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Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:38 pm
by VE9MP
Got handed a 800MHz Type II GTX portable the other day...

When you power up it immediately thinks it has a low battery and goes chirp-chirp, even when powered off different known good batteries and a power supply...

On my conventional channel the PTT does not work, it just makes an invalid key boop, like when you hit a DTMF button when you arn't in phone mode...same noise...the only way it wants to transmit is if you go in phone mode, then hit a DTMF digit, it will transmit the DTMF tones fine, but still, no PTT functionality...

Any ideas?

Re: Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:19 pm
by VE9MP
Anyone?

Could the previous owner have gotten this radio inhibited by a trunking system?
Has anyone seen an inhibited GTX? what exactly does a GTX exhibit when it gets inhibited?

It will recieve on conventional modes just fine, but just boops when you hit the PTT, I havent yet had a chance to use it on a trunking system to see if it will recieve/transmit there...

Re: Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:19 pm
by W6JK
It could be that the conventional modes are programmed for receive only, but I'd be surprised if Phone mode can override that.

It could be that the low battery detect is set too high, but I don't recall that there's a way to set it.

I've handled dozens of GTX portables, but I've never seen one do this. If they can be remotely disabled, I'm not aware of it.

I realize this is not too helpful, but if anyone knows that I'm wrong about any of it he'll probably speak up now. :)

'JK

Re: Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:58 am
by VE9MP
Nope, no recieve only, I programmed the radio myself....as far as I can tell, unless i'm really blind and am missing something, (which is possible) but there appears to be no place to set the low battery threshold anywheres in the service menu....

The radios can be inhibited if sent the proper "kill" command from a trunking system controller...

This one is starting to bug me :lol:

Re: Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:54 pm
by wavetar
The radio has not been inhibited...if it were, it would appear to be completely dead after the self test finished.

I have seen similar problems to what you are seeing. I assume you've opened the unit & checked for water damage, especially on the controller board? Believe it or not, I've seen the interconnect flex cause similar & other weird issues. Try powering the radio with the main chassis popped out of the front housing...pull & push the two halves together while trying the PTT button repeatedly, see if it begins to work at some point. I've also had to resolder a handful of the flex connectors on the controller board for this type of problem as well.

Todd

Re: Weird GTX issues..

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:13 pm
by VE9MP
Right on the money as usual Todd...

Just putting some pressure on the front of the case while depressing the PTT made it work...i'll open it up tomorrow and re-seat the flex and reflow the solder....

Thanks man!