for you.

Chris

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 2:57 pm

Hey,
It has been programmed, just before it was shipped to me about a month ago. It hasnt been programmed out of the bandsplit at all. Dang I'm not happy, any idea how expensive this may be?
Thanks Nick

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:07 pm

So, this radio was working fine before and just recently started to give you this error?

Assuming you didn't reprogram the radio in that time and this just started happening, then I would think you have a hardware problem that needs to be addressed.

Has the radio worked on this channel before?

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:15 pm

Chris,
The radio works fine all the time, only happend 3 times. Works very well on that same channel (16 VHF Marine). Had it for about a month and well yeah its worked perfectly. Could it be having problems locking on to a bad incoming signal, say a rusted, off frequency marine radio? Just a thought
Nick

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:41 pm

No, the radio really shouldn't be doing that.

If it happens very occasionally I'm not sure why. The VCO can either do it or not.

Keep using the radio and see if it happens again. Dosen't make too much sense though.

You said this is an MTX 838 so it can do the VHF band entirely from one end to the other. The only thing I can think of is the tuning.

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:45 pm

Yep, its an MTX 838, does the whole marine band perfectly. I'm listening to it right now. So if it is the tuning, i guess it just needs to have some re alignments?
Nick

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:56 pm

I tend to think it may be.

See what happens. Worse case scenario you need a new RF board.

Nickdap · Post by **Nickdap** » Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:59 pm

Chris,
Thanks for the help. Well I'll see how it goes for awhile then i might take it in to the shop. Lets hope its not a new board.
Thanks again
Nick