Batboard

An MTS2000 model III UHF was serviced recently for a howling audio sound. Local shop repaired it once properly however the problem occured again and was sent in for depot repair TWICE. Radio finally returned working correctly, with everything replaced except the keypad/display and the plastic housing. Also came back with up to date firmware. Radio worked great for a few days and now it won't transmit unless a speaker mic is attached. Radio PTT seems inoperative. Works fine with a speaker mic. Shop has checked the radio again and can't find any problem. We're all puzzled by this thing. It doesn't appear to be a mechanical problem.

controls flex i bet.



doug

The control flex was replaced as well so that may not be it unless they replaced it with a bad flex! We'll check further maybe another depot trip is in order.

You may want to investigate as to if it was really sent to the depot, usually when a radio is depoted it is returned with a new housing and keypad, at least two I sent in for depot service returned in new condition.

10-95

I trust the shop complete, been going to them for 10 years. They are good and fix many things most places won't even touch or take the time to repair. I can tell what has been replaced in the radio since it has new stickers on everything, only thing not new is the keypad display and the housing itself, the rest was completely replaced. The whole problem makes no sense.

Did you inspect the flex as it passes over the RF shield to make sure it is not kinked or nicked. Also, you can have a contact failure of the PTT which is held with adhesive to the RF shield. Not usually a problem, but you never know. I am assuming that the depot replaced those parts. I wouldn't bother fooling much more, parts aren't cheap. If the radio truly took a trip to Rockford, then its under their repair warranty. Send it back, its their headache.

Once again, sure sounds like a PTT problem. One other suggestion, place the radio in test mode and check the switch to see if the controller is seeing it close. If not, the switch, flex or something in between is shot.

That's all been checked by myself and the shop. Right now the button does not pass the self test, but it did before. Sure is puzzling.

Well, that's a good test but if the button programming got screwed up, then test mode will not report the buttons correctly. Made that mistake once. Interesting though...

That's not it either. Button prog is fine. I wonder if the firmware is bad. They sent it back with 6.25 or something. Don't have the radio in front of me to verify

I doubt the firmware is bad, and if the radio fails the button test in the radio test mode, then the PTT line is broken somewhere from the switch itself to the point at which the flex connects to the controller board. Do you have another radio to swap the flex with? Only other issue could be a controller malfunction, not necessarily related to bad firmware.

With respect to button programming, you cannot reprogram the MTS or any other Jedi for any other function at the PTT switch. Furthermore, the only other issue that is normal that may mimic the problem is the if the radio is seeing the channel busy when you are attempting to transmit with the PTT, but when you are keying the speaker mic the channel has cleared. I doubt that too, but sometimes there are simple explanations.

Keep me informed...Chris

Interesting ideas. We'll check on the headset option and i have a brand new control flex to try. What I find interesting is the depot said they couldn't get it to demonstrate the problem, even though it did it for me, the owner and the shop who sent it in for service. Also anyone know what the MDC1200 flash costs?

Ok, these are all good ideas. We'll check them out this weekend. Radio is also headed back to the shop on Monday and or the Depot. We'll see what happens.