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Boat Forum / Cruising / November 2004VHF Radio question
My VHF began displaying some peculiar behavior at the end of the season. When it's turned on, it seems to work for about a second, and then goes silent. Don't know whether the problem is in the radio, or someplace in the electric or antenna connections. I'm reluctant to buy a new radio if that won't solve the problem. The easy way to tell would, of course, be to plug it into an existing setup, but I don't have anyone around to do that, and can't find any vhf repair places locally. Anyone had similar experience? Dave > My VHF began displaying some peculiar behavior at the end of the season. > When it's turned on, it seems to work for about a second, and then goes [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Dave You should have an emergency VHF antenna anyway so hook it up to that (Its always nice to know you have the right connectors) and tie the emergency antenna as high as you can easily fix it and powered using a temporary power lead (mains flex would be suitable wire) fused at 10 amps using an inline fuseholder within 6" of the +ve battery clip and fitted with two clips of the type used on cheap battery chargers. At the radio end, fit a screw terminal block so you can easily hook it up to the existing connector. Please mark the positive and negative wires clearly or goodbye radio. I suggest you test it using your car battery to eliminate all possible causes except the radio. *DONT* press the transmit button if you are not afloat, as you dont want the coasties really mad at you :-) Just listen to a popular channel you know you used to get. When you've finished testing it, stow the emergency antenna and the power lead you made up on board, they could save your life. If you do find its faulty, seek professional advice. If it works Ok, hook it back to the boat power and try again still on the emergency antennae. Chances are, if the fault isnt in the radio itself and it fades on RX, you've got bad power connections to it. Finally, if that works OK hook the antennae back up and try again. If all is well, suspect slightly corroded contacts so unplug everything again, spray all the plugs with contact cleaner and plug them back in. It could also be the mike. A faulty TX switch *might* cause these symptoms. After its faded out, check the display carefully to see if the TX indicator is on. If it is, unplug the mike and see if it goes out. It shouldnt be on at all if you aren't pressing the switch.  SignatureIan Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED) ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* SPAM TRAP set in header, Use email address in sig. if you must. 'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy circa. 1961 Hello Dave, Ian has made some good suggestions. It might help to know a little more of your problem. For example, when you say the radio "seems to work" do you hear hiss or can you actually hear stations? Or do you simply see the dial lights? When it goes silent, do you mean power is switched off or the hiss disappears? Or do you mean the stations you were listening to suddenly become silent. Depending on your answers to these questions, you could simply need to adjust the squelch! I'm sure you have tried that, though. Anyway, we might be better able to help if you give us some more detailed information. Good luck! Chuck > My VHF began displaying some peculiar behavior at the end of the season. > When it's turned on, it seems to work for about a second, and then goes [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Dave >For example, when you say the radio "seems to work" do >you hear hiss or can you actually hear stations? Or do you simply see [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >you could simply need to adjust the squelch! I'm sure you have tried >that, though. Generally, I select the weather channel when I first turn on the radio. I hear about 2 words, and then it goes silent. The power remains on and the channel indicator stays lit with no dimming, and still shows the channel. Switching to other channels, I still hear nothing. Trying a radio check, I hear nothing. Playing with the squelch doesn't change anything. >My VHF began displaying some peculiar behavior at the end of the season. >When it's turned on, it seems to work for about a second, and then goes >silent. Don't know whether the problem is in the radio, or someplace in >the >electric or antenna connections. I'm reluctant to buy a new radio if that >won't solve the problem. What do you mean by silent? If there were a problem with the antenna and it's connector there would still be audio and you would get some static noise. If you have no sound but the display panel lights up you probably have power to the radio. You could check that with a volt meter to make sure. So, if you have power and no sound that would probably put it in the radio. If you have a external speaker connector you could try to connect an external speaker. Dick >If there were a problem with the antenna and it's >connector there would still be audio and you would get some static noise. Thanks. Good point. I agree. If you can't bring up any hiss by adjusting the squelch, then there is an internal problem. What make/model is the radio? Chuck >>If there were a problem with the antenna and it's >>connector there would still be audio and you would get some static noise. > > Thanks. Good point. > I agree. If you can't bring up any hiss by adjusting the squelch, then > there is an internal problem. What make/model is the radio? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> >> Thanks. Good point. It could still be a bad connection in the power feed to it as the display backlight may well not be an ordinary 12V bulb on a modern radio and if its a LED or EL backlight is probably running off a regulated supply. The audio amp and the PA stage typically run of raw 12V. The giveaway would be that it would probably blank out if you key the TX switch owing to it failing to get the extra juice needed. As to why its cutting out, well it *could* be the bad connection heats up under load and its resistance increases. Chances are its f***ed though. as its probably an audio fault, not totally dead and they'd have no need to key TX, any competant tech in a TV/radio shop could probably fix it though that wouldn't be 'kosher' as they are probably not licenced to work on comms gear. In the back door and offer cash and I'd take a look myself if it was a quiet day and you were in my town. SignatureIan Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED) ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* SPAM TRAP set in header, Use email address in sig. if you must. 'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy circa. 1961 Dave: My first thought would be that it is in the antenna; anywhere from the connection on the radio, to the co-ax has corroded, etc. I'd work on that first. After that, take it to a radio shop. |
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