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Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:59 pm
by christofurg
Hello!

I'm new to the forum, I'm an Amateur radio operator / Paramedic with a fascination of radio! So far I've acquired several Motorola products on top of other brands, a Radius GP300, Spectra A4, MT2000 and MTS2000.

The MT2000 I just received today after a purchase on eBay. Unfortunately, two things are wrong with it. Number one, the PTT on the microphone will not key up the radio. I've tried reseating the mic several times, twisting the cord and pushing on the connector all while holding down the button. The PTT on the radio keys the radio up just fine.

The second problem I took a video of to explain it better. The radio seems to have a severe rapid and successive radio clipping sound on all modes, including the unprogrammed modes. This happens on two fully charged batteries, regardless of any buttons I push or volume I have the radio set to. To see a video, navigate to this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek8S-B3piOk

I have not touched or programmed this radio in any way other than turn it on. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you!

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:25 pm
by txshooter
Without listening to the clip I would say the chopping sound is from the scan being turned on. (At work without sound available on this computer)

As far as the mic.......sounds like you just need to replace it. You could take it apart and make sure ther pins are still properly connected, but it's really not worth it as cheap as you can buy a replacement mic......

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:38 pm
by Will
I will second Scott's reply.
Also check the connectror at the base of the speaker/mic. There is a RJ45 type connector under the rubber strain relief, may need to be cleaned.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:02 pm
by christofurg
I hope you guys are right, I will try to figure out if scan is enabled and try to figure out how to disable it if that's the case. Will be monitoring the thread, and will post a resolution if I come upon one. Thank you for the quick replies thus far.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:10 pm
by MTS2000des
that doesn't sound like scan, and could not see but didn't appear that the "z" scan symbol was on the display...looks like another fine gem gleamed from brokenstolenradios.com...I would contact the seller and ask for a refund...

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:27 pm
by christofurg
I'll try, but he seems reluctant that it's his problem. He suggested I read the manual. Luckily I paid via paypal and also have a MTS2000 on the way. The radio doesn't show any "Z" on the LCD, just some icon like this: |-->|

If anyone has any other suggestions let me know. If the seller doesn't take this back and anyone wants to look at this one for me that's an option too :)

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:58 pm
by txshooter
The Symbol you are describing is for talkaround or direct. You say you have not programmed the radio, what are you listening to? I would read the radio and determin how it is setup prior to throwing in the towel on this one. You may also want to read more about this unit at http://www.batlabs.com since it appears you are not very familiar with it.

Another FYI, is that the buttons and switches on this radio are user programable so they could be set up for a myriad of different functions depending on who programed it last and what their nedds were.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:05 pm
by christofurg
It's programmed from the previous owner, in the video it's set to NOAA weather RX only. I read the manual and it says to hit the > key for a lot of things. Hitting the > key (the lowest rightmost key) only brings up "CHAN", while the book really suggests it should do a lot more.

It really sounds like a technical problem but I'm not throwing in the towel yet. I'll swing by our local Motorola repair facility and see what they say. They're the experts, figured I could get someone on here that could tell me that this is definitely not normal. I do acknowledge that I'm not familiar with this radio.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:11 pm
by Batwings21
That is not normal, and its definitely not priority scan. In the clip he posted, you can hear he's listening to the weather channel, which actually sounds good for a moment, then gives way to a loud clicking sound. If you feel comfortable taking the radio apart, you could try reseating the flex's and the jumper that connects the controller to the rf board but its probably something more in depth...

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:56 pm
by MTS2000des
I would not open the radio if you intend on disputing the transaction. I would contact the seller and offer them the opportunity to make it right (eg, replace or refund) if not file a claim. That is not a normal sound for a continuous carrier transmission such as NOAA WX and it is confirmed to sound normal (on another radio or scanner tuned to that freq), than there is an issue with it. If it was advertised as working, then you have a valid claim. Of course like most Ebay gems they are always "guaranteed to be AS-IS but not DOA"...good luck.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:11 am
by rrfd43
I'm going with the broken theory. I have one that does this from time to time. Reseating all connectors did not fix it and a good hard hit to the radio will get it to play nice for a short while. Send it back to him, I would consider it bad. I have three good mt2000/mts2000 and this does not happen on any of them.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:49 pm
by gatekeep
After watching that video, I'd have to say that there is something wrong with either the programming or RF deck.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:14 pm
by MT2000 man
Yes, I agree. This is definitely not a scanning problem. None of my MTS or MT2000's make that noise. I would see if the seller would possibly make things right with you, and possibly give you a replacement, or the like (or trade it for an MTS2000, even better :) ). But, yes, that is definitely not normal. If I were to venture a guess, I would say it has something to do with the RF board as well.

Good luck, and let us know what happens !

Mike

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:47 pm
by Code3
It sounds like the radio is muting/unmuting right on the threshhold of the squlech. It hangs just slightly longer a couple of times when it stays muted. If you only have the weather channel programmed, try getting another channel programmed, or try moving to a better location. I have also had jedi's sound like this when they are on their last legs of battery life. So give it a full charge.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:46 pm
by christofurg
Guys, it does do this on other channels, even the unprogrammed channel to where the radio puts out a constant tone warning you that you are on an unprogrammed channel. It even does this when I hit the squelch release button on the side.

It doesn't do it when it is not receiving a signal and the squelch is activated, though.

Re: Problem with newly acquired Motorola MT2000

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:37 pm
by n7maq
Code3 wrote:It sounds like the radio is muting/unmuting right on the threshhold of the squlech. It hangs just slightly longer a couple of times when it stays muted. If you only have the weather channel programmed, try getting another channel programmed, or try moving to a better location. I have also had jedi's sound like this when they are on their last legs of battery life. So give it a full charge.

That is not the SQL, it does the same thing on the unprogrammed channel. I would guess it's something in the audio circuit. That radio is a POS, just send it back. PM me with the auction number, I would like to see who the seller is.

Thanks,

Jim.