Batboard

Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can help me with this little dilemma:

My XTL5k has an intermittent problem such that it does not always scan when enabled. It is programmed such that the mic must be on the hook (grounded) to scan, so obviously continuity between the clip and ground was the first thing I checked: no problem. I'm at a loss as to what else to check? It was working fine, then nothing, worked again for a few hours, then nothing. Activity on other channels enabled in the scan list have been verified via scanner.

This is a county-owned radio in my POV, so I couldn't program it even if I had CPS for it. I'd even hesitate to simply read it. I've sent the radio to our local MSS once for this problem, and they apparently bricked it. It spent a month in Mexico. I don't want them to have it again unless necessary.

Hardware, software, or user error? Thanks guys!

There was a firmware glitch when the radios first came out. If you put the radio into scan, it would work one time
and then not scan again. Motorola came out with a service note on the problem and the radio had to have a
flash upgrade. I think this issue was XTL1500, XTL2500 and XTL5000 with the same issue. The radio would
act like the receiver would die after the first transmission it heard.

If you take the radio out of scan, it will receive just fine. Like the radio was dead after the first transmission.
It didn't matter if it was a tone squelch or carrier squelched channel if my memory is still with me.

If the radio shop screwed the radio up, I hope you didn't pay for that service. Other than the time it took
for the round trip to Mexico, hope it came back in working order. Many reports about just how well the
plant service is these days.

Jim

KC8NIY wrote:Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can help me with this little dilemma:

My XTL5k has an intermittent problem such that it does not always scan when enabled. It is programmed such that the mic must be on the hook (grounded) to scan, so obviously continuity between the clip and ground was the first thing I checked: no problem. I'm at a loss as to what else to check? It was working fine, then nothing, worked again for a few hours, then nothing. Activity on other channels enabled in the scan list have been verified via scanner.

This is a county-owned radio in my POV, so I couldn't program it even if I had CPS for it. I'd even hesitate to simply read it. I've sent the radio to our local MSS once for this problem, and they apparently bricked it. It spent a month in Mexico. I don't want them to have it again unless necessary.

Hardware, software, or user error? Thanks guys!

Thanks for the response, Jim. I wasn't at all aware of that issue. The odd thing with my radio versus what you describe is that it continues to receive just fine. In fact, if I enable scan and tune to a channel in the scan list, Priority or Non-Priority will still display on that channel when active, even though it's not actually scanning. The radio knows the list is there, knows it should be scanning, but isn't.

What is the firmware version? There are 3 or 4 revisions floating around that are defective, version 10 had scan turned off completely IIRC. If you have the problem version then post sales support should be able to get you a firmware up at no charge.

Host/DSP 11.00.03

yeah there are bugs in that version it's the reason they jumped so quickly to version 12

Thanks much for the info!

I expect to see it go to Mexico again. I'll be angling for a free burrito out of the deal

My guess is that it is not the firmware rev. in the radio, but the firmware in an O-series head. As someone else pointed out, this was a recurrent problem when the O-series first came out.

Is the QC-II decode function enabled for any of the channels in your scan list? if so the scan feature would see it as a CSQ in a PL or DPL like configuration where it will not scan the channel when there is supposed to be audio on it.

CoM