Batboard

I have a VHF Astro Spectra low power that reboots/resets any time I try to program it. I programmed this radio before with the same computer, software, RIB and cable and had no issue. When I attempt to read the radio or do a comm. test the radio restarts. The software will show a busy line error, but I believe the root cause is whatever is causing the radio to reboot. I have checked the rib to radio cable and verified the pins are connected and are in the correct locations. The rib will program other radios so I don’t think that it is the issue. I don’t have another Spectra to verify that it is the radio, but I’m trying to borrow one. Anyone had this issue before or have any additional troubleshooting steps that I can take?

hamsexy wrote:I have a VHF Astro Spectra low power that reboots/resets any time I try to program it. I programmed this radio before with the same computer, software, RIB and cable and had no issue. When I attempt to read the radio or do a comm. test the radio restarts. The software will show a busy line error, but I believe the root cause is whatever is causing the radio to reboot. I have checked the rib to radio cable and verified the pins are connected and are in the correct locations. The rib will program other radios so I don’t think that it is the issue. I don’t have another Spectra to verify that it is the radio, but I’m trying to borrow one. Anyone had this issue before or have any additional troubleshooting steps that I can take?

There are two things that you need to check. The first is do you have a power feed with enough current capacity to hold the current when your trying to transmit?

The second is to make sure you have the emergency line jumpered to ground at the accessory connector. If it isn't, and the radio is turned on, it will try to key the transmitter and send an emergency signal.

Jim

The programming cable is good. I made sure that the pin for emergency was jumpered to ground.

I checked the power at the plug on the radio with a multimeter. It stays above 12 volts when I hit the program key. I don't see the needle on the analog meter dip. I'm using a 12v power supply and not the typical 13.8v. Could that be the issue? Is the radio supposed to transmitt while programming? I have neever heard of that before. I didn't have it on a dummy load befor but I have it on one now. It also came up with an error on boot up. This only happened once and I can't reproduce the error. it was something like 10/90. Any ideas?

hamsexy wrote:The programming cable is good. I made sure that the pin for emergency was jumpered to ground.

I checked the power at the plug on the radio with a multimeter. It stays above 12 volts when I hit the program key. I don't see the needle on the analog meter dip. I'm using a 12v power supply and not the typical 13.8v. Could that be the issue? Is the radio supposed to transmitt while programming? I have neever heard of that before. I didn't have it on a dummy load befor but I have it on one now. It also came up with an error on boot up. This only happened once and I can't reproduce the error. it was something like 10/90. Any ideas?

I am on the road for vacation, so can't recall what that error code is. Don't have my manual to look it up.

Spectra radios can get finiky at times and the busy line can become a major problem if it starts showing up. I have had some of my older Spectra radios get into that state and just not do much. The solution was to blow another codeplug into them with a clone and go from there. Even some of the different software versions have shown this issue on some radios.

The radios do do a reset as part of the programming process. It is a matter of when the reset is taking place that may be the issue. Do not run the radios on low voltage. There is some logic that looks at the supply voltage and tells the radio how to react. Low voltage will cause the radio to go into a reset.

No the Spectra does not go into transmit during programming. It will go into TX if it is set up for emergenecy and the emergency jumper is missing when you first turn the radio on.

Jim

Thanks Jim. I have another on in the mail so I will close it to the radio with the issue. In the meanwhile I will hook this one up to a real 13.8 volt communications power supply. I will keep you posed on what the issue/resolution was.